The Armed Citizen® May 21, 2021

by
posted on May 21, 2021
** 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

An 85-year-old homeowner in Cathedral City, Calif., was forced to act in self-defense when an intruder broke in on May 16, 2021.

The incident began around 6:15 p.m. that Sunday afternoon when a man forced his way into residence. Once inside, the intruder came across the occupants and a confrontation began. At this point, the the residents called authorities to report the intruder.

At some point during the confrontation, the intruder began to make death threats against the residents, spurring the 85-year-old homeowner to grab a gun. The homeowner then shot the intruder once in the upper body. The intruder was critically wounded by the shot and was taken to a local medical center intensive-care unit. None of the residents of the home were injured during the incident. (patch.com, Palm Desert, Calif, 05/17/2021)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives November 1985

Hearing a crash, Valerie Donaldson grabbed a gun and opened her bedroom door to find four masked and armed men who had burst into her Seattle, Wash., apartment. One burglar fired, wounding her in the stomach, but Donaldson shot and killed one burglar and sent the others running for cover. (The Chronicle, Spokane, Wash.)

Latest

AR on table with target
AR on table with target

Skills Check: Rifle Standard Delta 2

Carbine performance is all about maintaining control. The Rifle Standard Delta 2 is a drill that pressures recoil control, visual discipline and cadence as distance decreases and time compresses.

Gun Sales Up for the 7th Month in a Row in 2026

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) estimate of last month’s gun sales was up 2.2 percent compared to August 2025.

Caring For & Feeding Your Cap-and-Ball Revolvers

Compared to pistoleros of the 19th century, today’s handgunners have it easy. It's not enough just to get an old-school, cap-and-ball revolver. You also need to acquire everything to shoot and clean it.

Lighter & Better: Savage’s Updated Ultralite Series of Rifles

Savage Arms kicked off 2026 by announcing a new generation of Model 110 bolt-action rifles, and now, the company has also introduced an updated series of Ultralite rifles.

Gun of the Week: Franchi Momentum Elite MULE

One of the latest entrants into the general-utility rifle market is Franchi with its Momentum Utility Lite Elite bolt-action rifle, also known as the MULE.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 11, 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.