The Armed Citizen® Jan. 26, 2016

by
posted on January 26, 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-2.jpg (2)

Luck ran out for a thief who was involved in a spree of car burglaries in Fayetteville, Ark. One would-be victim held the suspect at gunpoint after the armed citizen caught the bad guy in the act of breaking into his car. The suspect later confessed to multiple vehicle break-ins in the area. (KNWA, Fayetteville, AR)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
An Angleton, Texas, man used a handgun to keep a thief from stealing his vehicle. The man was staying at a local hotel when he and his wife were awakened in the middle of the night by sounds outside; looking into the parking lot, he watched as a 31-year-old man attempted to break into his SUV. Bringing his gun with him, the owner of the vehicle confronted and shot the culprit. The hotel manager called the police after witnessing the altercation, and the authorities arrived to find the suspect on the floor of the hotel lobby with a gunshot wound to the chest. According to the police, the wounded man is expected to live. (thefacts.com, Clute, TX, 10/20/15)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
October 1986
A Chula Vista, Calif., couple on a weekend fishing trip along the Mexican border was menaced by a group of 10 men, some armed with knives. When the men split into two groups and circled John Spizale’s camper, he got out his .45 pistol. One of the men pointed at his gun asking, “Bullets?” Spizale replied that the gun was indeed loaded and that he was prepared to use it. The group left, and the Border Patrol said that the gun’s presence probably saved the couple’s lives. (The Star-News, Chula Vista, CA)

Latest

Chiappa Rhino Large Frame 01
Chiappa Rhino Large Frame 01

A Bigger Rhino: The Chiappa 60DS L-Frame In .44 Mag.

The Chiappa Rhino revolver design is "anything but ordinary," and for 2026, the company is upscaling the concept to handle the .44 Magnum cartridge.

Preview: Magpul MOE QD Bipod For M-Lok

Simple, inexpensive and supremely easy to use, the new MOE QD Bipod For M-Lok is Magpul’s fastest-mounting bipod model by far, as it takes only about five seconds for the practiced hand to securely affix it to an M-Lok-clad fore-end.

Gun Of The Week: Henry SPD HUSH

For its first design, Henry Repeating Arms' Special Products Division developed the HUSH, or the Henry Ultimate Suppressor Host. 

The Armed Citizen® Dec. 19, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

TriStar Arms Protégé X: A Pocket-Size Punch

Inspired by successful designs of the past, the TriStar Arms Protégé X is a pocket-size, M1911-style handgun chambered for the popular 9 mm cartridge.

Hornady Family Honored with Legacy Award

In October, the Hornady family was recognized by the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation for its contribution to the city that Hornady calls home.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.