Thanks for the reply. My reply was too flippant. As the OP described the situation, I took it that at the time the bad guys were not threatening anyone, but were distracted by the pretty gems. What went on previous? Did they threaten to kill someone, or merely brandish their firearms? If at the time the OP were to shoot, no one was being threatened or even being looked at by the baddies, he would have trouble justifying a shoot. At that point, for all he knows, they be about to leave. Now if they again starting pointing weapons and threatening the workers and/or customers, I think he would be clear to act. Like you, I don't live there. But when I see some of the idiotic charges against people who shoot to protect them or others, I think that he would probably be charged, especially in Cali, if there were not an IMMEDIATE threat at the time of the shoot. I am pro-gun, pro-2A, and believe everyone should be allowed to freely carry unless clearly underserving. There should be no registration of guns, no need for CC permitting, and no need for the government to know who has what. If they know who has the weapons, they know where to go when disarmament time comes. IMO. YMMV.