444, It varies from state to state. IIRC, in New York (perhaps just in the City), you are required by the law to give way and exit your home before using deadly force. Other states have "home is your castle" laws, where you do not have to retreat before an invader.
In it's original guise, this thread was about racking a shotgun (and giving a warning) to a suspect inside your home. It has mutated into a discussion of one's "public duty" to eliminate housebrakers.
fix has apparently taken the "home is your castle" theory, and, based on his posts here, intends to shoot anyone in his home without his consent, without warning (if I have misstated his position, I'm sure he will correct me). I am suggesting that, based on my training and experience, which does included killing someone in self defense with all that entails, it is a last resort. Things are never as black and white as we would like.
fix, I will neither cower, nor shoot someone who is not posing a threat. I will subdue and apprehend those who enter and are not a threat, if safe and possible. I will force the retreat of those whom I cannot safely apprehend. I will shoot or otherwise disable those who pose a threat. Our society has decided that burglary (absent a threat of death) is not a capital offense. I agree with that. Murder and attempted murder in most states can be a capital offense. I agree with that as well.
Your choices may vary. So be it. You have reached your conclusions as suitable for you. I find mine suitable for me. I hope neither of us has to find out if we chose well or poorly. We can agree to disagree.