The Armed Citizen® April 18, 2016

by
posted on April 18, 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 (5)

Two New Mexico burglary victims used a rifle and a handgun to keep a thief under wraps until the police arrived. One of the Albuquerque residents came home and noticed a stranger loading items—including a generator the homeowner recognized as his—into a vehicle. He approached the alleged thief and asked him to stop, but the bad guy scoffed at him. The man went into his house, armed himself and his wife, and the two confronted the suspect, holding him at gunpoint until the police arrived. (Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, NM, 11/21/15)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Thanks to his handgun, a South Anchorage, Alaska, man was able to thwart the robbery of his home, likely sending one of the assailants to the hospital in the process. Several suspects knocked on the door to the residence, and when the homeowner opened it to speak to them, one of the cretins pepper-sprayed him. The victim responded by drawing the handgun he had on him and firing at his attackers, causing them to flee the scene in a vehicle. A half-hour later a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound arrived at the local hospital. Police are investigating whether the injured man was involved in the attempted home invasion. Other than being hit with the pepper spray, the armed citizen was not harmed during the failed robbery. (Alaska Dispatch News, Anchorage, AL, 11/14/15)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
May 1970

Seeing two men get out of a car at 3 a.m. and break into the closed Flat Rock, Ind., service station where he was a part-time employee, Ray McClure alerted William Porter, who lived nearby. The pair called the police and four more neighbors. The latter took shotguns to the station and captured the two burglars. Two men and two women drove up to collect the two burglars, and the armed citizens also captured that foursome, as well. All six were held at the scene until the police arrived. (The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, IN)

Latest

Hk G36 22Lr 1
Hk G36 22Lr 1

Gun of the Week: Heckler & Koch G36 .22 LR

Due to Germany's strict firearm-export laws, along with U.S. firearm import laws, the closest any HK fan could get to owning a real G36 was in the form of the HK SL8. Now, though, Heckler & Koch has introduced its G36 .22 LR, which, profile-wise, is a G36 in all but chambering.

The Armed Citizen® July 17, 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.

A Visit to the New Smith & Wesson Academy

Let the training (re)commence at Smith & Wesson's new Academy in Tennessee.

New for 2026: Leupold LCO Pro F2 Red-Dot Sight

The optic giant has updated its flagship red-dot sight with a host of upgraded features.

Rifleman Review: Heckler & Koch CC9

When Heckler & Koch USA launched its micro-compact CC9, it proved to be one of the most robustly built micro-compact handguns yet made.

Beyond the Headlines on Armed Citizen Stories

Concealed carriers in the U.S. commit almost no crimes with their lawfully owned firearms. Armed citizens do, however, stop a lot of crimes.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.