The Armed Citizen® August 20, 2021

Law-Abiding Citizens Using Their 2nd Amendment Rights In Self-Defense

by
posted on August 20, 2021
** 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. **
The Armed Citizen

Armed Citizen® Today

A Webster Groves, Mo., homeowner stood his ground and defended himself when an uninvited guest forced their way into the residence on the night of Aug. 13, 2021.

It happened just before 3:00 a.m. that Friday morning when an intruder targeted the home and made his way in through the back door. Alerted to the intrusion, the homeowner armed himself with a shotgun and confronted the intruder. After repeatedly telling the would-be burglar to leave the residence, and being refused, the homeowner shot the man.

When police arrived on scene, the found the intruder with a critical wound, and he later died in hospital. A neighbor of the homeowner said "I would have done the same. That's the first thing I did when I heard my dogs go crazy, I grabbed my handgun." (kmov.com, Saint Louis, Mo., 03/16/2021)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives - August 1983

A would-be rapist awoke Claudine Hale in her Baltimore apartment, grabbed her by the throat and threatened to harm the children sleeping in the same room. Hale struggled with the assailant, then managed to reach a handgun, which she used to halt the attack. He fled after being shot, and the suspect was found dead nearby. Baltimore authorities declined to press charges against the woman. (The Evening Sun, Baltimore. Md.)

Latest

Hk G36 22Lr 1
Hk G36 22Lr 1

Gun of the Week: Heckler & Koch G36 .22 LR

Due to Germany's strict firearm-export laws, along with U.S. firearm import laws, the closest any HK fan could get to owning a real G36 was in the form of the HK SL8. Now, though, Heckler & Koch has introduced its G36 .22 LR, which, profile-wise, is a G36 in all but chambering.

The Armed Citizen® July 17, 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.

A Visit to the New Smith & Wesson Academy

Let the training (re)commence at Smith & Wesson's new Academy in Tennessee.

New for 2026: Leupold LCO Pro F2 Red-Dot Sight

The optic giant has updated its flagship red-dot sight with a host of upgraded features.

Rifleman Review: Heckler & Koch CC9

When Heckler & Koch USA launched its micro-compact CC9, it proved to be one of the most robustly built micro-compact handguns yet made.

Beyond the Headlines on Armed Citizen Stories

Concealed carriers in the U.S. commit almost no crimes with their lawfully owned firearms. Armed citizens do, however, stop a lot of crimes.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.