The Armed Citizen® February 3, 2020

by
posted on February 3, 2020
armed-citizen-main-image.jpg

firefighter (also a reserve deputy constable) was working on his home under construction May 2018 in Zachary, La., at 3:30 a.m. when an armed male, 23, approached him while riding a bicycle. The robber demanded money, but when the firefighter said he had none, he was forced at gunpoint into his vehicle and told to drive to multiple ATMs, where he withdrew cash, according to sheriff’s deputies.

Unhappy with the amount of money, the robber told the firefighter to go to his residence and get his wife’s ATM card. The firefighter asked the man to wait outside because he had large dogs inside that would attack. The robber agreed but threatened to kill the man and his family if he didn’t return to the vehicle. Once inside, the firefighter told his wife to call 911 and armed himself. The robber became impatient, entered the house and was promptly shot once by the armed citizen, who disarmed the robber and detained him until police showed up.

The robber was briefly treated for injuries from the gunshot and released from the hospital. He was then booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and convicted Oct. 31 of aggravated burglary, armed robbery and aggravated kidnapping, the last of which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. (The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., 11/1/2019; wafb.com, Baton Rouge, La., 5/7/2018, 6/27/2018)

Armed Citizen Extra
A 76-year old Genesee County man was forced to act quickly one Tuesday night in rural New York, when his evening was interrupted by an armed intruder. Upon answering a knock at his door, the burglar stuck a gun in the homeowner's face, and demanded money. After scraping together the money they had, the armed robber ordered them into a downstairs laundry room, at which point the homeowner was certain they would be shot. Refusing to be a victim, the 76-year-old took his chance while the robber was waiting on his wife to get in her stair-chair, went down to the basement and retrieved a shotgun. Hiding it behind his back, he waiting for the robber to enter the room before producing it, and sending a barrel's worth of bird shot at the unwelcome visitor. With the would-be robber neutralized, he called police, who retrieved the wounded intruder about 15 minutes later, ending the incident. (WGRZ, Stafford, New York11/6/2019)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
February 1975
Having been robbed just the night before, Mrs. Carol Williams, manager of a San Antonio, Tex., convenience store, responded to another demand for money by reaching under the counter "for the money bag." Instead, she came up shooting with a .22 pistol. The frightened robber fell to the floor, crawled to the door, and ran outside with an accomplice. (The San Antonio News, San Antonio, Tex.)

Latest

NRA Logo On Blue
NRA Logo On Blue

2025 NRA Board Election Results

The National Rifle Association is pleased to announce the results of the 2025 elections for the NRA Board of Directors.

 

Gun Of The Week: Beretta USA BRX1

Welcome to American Rifleman’s Gun Of The Week, and for this episode, we have a customizable, Italian-made straight-pull rifle from Beretta to work with on the range.

The Armed Citizen® April 11, 2025

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

Review: EAA Corp. Girsan Witness2311S Match 9 mm

EAA's Witness2311S gives American shooters the option of a value-driven, match-grade version of today's hybrid M1911, a design that typically commands a premium at the gun counter.

Henry Repeating Arms Moving All Manufacturing To Wisconsin

One hundred percent of Henry Repeating Arms manufacturing will soon be done in Wisconsin, according to a press release from the company in March.

I Have This Old Gun: Colt "Lightning" Revolver

Of Colt's Model 1877 double-action revolvers, the Lightning is the most well-known, chambered for the .38 Colt cartridge.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.