charliehall…
I do not claim to be an expert on all the various day’os in halacha on this issue. I do know it is generally accepted (even in secular law) that if someone breaks INto your home (and the law about someone OUTSIDE, but on your property, DOES vary from locale to locale) – but INSIDE, it is considered a reasonable assumption by the homeowner that his life is at risk, and it is therefore reasonable to respond with lethal force.
Obviously, no normal homeowner (and I’d like to think that I am one) would shoot, if they saw, for example, an unarmed 14 year old kid had broken in.
Generally though, that is NOT the case. Most intruders are very dangerous individuals, usually armed, and often are druggies needing money, or things they can take and get money for, to buy drugs.
Having to shoot someone, even a dangerous someone that did break into one’s home, is NOT something any normal person WANTS to do.
Some commenters above, mentioned that the pro-gun people here are “Dirty-Harry” wanna-be’s. Although I can only speak with certainty about myself, I’m quite sure that I can safely say about the vast majority of legal gun owners as well, that it will be a very sad, tragic, and traumatic day if I should ever have to shoot an intruder, BUT – the safety of my family MUST and DOES come before the life of anyone who would do us harm.