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

firing a musket rifle
firing a musket rifle

Today’s Makers of Yesterday’s Firearms

Original firearms from the American Revolution era are valuable and best preserved for posterity. For those who want to shoot them, several modern makers offer quality reproductions.

Left Turn (Bolt): Tikka's New Left-Handed T3x Ace Rifles

Lefties of the world unite and rejoice, as Tikka has announced left-hand versions of its award-winning T3x Ace chassis rifles.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 14, 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.

Skills Check: Rifle Standard Delta 2

Carbine performance is all about maintaining control. The Rifle Standard Delta 2 is a drill that pressures recoil control, visual discipline and cadence as distance decreases and time compresses.

Gun Sales Up for the 7th Month in a Row in 2026

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) estimate of last month’s gun sales was up 2.2 percent compared to August 2025.

Caring For & Feeding Your Cap-and-Ball Revolvers

Compared to pistoleros of the 19th century, today’s handgunners have it easy. It's not enough just to get an old-school, cap-and-ball revolver. You also need to acquire everything to shoot and clean it.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.