"I ask again - will insurance make those bad feelings go away? NO! Only time will take care of that. I know - my home has been broken into 3 times in the last 10 years. My cars twice. I felt the way I described above each time."
If I'm reading you straight, it sounds like you are saying that killing the guy would be better, since if you kill him you don't have to live with the feelings of having been violated.
Is that what you're saying?
Is it worth someone's LIFE (even a bad guy's) to protect a stupid car stereo?
More practically, is it worth the risk? The risk that you miss and he shoots you. The risk that you miss and kill an innocent bystander. Shooting guns in a parking lot invites ALL KINDS of risk!
Even more practically, we're told over and over again that even a good shoot is going to ruin our life...we'll be run through the wringer defending ourselves in civil court even after we're cleared of criminal charges (which, in this situation, would probably not be so easily dismissed). Now, are you willing to go through ALL OF THAT civil lawsuit bs just to avoid the feeling of being violated?
I understand the desire to affect the situation, to take decisive action to end crime and violence once and for all. Believe me, my vindictive streak runs deep. I just am beginning to recognize that using lethal force comes with all kinds of not insignificant consequences...I'd have a hard time justifying bringing those consequences onto myself and my family all for the sake of a petty burglary or car break in.
"To those that say a man's life is worth more than a car radio I say BS."
Um, yeah...whatever.
*MY* life...my sanity...my family's peace...my staying out of expensive lawsuits...my not liquidating everything I won to defend myself in court. THOSE are worth more to me than a stupid car stereo.
I can reduce crime all kinds of ways that don't have anything to do with shooting criminals (mentor at risk kids, vote for leaders tough on crime, neighborhood watch, citizens patrol, police/sheriff reserve unit, etc)