No, I'm not a liberal. But let me run down how a NYC mugging happens. You get some kid (16-24) who is jacked up on adrenalin. He jumps out and surprises you. The gun is up and about 6 inches from either your chest or your head, depending on where you are in the city.
At this point there's no opportunity to reach for a piece or to shoot, even if you have one in your hand. So you hand him the wallet, cash, etc.
The gun is still out and still pointed at you. At this point he has a choice. He can either shoot you or take the money and run. Most take the money and run.
Now, the kid is halfway down the block. You have a choice: either pull your piece and shoot or call 911. If you do shoot, I promise you, you will hit something that breaks. Either a car window or a person or a store window. You may hit the mugger, in which case your life becomes a hell for the next six months before you are cleared. You will need a lawyer. You will miss work. Best case scenario, you hit a store window.That's about $1,100 to replace. And you will need a lawyer and you will miss work.
Yes sometimes I would not choose to, but other times I would. I WANT THAT CHOICE and do not want to depend on some judge, legislator or mayor for that right. See: Bill of Rights, 2nd Amendment.
A pistol six inches away from my face is going to get snatched or swatted away faster than the shooter can react to my action.
He'd better hope I just snatch it. If I swat it away, I'll step off the line of force, draw my 1911 and fire three or four rounds from a retention position, ala the character Tom Cruise played in "Collateral".
I practice this, and other sorts of armed, close range combatives weekly.
You wouldn't be cleared: I'm pretty sure shooting a fleeing perp in NYC is against the law.