The Armed Citizen® August 8, 2016

by
posted on August 8, 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 (2)

A mid-afternoon attempted armed robbery backfired for the criminal, who ended up being shot to death by an armed citizen at the Tennessee clothing store he was trying to rob. Officials did not confirm whether the shooter was a store employee. Few of the Extreme Gear customers had much sympathy for the bad guy. “The young people don’t believe in nothing but to take, and that’s it,” one customer told a television reporter. The suspect was taken to the hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. He died later that night. (WMC Action News 5, Memphis, TN, 5/3/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A store employee in Hampton, Va., was legally carrying a gun when two thieves entered the business and tried to rob the place. Instead of complying, the worker drew his gun and fired upon both suspects. One of the culprits died at the scene, the other was apprehended a mile down the road with a non-life-threatening wound. The store employee was not injured during the incident, and no charges are being pressed by the authorities for the defensive use of the firearm. (wavy.com, Portsmouth, VA, 1/29/16)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
June 1965
Three would-be bandits, one armed, entered Henry Aldama’s Chicago, Ill., grocery store and demanded money. Aldama handed over the cash register receipts and told them there wasn’t any more money. The armed bandit fired a shot past the grocer’s ear and then pistol-whipped him. Aldama showed them a cigar box of change, then grabbed a revolver and fired, killing one bandit and wounding the other two. (Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL)

Latest

New Large-Format Pistols for 2026
New Large-Format Pistols for 2026

5 New Large-Format Pistols for 2026

There's been a huge surge in the large-format pistol category, and 2026 continues to showcase new models answering the wants and needs of today's firearm owners.

Short & Powerful: The EOTech Vudu 4-12x36 mm Super Short Riflescope

EOTech's ultra-compact 3-9x32 mm Vudu was a popular addition to the company's variable-powered riflescope line, and the new 4-12x36 mm Vudu ups the ante with new features in a still-compact package.

The Armed Citizen® May 11, 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.

Ukraine Operators Use Drone Round to Defeat UAS

Ukrainian operators recently tested and defeated drones with the Drone Round—a purpose-built cartridge that requires no firearm modifications, no new equipment and no additional training.

From The Counter: The Gun Store Prime Directive

When visiting a firearm retailer, know when it’s appropriate to interject, and when you should keep quiet.

Red-Dot Occlusion Training: A Performance-Booster for You & Your Optic-Equipped Handgun

Red-dot occlusion is a passive technique that shooters can use to remain target-focused, thereby speeding up their performance with optic-equipped handguns.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.