The Armed Citizen® January 29, 2013

by
posted on January 29, 2013
** 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

Jack and Linda Dillon were roused from their sleep at approximately 2:45 a.m. when they realized someone had just broken into their home. The intruder gained entry through an unlocked window. He allegedly entered the home with intent to steal electronics. Linda called 911 as Jack retrieved a firearm and confronted the 29-year-old intruder in their living room. Jack fired when the man lunged at him. The intruder's wound proved fatal. (The Morning Journal, Elyria, OH, 10/20/12)

The Armed Citizen Extra

One man was killed and another was at large Wednesday after a woman put her father's lesson in firearms to use during a burglary in southeast Oak Cliff. "I just hate that she didn't get both of them,' said Charles Brown, the homeowner. Dallas police say Brown's daughter was upstairs about 11:30 a.m. when the two men kicked down the front door of the family's home… The woman, alerted by a home alarm, fired several shots at the men, striking at least one of them as they charged up the stairs. Both men ran out of the front door, where one of them collapsed. The armed intruder was taken to Methodist Dallas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. (The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX, 10/18/12)

From The Armed Citizen Archives

Rev. Ellis Parker, a retired minister, heard someone open a window and enter his Gainesville, Fla., home one morning. Armed with his cal. .38 pistol, he fired once when the door to his bedroom opened, wounding an intruder in the stomach. A second prowler leaped through a window and escaped into a nearby woods. (The Sentinel Star, Orlando, Florida)

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.