Apocalypse Whenever Rebooted discussion

I've been reading 77 Days in September and it has some interesting moral/ethical topics that I found interesting. They are small parts of the book so I wouldn't consider them as "spoilers".

This book is about an EMP attack on the United States and a man's (Kyle) trek from Texas to Montana so he can get back to his family.

To assist him in his cross country walk he has a crudely fashioned cart to carry his supplies. He ended up getting some food poisoning and spends a couple days near death trying to recover. During this illness someone takes his cart. When he recovers enough to start walking again he realizes the cart is gone and gives chase.

He is convinced that he cannot succeed or survive without the cart and he must get it back. Kyle finally finds the man that has taken it walking on the interstate. He sneaks up and behind the cover of a semi-truck he fires a warning shot from his rifle.

The man with the cart is surprised and at first acts all innocent and apologetic but soon turns the tables by pulling out his own guns and firing directly at Kyle.

Now Kyle becomes scared for his life and tells the man he can have the cart if he'll just let him live. The man just laughs at him and continues to pursue Kyle.

Now to the point, What was Kyle thinking? He thought he could just waltz in there with his gun and take it back without having to use his gun. If he is was just going to end up begging for his life he should've not gone after the cart in the first place.

What would you do in the same situation?