Let's not get too squishy
Quote:
by traveler106:
. . . the best possible outcome would have been if NO ONE had been killed.
You know, I read this a few times to get my head around it.
I must actually disagree. I find myself shaking my head at my own words.
You see, it's easy and acceptable to say no one should have been killed: it's proper and correct and socially endorsed.
After some contemplation, I conclude that the assailants, by their own actions, reclassified themselves as rabid animals for all intents and purposes. They gave up the rules of civilization. They made a decision (several, actually) to violate accepted mores, laws, decency, and humanity.
There really is no reasoned approach to getting such a person's attention.
By electing violence as their mode, they made themselves eligible for violent interdiction. Even if they were inept or stupid or careless or simply in denial of the possible consequences, this was a game they chose. Dying is a risk that comes with the territory. Denial of that risk doesn't mean it isn't there.
I might not be "comfortable with" pointing my rifle at someone either, but kick in my door and I truly believe I can overcome that bias.
This is not lightly said. There is a time and place where the death of an assailant is the right thing. It may not be the thing you try for. It may not be the desired result. It is nevertheless not necessarily wrong.
I am not particularly brave or tough. I know, however, that I would be willing to confront an invader in my house and use whatever force was needed to expel or halt the threat source.
More to the point, the death of an assailant is one of the acceptable outcomes. I've met death up close and personal. I found that, while it's no fun, I can deal with it.
I'm not going to hamper or compromise putting up the best defense I know how in order to spare the life of an assailant who's trying to kill me.
There might not be any joy in the act, but until the bad guys are "tactically resolved" they are in grave danger of meeting one of their known risks at high speed.
You see, the responsibility for my staying alive and for keeping my family alive is mine. Among the precautions I take are driving carefully (+seatbelt), washing my hands, locking my door at night, and not breaking into other people's homes.
Everyone else has his own responsibilities in staying alive, and enumerated among them is not breaking into my home. It is not my job to try desperately to save a home invader from his own bad judgement.
The answer is pretty simple: to dramatically improve your chances of living, don't do things that are likely to kill you, or make it necessary for someone else to do so.