Originally Posted by Minicobra1

I wouldn't shoot someone for trying to steel my wheels, even it it was legal to defend my property. As someone said here, the punishment doesn't fit the crime.
Although, I wouldn't think twice about pulling the trigger if they came at me with a crowbar, knife or gun. Then to me it's justifiable.

If you think about it, if your arrested for grand theft, they are not going to give you the death penalty, so why would you want to kill someone for stealing your wheels.
Could be just some stupid kids, that haven't learned their lesson yet.

Here is a true story, a classmate from my high school was at a party, him and some of my other friends (on a dare) decided to go on a beer run, if you don't know what a beer run is, it's something that stupid kids due, run into a store, grab some beer and run out. As they were driving away, the store owner, fired 3 shots at the truck, one went through the back of the window and hit the driver in the head, killing him instantly, he was 17 years old.
Now, to anyone that is a parent, if this was your child, would you say the punishment fit the crime?

We've all done stupid stuff when we were young, and for the majority of us, we grow up, mature, and become productive members of society. My point being, you never know who your pulling the trigger on, could be a first time offender or someone who has a long history of crime, you just don't know.
Who knows what's the story with the wheel thief's, but hopefully they will get what they deserve.

Now, if I caught them in my house, and my life or my families life felt or was threatened, I wouldn't think twice about shooting. I told my self years ago that if anyone entered my home, I wasn't going to become a victim, sometimes hesitation can get you in trouble. Anyway, every situation is different, so just use good judgment, something that law enforcement has to do on a day by day basis, they don't shoot everyone they draw their guns on.