The Armed Citizen® July 21, 2023

by
posted on July 21, 2023
** 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

An Albuquerque, N.M., smoke shop hadn't even opened to the public yet when it suffered two break-ins, and the latest robbery attempt ended with the store owner shooting and killing one of the alleged burglars.

After the first break-in attempt, one of the shop owners began sleeping at the store. Around 3 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, the owner was awakened by an odd scratching sound coming from the side wall of the shop. Unbeknownst to the shop owner, the sound was being created by a man attempting to tunnel his way into the store. An hour later, the alleged intruder broke through the wall.

When the burglar emerged from the tunnel and stood up, he was waving a large hammer and an axe or chisel. The shop owner grabbed his gun and told the intruder to leave. Instead, the suspect walked toward him, swinging his implements, so the owner fired, shooting and killing the intruder. (KOB4; Albuquerque, N.M.; 4/22/23)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – August 1973

Hearing noises over the intercom that connects the hallways of his Middletown, R.I., motel, Fred Armbrust got his pistol and investigated. Armbrust found a prowler in a darkened room and fired once. The man ran from the motel. Police picked him up when he sought aid for a gunshot wound in his shoulder. (The Newport Daily News, Newport, R.I.)

Latest

Robinson Armament Xcrl Gotw 1
Robinson Armament Xcrl Gotw 1

Gun of the Week: Robinson Armament XCR-L

One man, Alex Robinson, took it upon himself to address what he saw as several shortcomings in the AR-15 design. He consulted with special forces operators and asked what they wanted in a rifle platform. The result was the Robinson Armament XCR.

Maryland Bans Glocks and the NRA Responds

Legislation recently signed into law by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore essentially bans nearly every Glock and Glock-style pistol on the market from being sold within the state.

The Armed Citizen® May 29, 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.

Federal Signs Agreement With U.S. Army to Improve Ammo Performance

Federal Ammunition announced this week that it has entered into an agreement that allows the U.S. Army to utilize its patented Peak Alloy ammunition case technology for use in multiple cartridges and weapon systems.

Four Armed Citizen Stories That Tell us a Lot

Each self-defense case is different. As we read them, we find ourselves wondering what we would have done, and then asking if the citizen made the best decisions possible in the worst-case scenario.

The Three Rs of Performance Shooting: Rise, Return & Realignment

Way back in the day, the three Rs of learning were colloquially known as "Readin’, Rightin’ and Rithmatic." In today's modern performance shooting, the three Rs become Rise, Return and Realignment, the core mechanics of recoil control.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.