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

9X18 Makarov
9X18 Makarov

Shooting Surplus: Finding Affordable Mil-Surp Ammo in 2026

Today, the market for mil-surp ammo is vastly different than it was even just a few years ago. If you're a military-surplus collector and shooter, what should you look for in 2026? Here's our guide.

Colt Electro-Optics Introduces New Red Dots & Magnifier

No stranger to rebirth, Colt has recently spun off an optics division to make sure that, in a world where optics are considered to be standard equipment, a fully kitted-out gun can be all-pony.

What This Huge NFA Ruling Means for Gun Owners

The recent ruling in Jensen v. ATF and the subsequent lack of an appeal by the U.S. Department of Justice has left many gun owners with questions about purchasing NFA items. Here is some guidance.

Gun of the Week: Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard

In partnership with Lipsey's, Smith & Wesson recently re-introduced two of its classic Night Guard revolvers, the Models 386 and 396, which are chambered for the .357 Magnum and .44 Special, respectively.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 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.

A (Slightly Confusing) History of Colt's Police Positive Revolver

For one of the most popular law-enforcement revolvers ever made, the history of the Colt Police Positive isn't nearly as linear as one would think it'd be.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.