True: according to the gun bigots it only counts as 'self-defense'

if
The criminal isn't badly hurt,
No guns are involved,
And the defender is worried about going to jail for his self-defense.
Otherwise it's settling their own scores with criminals and extreme self-defense tactics and vigilante-minded.

The thing this 'award-winning writer' does get right: if people know the police aren't going to be there, CANNOT be there, they'll damn well act to protect themselves.

As they have the right to do.