Not "should I shoot?" but "could I shoot?" That is the question.

[BuckHammer]

Here's the way I look at the shooting to stop thing.

If it comes to the point where I need to discharge a firearm in defense, I will shoot for vitals (chest area and center of mass).

I will do this because I believe that I can most reliably stop a threat against my life that way.

I feel that I can most reliably stop a threat that way because it is very likely to kill the threat-bearing individual (I have hunting experience in the arena of vital shots being likely to kill), or at the very least seriously incapacitate them.

Honestly, I'd rather have them survive to be prosecuted, but I'm only going to be worried about what most reliably protects me from serious bodily harm or death.

This entire post was concerning the scenario where I'm already in the scenario in which I can and should shoot (legally and morally), in order to protect my life or that of others. It assumes any such actions are lawful. Void where prohibited and all that crap.