Of course, the ends justify the means, don’t they? And if one of the weapons “accidentally” discharged, killing one of the children, well, you’d justify that too, wouldn’t you?
The State must be defended! No atrocity is too great when the State is conducting the Business of the Punishment of Criminals, Comrade!
If one of the children were injured then yes, I would blame the parents for putting their children in that situation by the choices they made to ride the fence they chose.
You play with fire you and are yours are more than likely to eventually get burned. That’s the risk and they chose that path.