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Originally Posted by Slims
I am all for a discussion on his particular level of preparedness (or paranoia), whether he personally would have been better served preparing in a different way or even simply handing over his watches, whether you agree with his statements about fellow shopkeepers potentially getting themselves into trouble, etc.
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So far as I can tell, Strange Famous is still within the outlined intent of the thread as presented by the OP. Borderline, perhaps, but his argument seems to be at it's core that Mr. Thomas unnecessarily escalated these situations.
I object to referring to these people as 'vermin.' Criminals, yes. Criminals are still people though, and all the dehumanizing language in the world doesn't change that.
Personally I find it hard to claim for certain that Mr. Thomas' actions were strictly necessary. I find it equally difficult to assert that they were not. Without having been there, it's hard to say for certain one way or the other. I do know that it seems a peculiarity to me to celebrate the taking of a human life, regardless of the circumstances. If Mr. Thomas was under imminent threat of death, than perhaps he was justified. Note that in my opinion, imminent threat of death does not include the typical robbery scenario. It strikes me that nearly any of the robbers could likely have shot him before he had a chance to react, had that been their intent. The possible exception is the last confrontation; as outlined in the video, it seems as though he more got lucky than anything else in that one.
It's an interesting artifact of US culture that as a rule Americans tend to approach everything in terms of absolutes. Thus, we are presented with this story as if it's black and white, almost like it's Clint Eastwoord versus the Hollywood villains du jour. The problem with this in my opinion is that it completely discounts the fact that every one of the people Mr. Thomas shot and killed was just that -- a person, with hopes and dreams and strengths and foibles and family and friends and everything else that entails. Perhaps they weren't good people. Not people I'd want to invite to dinner by any means. But people all the same, and the taking of a human life is in my opinion never a positive thing.
I claim no moral authority in this. As per my standard, these are simply my musings. Make of them what you will.
More broadly, was he responsible in that he underwent rigorous training due to his ownership of firearms? Well. Again it's only my opinion, but I reckon anyone who wishes to own such a powerful tool ought to go through the same.