The Armed Citizen® April 15, 2015

by
posted on April 15, 2015
** 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 (3)

Kenneth Byrd, 67, traded gunfire with masked intruders after they entered his home and tried to rape his 19-year-old granddaughter. The incident began when Byrd opened the door for a man who had knocked and asked for water for his vehicle, and two other men then forced their way into the home. All three men were armed. Byrd was instructed to open a safe, but instead grabbed a gun and shot two of the suspects. The men fled in Byrd’s car. Two assailants were apprehended at a nearby hospital after seeking treatment for gunshot wounds. The third suspect sustained fatal injuries. Byrd also sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and was taken to the hospital. He was listed in critical condition. The suspects will reportedly be charged upon their release from the hospital. (The Fayetteville Observer, Lumberton, NC, 10/22/14)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
An unidentified man with a black hood pulled tightly around his face entered a Cleveland convenience store Tuesday evening, demanded money, drew a .22-cal. handgun and almost immediately opened fire on the business’s owner. After finding himself under attack, the store owner retrieved his own firearm and returned fire. Following a brief firefight, the criminal fled the scene on foot. The proprietor was not injured in the exchange, but the authorities believe the gunman may have been struck in the left arm or ribcage before he was able to escape. Local police are still investigating the incident in the hopes of identifying and arresting the robber. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH, 1/10/15)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
March 1961

After beating and kicking 61-year-old Benjamin Bailer in his Philadelphia tavern, three bandits cleaned out the register and sauntered to the door. Bailer crawled to a shelf where he kept his .38 revolver, fired at his tormentors, then got to his feet and began a pursuit. He found one of the men dead in the street a short distance away and abandoned the chase to have his own wounds dressed. (Philadelphia Bulletin, Philadelphia, PA)

Latest

attack in a back alley
attack in a back alley

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 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.

Rifleman Q&A: Understanding a Firearm's Cycle of Operation

The cycle of operation is the mechanical sequence of events that it takes to fire one shot out of a firearm. If one of those steps fails to take place as designed, there is an interruption in the cycle of operation and the gun stops firing.

Review: Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm Riflescope

Looking for a performance LPVO without the usual associated cost? The Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm might be your answer.

Myths & Misunderstandings About the “Modern Fighting 1911”

The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.