[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

No matter where you live or what the reasons, shooting someone will royally screw up your life in manifold ways. Cops will arrest you for murder; they won't show up, hear your story, and clap you on the back with a "Good shoot, Citizen!" Your "victim" will sue you. If he's dead, he'll have a large, grieving, and needy family. If you don't kill him, you'll get asked to support him forever.

Got a job or a career that keeps you busy? Plan on a year or so pause in your career while you become an expert on self-defense/castle doctrine/stand your ground. Own your own business? Kiss that goodbye, along with your house, your time, and your bank accounts. You can either pay those in hot pursuit or pay your lawyer to keep them at bay. Or both.

And, while it might seem completely justifiable in the moment, any normal person who kills another over a property crime will inevitably ask himself if it was worth it. Most will conclude it was not. It isn't.

^ infinity

Unless the guy(s) come back ARMED and and attack you, and you can prove your life was in immediate danger, that you could not run away, most/all of the above post will be realized.