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No apology needed! I was responding to more than what you wrote; more to my own feelings.

I was conflicted because it *feels* right to tell the thief to stop, to try to set things right, but I know I would not do it for fear of having to "put my money where my mouth is" - that is, if he does not stop but turns and fires at me, having to shoot back.

In reality I would "be a good witness" and call the cops. As much as I'd wish I'd done more, I would take the safer path.

No condemnation from me, at all. And I agree with you that we should be pleased with his restraint; legally he probably could have fired when confronted with a knife, since his life was in immediate danger.

However, I would not have intervened because doing so could have escalated the situation from theft to bloodshed.

I wasn't there, don't know the lay of the land or the circumstances or big picture. My mindset is to avoid confrontation, avoid trouble, ignore insults, walk away - but if attacked, to shoot back until I've ended the attack.

This is not "on the side of the gun control proponents". It may be cowardly, it may be despicable compared to someone who would intervene to recover someone's stolen property, or run into a burning building to save an innocent person, but it is a far cry from supporting gun control.

He is lucky the responding officer did not mistake him for the "bad guy".

He was wise not to draw until (according to the news story) the thief pulled a knife on him, but I question his judgement in accosting the thief and telling him to stop. He escalated what started as theft of property into what could have turned into a lethal force confrontation.

Anyway I'm glad he is ok and the thief was caught.