“By the standard you pose, would it be ok to kill anyone you see in St. Louis, since how do you know they aren’t about to shoot you from a distance?”
That is absurd and I think you know it, I made it clear my question concerned someone who has broken into your car, that is far different from “anyone you see”. Why would you even ask such a ridiculous question?
It’s a rhetorical question, meant to be absurd. The obvious answer is “No”, followed by examination of why it’s different. A significant percentage of the urban St. Louis population are gang members, and current or former criminals, quite capable of posing a real threat; they even dress to identify themselves as same, as a form of threat. We can’t shoot them on sight, legally, unless they are doing something specific that actually threatens your life and limb. In my opinion, pilfering from your car 70 feet away completely sucks, but absent threats, going for a weapon, etc., does not present an immediate mortal danger.
If your opinion is otherwise, that’s fine. Let’s not waste further time on this.