The Armed Citizen® Oct. 19, 2015

by
posted on October 19, 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 (4)
Breaking up before the big dance carried a steep price for several people. Two Wisconsin teens had a lovers’ spat before the prom, after the girl’s parents asked the boy to partially reimburse them since he backed out of the date. The Madison boy stewed about the request and became enraged. He returned to his girlfriend’s house in the wee hours of the morning and tried to break in. The girl’s father caught the boy and called him to task, prompting the boy to draw a knife and stab the man seven times. While the two males were grappling, the girl’s mother came out and fired a handgun into the air. The gunfire distracted the youth, and the man wrestled the teen to the ground. The boyfriend faces multiple charges, including attempted homicide. The girl’s father was airlifted to a hospital to have his wounds treated. (Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, WI, 5/8/15)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A 63-year-old concealed carrier thwarted a crime when an armed thief tried to rob his Warren, Mich., bank while he was inside. Investigators say the man was alone in the branch with three bank employees when the gunman burst into the building and announced a robbery. After the money had been loaded into bags and the criminal was preparing to leave, he pointed the gun at the bystanders one last time, at which point the armed citizen drew his firearm and fired three times. Struck all three times, the suspect then fled the bank but collapsed on the sidewalk, sending the pilfered money flying into the street. The bank robber was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his serious but not life-threatening wounds. The concealed carrier is not expected to face charges for the defensive use of his firearm. (The Macomb Daily, Clinton Township, MI, 9/22/15)

From The Armed Citizen® Archives
March 1988
The first time Jose Barrios was held up, the Miami, Fla., resident lost his left eye to an assailant’s bullet. But the second time, when a pair of armed robbers tried to stick up his market, Barrios was ready with his own revolver. When one of the criminals demanded cash at gunpoint, Barrios drew and fired, wounding the man and causing them both to flee. Two suspects were eventually arrested on armed robbery and related charges. (The Herald, Miami, FL)

Latest

firing a musket rifle
firing a musket rifle

Today’s Makers of Yesterday’s Firearms

Original firearms from the American Revolution era are valuable and best preserved for posterity. For those who want to shoot them, several modern makers offer quality reproductions.

Left Turn (Bolt): Tikka's New Left-Handed T3x Ace Rifles

Lefties of the world unite and rejoice, as Tikka has announced left-hand versions of its award-winning T3x Ace chassis rifles.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 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.

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.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.