Yes, the US probably could have taken Bin Laden alive given some additional effort. [View All]

The helicopters could have tear gassed the compound to try and incapacitate the combatants, then sent troops in wearing masks. Or they could have hit each room with multiple flashbangs and stun grenades. Or gone in quiet, attempting to disable any perimeter security and using sound-suppressed weapons on any sentries, in order to catch Bin Laden sleeping.

Each of these has their own risks associated, mostly in the form of increased risk to US troops. But that's almost beside the point when you consider the situation. If you are a criminal, and you resist arrest using deadly force, you are likely to be killed. Period. Bin Laden was, in effect, a criminal resisting arrest. Once either he or his bodyguards started firing on US troops, Seal Team Six reacted correctly by putting down the threat.

There is no obligation, even for civilian law enforcement, to try and preserve the life of a criminal who is attempting to kill you. The US troops of Seal Team Six were not required to take extra risks to preserve the life of a criminal, potentially at the cost of their own. That person has forfeited any rights they had to fair treatment or fair trial. It is the point where the justice system ends: as Cicero said, in the face of arms the law falls silent.