C3PX said:

Appropriate? Considerable? Whatever. Some punk tries to steal from me, I will hurt him. Obviously the situation varies with the size of the guy and what kinds of weapons he has, but if I have the opportunity to protect my property (even some lousy greenbacks) against some idiot who has decided to take it from me, I am going to take action.

I know you mean this in a general sense, and I won't argue. Just a reminder that in this specific case, the punk was a woman and the "weapon" she was holding was her child.

But I will grant you that anyone or anything can be dangerous...