The Armed Citizen® Feb. 25, 2022

Law-Abiding Citizens Using Their Second Amendment Rights In Self-Defense

by
posted on February 25, 2022
** 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 Lyft driver in Philadelphia, Penn., acted in self-defense when two men allegedly tried to carjack him on Jan. 3, 2022.

The driver was on the road around 2 p.m. that Monday afternoon, when another vehicle rear-ended his car twice. Both cars pulled over, and the Lyft driver got out of his car. A passenger got out of the offending vehicle and approached the driver with a shotgun at the ready. The armed man then got into the driver's car in an apparent carjacking. Yet, unknown to the armed crook, the intended victim was a licensed concealed carry holder.

When the crook was distracted, the Lyft driver drew his concealed handgun and opened fire at the carjacker. The driver of the offending vehicle then attempted to run over the Lyft driver as he engaged the armed crook. Luckily, the Lyft driver avoided getting struck by the assailing vehicle, and fired shots at it as well. Both crooks then took off, with the armed carjacker fleeing in the driver's car. 

Police later found both suspected carjackers in separate vehicles, with the armed carjacker in the victim's car, and the accomplice in the striking vehicle. Both suffered wounds from the Lyft driver's shots, and were taken to local hospitals in critical condition. Police found weapons in both of the crook's cars. Luckily for the Lyft driver, he did not sustain any injuries from the incident. (philadelphia.cbslocal.com, Philadelphia, Penn., 01/04/2022)


From the Armed Citizen® Archives - Feb. 14, 1987

While Patrick Kelly was getting ready to make a delivery from his dairy truck in Pensacola, Fla., two men approached and stood behind him. Without saying a word, one struck Kelly with a tire iron, but the truck driver whipped out a pistol and fired on his assailants. One assailant was slightly wounded., and Kelly chased him down and held him for police. An accomplice was later picked up by police, and both were charged with attempted robbery. (The News Journal, Pensacola, Fla.)

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

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.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.