Pulling the trigger.

[Nix]

Excellent question.

Unless they've done it before, no one is going to know for sure how killing another Human Being will affect them or even if they could do it in the first place. I don't care how tough some people make out they are, looking someone in the eye and pulling the trigger is not to be taken lightly or done easily. Most certainly it'll be the pyschological aspect that will be most difficult to deal with. Too easy to mouth off that you're the son of Rambo and wiping out a whole gang of baddies is all in a days work and won't disturb your sleep.

I have often thought about this scenario and I've come to the conclusion that thinking about it is the only prep available ie psyching yourself up to the possibility. What will certainly help is to be able to justify it. This will most likely be in the form of "protecting loved ones". Think about what would happen and how you would feel if you didn't act quickly enough with conviction? You'd never forgive yourself.

Keep that in mind and, hopefully, if you are ever faced with this decision, you'll do the right thing. JMHO.