The Armed Citizen® July 22, 2024

by
posted on July 22, 2024
** 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

Two suspects are in custody, with one suffering minor injuries, after attempting a burglary in Surprise, Ariz., which was thwarted by an armed homeowner.

Police responded to reports of a break-in early in the morning on Monday, April 22. A follow-up 911 call noted that the homeowner had fired shots at the alleged intruders, and then a third call came in separately about a person who was found with a gunshot wound a short distance from the house.

The suspects told officers that they knew the homeowner and had come for a visit, but an investigation revealed evidence that the teenagers were trying to burglarize the home. The 19-year-old suspect wounded by the homeowner's gunfire was booked on charges of first-degree burglary, theft and misconduct involving weapons. The second unidentified suspect was booked on one count of second-degree burglary.

Court documents revealed that, later, both suspects admitted that they attempted to steal $30,000 in cash from the victim's safe. (Arizona's Family; Surprise, Ariz.; 4/24/24)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – October 1977

When a convicted murderer who had escaped from a South Carolina prison entered his Fayetteville, N.C., store and demanded money, M.T. Westerfield pulled a .38-cal. revolver instead. The store owner and armed robber shot it out, and the felon was killed. (The State; Columbia, S.C.)

Latest

Icarry Diamondback Sdr Galco 1
Icarry Diamondback Sdr Galco 1

I Carry: Diamondback SDR in a Galco Hornet Holster

For our latest "I Carry" episode above, we paired the six-round Diamondback SDR DA/SA snubnose revolver with a simple leather holster from Galco, along with one of the latest EDC flashlights from Streamlight.

The Armed Citizen® May 8, 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.

Creating the Ideal First-Time Shooting Experience

That first time behind a trigger can shape a newcomer’s attitude towards firearms. Here are five ways to make the experience a success.

Henry Repeating Arms Founder & CEO Honored as Law Enforcement Supporter of the Year

Henry Repeating Arms founder and CEO Anthony Imperato has been named Law Enforcement Supporter of the Year by New York State Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Lodge 100.

New For 2026: TriStar Arms APOC Pro

The new APOC Pro takes the original TriStar Arms APOC pistol design introduced in 2025 and makes it optics- and suppressor-ready.

7 New Over-Under Shotguns for 2026

Ever since the development of the iconic Browning Superposed shotgun in the early 1930s, the concept of an over-under shotgun has remained popular not just with American shooters but shotgunners the world over.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.