The Armed Citizen® March 7, 2016

by
posted on March 7, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
ac2009_fs.jpg (1)

An armed friend of a Stafford County homeowner thwarted a burglary. According to the Stafford County sheriff’s office, the friend stopped by to check on a treestand that he and the homeowner use for hunting. He saw copper pipes piled outside of a broken window. He then saw two individuals going through the homeowner’s belongings in the basement. He approached the two thugs and held them at gunpoint while he called 911. By the time the sheriff arrived, two other friends of the homeowner had joined the effort to keep the criminals in check. The suspects face various charges. No charges have been brought against the homeowner’s friends. (The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, VA, 8/28/15)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Followed home from work and assaulted right in front of her apartment, an armed 65-year-old Manchester, N.H., woman took matters into her own hands with her licensed, concealed handgun. The victim realized she was being followed before reaching her home, and intentionally parked as close to her building as possible. Upon seeing the 23-year-old man get out of his car and continue to follow her, the victim moved her gun from her purse to her coat pocket. The assailant then ran past her and blocked her path into her residence. When he reached out to grab her, the armed citizen pulled her handgun and shot him once in the chest. The suspect was taken to a local hospital, where he received treatment for a serious but not life-threatening wound. He has been charged with felony robbery and was arraigned from his hospital bed. (wmur.com, Manchester, NH, 1/6/16)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
November 1978
Having been raped twice before by the same man, a 51-year-old Los Angeles woman was ready when her attacker broke into her apartment for a third time. Having armed herself since the last assault, the woman drew her handgun when the man entered her bedroom and, following a brief struggle, fatally shot the rapist in the chest. (The Times, Los Angeles, CA)

Latest

Hk Cc9 GOTW 1
Hk Cc9 GOTW 1

Gun of the Week: Heckler & Koch CC9

The Heckler & Koch CC9 isn't merely just another micro-compact. It's the result of a significant amount of work on the part of the company's US subsidiary to create the first truly American-made HK.

The Armed Citizen® May 22, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Political Report | Braced Pistols’ Status Unresolved

The U.S. Supreme Court has characterized handguns as the “quintessential” Second Amendment arm. Pistol braces increase accuracy and ease of operation for large-format handguns, especially for users suffering from physical disabilities.

The PROOF Research PXT: A New Approach to Barrel Rifling

PROOF Research has introduced PROOF eXponential Twist (PXT)—an advancement in rifling that improves durability, accuracy and shootability—to the commercial market.

Review: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker

Back when American Rifleman reviewed Springfield's Model 2020 Waypoint, we noted that we ...couldn’t help but wonder if a tactical-version Model 2020 rifle might be a logical future offshoot of the Waypoint hunting rifle." With the Model 2020 Heatseeker, that version is finally here.

Marlin Goes Mad: The Marlin Mad Pig Customs Model 1894

Marlin’s latest Model 1894 lever-action rifle, a collaboration with Mad Pig Customs that is a far cry from traditional, delivers “modern, factory‑installed features previously found only on custom builds.”

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.