This is a real life, it really happened story. It's not theory or, "I think..." or "I read..."
My little sister shot a carjacker in New Orleans twice in the chest with a 9mm. She called 911 right away and the paramedics arrived before ths cops did. By the time the cops got there he was on his way to the hospital and the crime scene was completely compromised. He spent about 2 years in the hospital and local jail before his case came to court. During that time my sister's name, place of business, and address were published in the court documents and newspapers.
It turned out that the car jacker had AIDS, thank God she didn't try to give him first aid. He went to court and had a high dollar lawyer appointed to him who worked his case pro bono (giving back to the community) and the prosecuter was a ditsy airhead that had just graduated from lawschool. She may not have even passed the bar yet because there was another lawyer that was there for every hearing but didn't do anything.
The pro bono lawyer argued that since my sister was married to a cop (reserve in a different parrish), carried a gun, and was alone in a bad neighborhood (she worked in the federal building in N.O.) that she must have been a "Dirty Harriet" (he used that term) out trying to kill a poor homeless man who just wanted a little change.
The cops at the crime scene confiscated her gun, and when he was acquitted 2 years later she tried to reclaim it only to discover that it was destroyed in a "paperwork mistake".
After he got out of jail he started driving by her house and even talked to her daughter, who was able to describe him to her, while she was playing in her front yard.
Her prompt call saved his life due to the paramedics rapid response. The time he spent in the hospital extended his life by years because he got detoxified (drug adict) and recieved thousands of dollars of taxpayer funded AIDS drugs.
Also, remember that if 1 is good, 2 is better, and half a magazine is even better than that.
Well, take my story for what it's worth, my little sister still has nightmares and flashbacks and has never been the same because of all the crap she had to go through after the shooting b. ecause her attacker survived.
I'm not saying that anyone should do anything, I'm just saying that if a piece of civiliazation's detritus is killed cleanly and humanely instead of living and suing you, that is a good thing. Fortunately, I live in a state with a strong castle doctrine and my right to defend myself and my family is more secure than alot of others who can EXPECT to get sued if their attacker lives.
I DO advise that if you ever have to shoot someone, unload on them and keep them covered until you are completely certain that there is no longer a threat.
I also say that if there is any doubt that an armed attacker might be reaching for a weapon, shoot again. and again. and again. until you are certain that your life is no longer in any way in danger.
Ya'll can pussyfoot around it any way you want, but the final answer is that if you were justified shooting someone, you should shoot to kill. If he lives you'll wish you had.