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Lebell, I don't think we can ever agree either. The reason is that you and me grew up in totally different societies, with totally different rules.
In my society, violence is wrong, no matter who it is directed at. The government has a monopoly of violence, legally speaking: they are the only ones allowed to use violence against anyone. The rest of us just have to sit back and hope for the best.
Generally speaking, this hasn't been a problem in the past. However, there's a growing realization that the police isn't doing enough to stop crime, nor can they ever do enough. That means we're at the mercy of criminals. That is something I do worry about. That does not mean that I would find it acceptable if people kill any and all intruders; if I can scare burglars away with my (illegal) knife, or if I can incapacitate them legally (self-defense), I can call the police, and they'll deal with it.
I trust my government to protect me when needed, and I trust them not to abuse their powers. After all, I have no reason whatsoever to believe they cannot be trusted... I think that if you had grown up here, or even if you were to live here for a few years, you'd agree with me. Now, that outlook is the result of a life without guns, and a life without fear of violence. I do not *need* to defend myself, because there is hardly anything to defend myself against; and I certainly do not need to defend myself with a firearm, when my fists or a knife (or baseball bat) will do just fine.
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