The Armed Citizen® June 8, 2015

by
posted on June 8, 2015
** 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 (2)
Two Maryland criminals went home empty-handed when the armed resident of the home they were burglarizing caught them in the middle of the act. The pair was breaking into a St. Mary's County home when the 78-year-old resident was awakened by the commotion and came to investigate with his firearm. The two culprits immediately fled the scene without taking anything, and no shots were fired. A police dog was brought to the scene to help track down the two suspects, but as of this time no arrests have been made. (The Enterprise, Lexington Park, MD, 4/1/15)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A 14-year-old boy, Anthony Hernandez, protected his grandparents by shooting and killing a burglar who was breaking into the family’s Charlotte, N.C., home by climbing through a window. “My grandson told him to stop and get out of here and he didn’t, so my grandson shot him,” Anne Marie Wyant said during a 9-1-1 call. An accomplice has been arrested and charged, and police said the shooting was justified. The Wyants made a commitment to teach their grandchildren about self-defense six years ago, after Anthony’s father was shot to death while working at the auto shop he owned. “[Anthony is] his grandmother’s hero,” Wyant said. “If I was by myself, God knows what they [the intruder and his cohort] would have done to me.” (The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC, 12/18/14)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
November 1981
In seven years of facing criminals at his Glendale, Calif., jewelry store, Ed Kovacs has been held up four times, but has never lost a dime to robbers. The criminals, on the other hand, have suffered two dead and two wounded. In the most recent incident, a trio of criminals entered and demanded loot. Kovacs hauled out a .38 revolver instead, killing one shotgun-wielding robber, wounding a second and holding the third inside the store with the help of an electric lock. Kovacs said World War II service in Italy taught him “if someone points a gun at you, shoot him.” (The Times, Los Angeles, CA)

Latest

Ukraine Operators
Ukraine Operators

Ukraine Operators Use Drone Round to Defeat UAS

Ukrainian operators recently tested and defeated drones with the Drone Round—a purpose-built cartridge that requires no firearm modifications, no new equipment and no additional training.

From The Counter: The Gun Store Prime Directive

When visiting a firearm retailer, know when it’s appropriate to interject, and when you should keep quiet.

Red-Dot Occlusion Training: A Performance-Booster for You & Your Optic-Equipped Handgun

Red-dot occlusion is a passive technique that shooters can use to remain target-focused, thereby speeding up their performance with optic-equipped handguns.

New for 2026: Dead Air Nomad Ti Over-The-Barrel (OTB) Suppressor

The Dead Air Silencers Nomad Ti OTB is designed to be a compact and lightweight suppressor for the backcountry hunter.

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.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.