The Armed Citizen® March 11, 2016

by
posted on March 11, 2016
** 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)

Early one morning at Café Azzurri, in Waterbury, Conn., while eight to 10 people were inside, a man armed with a handgun came inside and tried to rob everyone. One of the patrons, who had a legally registered handgun, fatally shot the robber in response. The armed citizen remained at the crime scene until the police arrived. Police said no charges have been brought against him. (NBC Connecticut, West Hartford, CT, 10/11/15)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A Charleston, S.C., man was sitting in his vehicle outside a local Waffle House in the early morning hours when he saw a 19-year-old armed with a gun enter the establishment and attempt to rob it. When the robber tried to leave the restaurant with a register full of money, the armed citizen drew his own weapon and ordered the criminal to throw down his firearm. Rather than comply, the suspect instead fired his gun at the man, who returned fire. The thief was struck once in the abdomen. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died. No injuries to the victim (who is a licensed concealed carry permit holder) were reported, and no charges were filed against him for the defensive use of his firearm. (The Post and Courier, Charleston, SC, 10/13/15)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
January 1989

When the doorbell rang at Doug Ferdig’s Aurora, Colo., home he thought it was just a salesman. But when he looked out the window, he saw a man walking around the side of the house. Ferdig armed himself with a pistol and then dialed 911. As he talked to the dispatcher he heard noises coming from upstairs. The 41-year-old mail man rushed up and confronted the intruder as he came out of the master bedroom where his wife was sleeping. When the man did not stop, Ferdig fired, wounding the intruder—a man whose police record included several arrests for burglary and related charges. (The Denver Post, Denver, CO)

Latest

More Suppressors 2
More Suppressors 2

NFA Wait Times Continue to Drop

In early 2021, it took the ATF about 280 days to process a Form 4 NFA transfer. In August 2026, using the recently implemented eForms system, that wait time had dropped to only nine days.

Pelican Air Carry-on Case Review

An industry staple just made air travel more convenient.

The ROSE Program by SIG Sauer: Empowering Women in Shooting Sports Across the Nation

The ROSE Program is a shooting program created specifically for women. It aims to create a community of women in shooting that can learn about shooting and self-defense.

I Have This Old Gun: French MAS-49

Despite being early adopters of several semi-automatic rifles for military use, the French army took several decades to work out a standardized semi-automatic rifle for general service use. The rifle that finally came to being was the MAS-49.

Polite Society Industries Launches with Complete Suppressor Line

"An armed society is a polite society," goes the famous quote, which is also the inspiration behind Polite Society Industries, a new suppressor manufacturer that now has a complete line available to consumers.

NRA-ILA Names Smith & Wesson Official Partner of the 2026 NRA Gun Bus Battleground Tour

Iconic American firearms maker Smith & Wesson will join NRA-ILA on the road as nation's leading firearm group turns out voters ahead of the 2026 midterm.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.