I just can't really see them as the bad guys for going after vampires who actually do kill and use their brainwashing powers on humans, in their shoes you would totally consider them a scary threat to take out! It would be one thing if it was just prejudice against vampires as a species full-stop and they weren't actually hurting anyone, but we've seen many vampires freely killing people, so I can't really blame characters like Trip for feeling like the obvious course of action is to take them on. Like in his first intro we see him being concerned at people trying to shut up a young girl from talking about how she was attacked and drained of blood, yet somehow the writers are expecting us to side with the regulars and want that attack covered up because Elena has ~personal issues~ after all, never mind the threat that she represented to the innocent townspeople going about their business. In Trip's position I would have been side-eyeing them all too

And I love your icon :)