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I was making a moral assertion. Legally, in Maryland, they have an obligation to use minimal force. The victims in this case may have over-reacted in terms of the law, but the judge in this case decided that they were in an understandable state of frustration due to the inaction on the part of the responsible Governmental agencies that are to protect their property in return for the surrender of rights to defend their own property as they see fit.

A violation of a social contract on one side does not justify a violation from the other side, but in this case the judge said that they were excused.

When the panic's on, you can't be held to the rational thinking of all us comfortable posters in nice warm (relatively) studies with coffee at our elbows.

I have been in a threat situation, and it ain't pretty. What with the huge jolt of adrenaline that hits your system, and the sheer fear engendered by a large stranger coming at you yelling threats, your brain more or less goes on autopilot. If you've been well trained, you'll function fairly well, but there is no logical thought going on. There's no time.

Most people just keep pulling the trigger until it doesn't go "bang" any more. And it looks like the judge realizes the truth of this.

The only reason my assailant didn't get filled full of lead is that he ran as soon as he saw the muzzle of the .45 trained on him. (Guess he wasn't hopped up on morphine.)