B-man,

And in that case where you are mugged, and you brandish your pistol, and take the creep out, as they say - then what?  You stand over his lifeless body.  The pure violence of the situation sinks in. 

True enlightenment, is I'm convinced our common humanity with our fellow men and women.  This violent defense might give you a temporary feeling of satisfaction, but your spirit knows that the mugger/attacker's spirit was lost, and killing him in a sense killed a little bit of you. 

In a practical sense, yes, defend yourself, life and property.  But I wouldn't count it as a victory of any kind.  Weeks later, the nightmares come, and the grief at having injured another - even if he "deserved" it.

M