The Armed Citizen Sept. 24, 2021

Law-Abiding Citizens Using Their 2nd Amendment Rights In Self-Defense

by
posted on September 24, 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

A man was forced to defend himself when he was ambushed by a group of thugs outside of an Austin, Ill., home on July 27, 2021.

The 42-year-old man was speaking with his uncle in the front yard of a home around 10:30 p.m. that Tuesday night, when a car drove by with the window down as the driver glared at the man. The car went around the block before pulling up again and coming to a stop. The driver said to the man, "What's up?" as five to six others got out of the car. Members of the group punched the man, who saw that another was armed with a handgun. The armed assailant then shot the man in the thigh, and the man responded by drawing his own concealed-carry handgun and firing back.

The armed assailant was struck in the shoulder by the man's shot, and the band of thugs jumped back into the car before driving off. Police were able to get a partial description of the car and its license plate, and they soon found it and the wounded assailant. As it turned out, the assailant that had the gun was a 16-year-old. During the teen's court hearing, the judge came down on him with a Class X felony charge of aggravated battery with a gun and set bond at $500,000, saying, "This is the definition of violence right here.” (news.yahoo.com, Chicago, Ill., 07/29/2021)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives - November 1986

As Harold Tomlin was closing his Bakersfield, Calif., pharmacy, a man approached and tried to rob the pharmacist, threatening to kill him. When the intruder began to pull a pistol, Tomlin drew his .38-cal. revolver and fired. He missed, but the man dropped to the floor and pleaded with Tomlin not to kill him, saying the gun was a toy. The pharmacist held the man for police. (The Californian, Bakersfield, Calif.)

Latest

Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web
Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web

Gun Of The Week: Wilson Combat Division 77 Project 1

Join American Rifleman staff on the range in this video to get a closer look at Wilson Combat’s somewhat cryptically named “Division 77 Project 1.” 

The Armed Citizen® July 18, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: POF-USA LMR BASE Rifle

The Patriot Ordnance Factory LMR Base offers a .308 Win. chambering in a lightweight, AR-15-size package, which makes it a capable platform for today's new gun owner. And it comes at a fair price.

2025 Accessory Of The Year: Wyoming Sight Drifter

For each of the past 23 years, the editors of American Rifleman have convened to select our top picks for the past year’s best and most innovative products. Here are the most recent winners.

Henry Donates Rifles To Support Young Leukemia Victim

Henry Repeating Arms has donated a limited run of 50 “Team Keane” Golden Boy .22 lever-action rifles to support 13-year-old Keane Rhodes of Universal City, Texas, who is currently undergoing aggressive treatment for ALL T-cell leukemia.

Rifleman Review: Springfield Armory Echelon

Springfield Armory introduced its Echelon in 2023, bringing a modernized, chassis-style, striker-fired handgun to the market that has since seen several notable line extensions.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.