The Armed Citizen® March 22, 2024

by
posted on March 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

A lone mother armed with a gun defended herself and her three children from a knife-wielding assailant inside a Mississippi home, garnering praise from local law enforcement.

According to a press release from Carroll County, Miss., law enforcement, officers received a call from a man at work who alerted them that a man was attempting to break into his home, with his wife and three kids inside. The 44-year-old suspect, when he couldn't kick down the door, drove a pickup truck into the dining room to gain entry.

As the man crashed into the house, the mother and three kids took refuge in the back of a closet and prayed while the suspect hunted for them. Eventually, the man found the family hiding in the closet, and as he entered, still wielding the knife, the mother shot him once in the arm, causing him to flee.

Local deputies arrived on the scene after the defensive encounter and chased the suspect, finally arresting him inside a local business. The man was taken to a local hospital to be treated for his gunshot wound and faces four counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary. At the time of the assault, police confirmed that the man was out on felony bond for possession of a weapon by a felon.

"We can all learn a lot from this family about the importance of having an emergency plan in place in our homes and, most importantly, the power of prayer," Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker told WLBT 3 News. "I thank the Lord for this father’s preparation; the bravery shown by the mother and children, and that what could have been a tragedy was transformed into a testimony of their faith in God." (WLBT 3 News; Gravel Hill, Miss.; 1/22/24)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – June 1971

Philip Finazzo, a Detroit. Mich., bar owner, rushed behind the counter and grabbed a .32-cal. revolver after an armed bandit took money from his bartender and customers. Firing several times, Finazzo fatally wounded the man and recovered the stolen cash. (The Detroit Free Press; Detroit, Mich.)

Latest

Phil Schreier Obituary F
Phil Schreier Obituary F

The Keefe Report: The Incomparable, Inimitable Phil Schreier—1962-2025

Philip Schreier, director of the NRA Museums, passed away on Dec. 29, 2025, after battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

America 250: The Tradition Of The Armed Citizen Lives On

The Declaration of Independence reaffirmed the right to self-determination—and the uniquely American practice of keeping and bearing arms allowed a new nation to thrive.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 5, 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.

Too Late: The Perils Of Waiting To Buy That One Gun

Gunmakers are often quiet when they discontinue a gun model. We’ve all felt the pain of suddenly discovering a firearm we’d love to own that is no longer available.

Preview: DA Targets Half-Size Silhouette Color-Changing Target

Replacing targets, time and time again, can be costly and time-consuming, which is where this U.S.-made product from DA Targets comes into play.

Return Of The Red Label: Ruger's New Red Label III Shotgun

Ruger's Red Label III marks the third generation of Ruger's classic over-under shotgun, which is finally making a reappearance after it was discontinued more than a decade ago.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.