I have no problem with a man who has been victimized before setting a “trap” for the burglars (and we know he was a previous victim, probably of these same two hoodlums, or it would be a remarkable coincidence that they struck as soon as he set the stage). If they are obsessed enough with stealing from him to come just because his car is gone and the lights are out, I’m okay with the criminals ending their lives of crime.
I have no problem with shooting a criminal breaking into your home who startles you, in some sense creating a justifiable fear for your life, even if you were expecting them to break in eventually.
I have a huge problem with continuing to shoot once the disgusting thug is down - he should have stopped once the threat was ended. As someone else said, if he wanted them dead, he should have gone with a 12 gauge and buckshot or similar load for the first shot.
Whether I would find him guilty of the crime he clearly committed or go with jury nullification depends on a lot of details, beyond the fact that I think he’s a danger only to criminals, probably. However, it seems likely that he is at least technically guilty.
Forgiveness? Sure. I would not hold a grudge against the dead criminals. Their lost chance to reform? They had several chances to reflect on their previous crimes and realize that the harm done to their victims should have outweighed their joy in getting high off the proceeds, and they chose not to take advantage of those opportunities.
We know he says he was a previous victim.
I have no problem with shooting a criminal breaking into your home who startles you
He wasn't startled in the slightest. He had them on CCTV from the moment they walked up his driveway. They were the ones who were startled to find him home: he was patiently waiting for them for hours.
beyond the fact that I think he’s a danger only to criminals, probably
Maybe. If he's out on the streets scot free, I wonder what would happen if someone go into a fender bender with him, or had a property line dispute with him.
they chose not to take advantage of those opportunities.
Oh, I agree with you.
When you trespass onto someone's property, you have no way of knowing whether they are a normal person or a psychopath.
For all they knew, they were about to spend the next ten years in a dungeon or have a creepy old man take his sweet time killing them.
They knowingly took their lives into their own hands.