The Armed Citizen® June 2, 2011

by
posted on June 2, 2011
** 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

Two people had just pulled up to a bank's drive-through automated teller machine when a man approached them on the driver's side of the vehicle. The man drew a gun and demanded that the driver withdraw $600 and give it to him. The driver told him the bank wouldn't allow him to withdraw that amount, but the passenger told the driver to go ahead and withdraw it. Secretly, the passenger just wanted a diversion to allow him to draw his handgun. As the suspect watched the driver withdraw money, the passenger saw his opening. "He reaches over and pushes the suspect's gun out of the driver's face and shoots him twice," said Jackson, Miss., Commander Wendell Watts. The suspect returned fire and the passenger shot him an additional four or five times. The suspect survived, but lost a kidney and his freedom. (The Northside Sun, Jackson, MS, 02/24/11)

The Armed Citizen Extra

Three 20-something men planned out an attack on a nearby home and decided to carry it out one night. Little did they know, the homeowner would be ready for them. Just after entering the home by breaking down the front door, two of the intruders were met by the homeowner and the end of his shotgun. One of the men fled, while the other was held at gunpoint until the police arrived. The men were charged with burglary and criminal conspiracy. (The Portland Daily Sun, Portland OR, 09/24/10)

From The Armed Citizen Archive

June 1978: Victimized by seven previous break-ins, Irma Sharp, 76, of Akron, Ohio, bought a gun. It paid off recently, when a youth posed as a newspaper boy to get into her house. Suspicious that he might be an impostor, Sharp retrieved her weapon just as two other teenagers burst through the door. They knocked her to the floor and put a knife to her throat. Managing to get up, Sharp turned and fired. "Let's get the hell out of here," she heard them say as they bolted through the door. (The Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio)

Latest

Smith Wesson Model 29 10 Facts 1
Smith Wesson Model 29 10 Facts 1

10 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About The Smith & Wesson Model 29

Without a doubt, the Smith & Wesson Model 29 is one of the 20th century’s most shootable, collectible "superstar" revolvers. Here are a few little-known facts about the gun.

Packable Punch: Discreet Ways to Carry More Firepower

While folding and takedown firearms chambered for full-power rifle cartridges may be niche defensive tools, the dark situations in which they shine brightest aren’t going away anytime soon.

Southpaw Solution: Ruger Introduces Left-Handed American Gen II Ranch Rifles

Traditionally, Ruger has offered a range of left-handed rifle models for the southpaws among us, and now, the company's Gen II American rifles are available in a left-handed variant, starting with the Ranch models.

Gun of the Week: Kimber 1911 DS Warrior LW

In 2026, Kimber developed its 1911 DS Warrior, an American-made, double-stack design that is intended to be an affordable entry point into Kimber's double-stack handgun line.

The Armed Citizen® April 24, 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.

Spin Difference: The Impact of Barrel Twist Rates on Terminal Performance

When most shooters think of rifling-twist rates, they mostly think of rifles with their high BC projectiles, but the rpm of a bullet also plays a part in terminal performance.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.