Nobody's life is worth killing over stuff. If you think your crap is worth ending someone's life there is something wrong with you. That makes you more of a thug than them. Karma always comes around for them and you can buy new ****
If I'm out on a job, fixing someones equipment or talking to a client about potential work, and someone decides to pry the back door open to my stepvan (Which I keep locked all the time) and help themselves to my tools and inventory and I can stop them, I will do it by whatever means necessary.
They are trying to steal MY livelihood so they can go to a pawn shop and sell it for pennies on the dollar and turn around and buy drugs.
I've worked for everything I have, why should they get it free and then turn around and pawn it (or throw it in the trash if they can't get anything at the pawn shop for it).
If you think the cops will do anything, that's pretty much not gonna happen. Here in WA, I've heard the excuse "Yeah, we can't get any fingerprints because it's raining.. and chances are they're not even in the system."
My father is a life time NRA member and has taught thousands of people on handgun defense and one of the first thing he will tell them is this: "You don't just pull a gun to scare them off, you pull a gun to kill them with it."
If you stand there just pointing it, they'll take it away, possibly shooting you but, more likely leaving with it and committing some more serious crimes with a gun registered TO YOU..
If you feel your life is in danger enough to pull that gun, pull the trigger as soon as you get it pointed in the right direction. If you can't do that, don't carry a gun.