One afternoon, a 37-year-old mother of two heard a knock at the front door of her home. At first, the woman assumed the visitor was a solicitor and told her 9-year-old twins not to answer. When the knocking continued and the door bell began ringing repeatedly, the woman called her husband at work. Her husband advised her and the children to hide while he called 911. The family hid in a crawlspace in the attic. Meanwhile, the intruder had forced his way into the home using a crowbar. After rummaging through the home, the intruder worked his way to the attic where he was met with a .38-cal. revolver. The woman fired six times. The intruder was later transported to a local medical center and was expected to survive his multiple gunshot wounds. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Loganville, GA, 1/5/13)

A local 31-year-old man may have thought breaking into a senior citizen's home early Saturday would be easy pickings. But that was before he met the 88-year-old woman who owns the residence. Sgt. Brice Woolly, Ardmore Police Department Patrol Division, said dispatchers received a call about 4:35 a.m. "The call was from an alarm company. They said there was an intruder in the house and the owner had the subject and was holding him at gunpoint," Woolly said. Officers arrived at the residence and took the intruder into custody without incident. He was booked into the Carter County Detention Center pending formal charges. (The Ardmoreite, Ardmore, OK, 4/28/13)

Charlie Blackmore was driving home around 4 a.m. when he spotted a woman being assaulted along the side of the road. A man had pushed her to the ground and was kicking her repeatedly in the head and stomach. Blackmore stopped his car and ordered the man to stop the attack. The assailant then turned his attention to Blackmore and began approaching him. Thanks to Wisconsin's new concealed-carry law, Blackmore was able to draw his pistol and hold the suspect at gunpoint until police arrived. The woman was treated for what appeared to be a broken nose and large laceration on her face. (TheBlaze.com, West Allis, WI, 3/15/13)

A gunman entered a Philadelphia deli shortly after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, police said, where he drew a weapon and went behind the counter to where the owner's wife was standing. Pointing the gun to her chest, he forced her to her knees and ordered her to open the cash register. As she started taking the money out, she screamed for her husband, who came out from a back room with his gun. The gunman shot at the owner, missing him, and the owner fired back three times, fatally wounding him. "If my husband hadn't shot him, he would have been shot," said the wife. The owner agreed, "I didn't want it to come to that," he said. "But we had to defend ourselves." (The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, 2/7/13)

Phibbie Underwood, a 72-year-old woman on oxygen, was home alone when she heard the front door rattle, saw a shadow on the front porch and then heard a loud banging on the window. Underwood retrieved a gun she kept in her bedroom and returned to find a 26-year-old man who had broken the window and gained entry to her home. Underwood ordered the man to get out of her home and leave her alone. Instead the man walked into another room, then walked back toward her. Underwood warned the man to stop and when he didn't she pulled the trigger. The gun misfired, So Underwood fired again and missed. The man got down on the floor to avoid being shot. Underwood held the man there until police arrived. (Tribune Chronicle, Youngstown, OH, 3/29/13)

A father eating with his family at Burger King was able to defeat an armed robber by using his firearm. It was 1 p.m. when a would be robber walked into Burger King, flashed his gun at one of the diners and demanded the diner fork over money and valuables, Miami police said in a CBS report. The robber was exiting when the father, who feared for his and his family's lives, CBS said, took out his gun and shot the suspect in the leg. The suspect then fled, and was later found by police. He was taken to the hospital for treatment and charged with three counts of armed robbery, according to police. (Washington Times, Miami, FL, 4/8/13)

Lee Heng, 63, was asleep when two suspects allegedly scaled the wall and entered Heng's second-story apartment through the bathroom window. Heng woke to the sound of his 14-year-old son screaming. Realizing his son was in danger, Heng jumped out of bed and grabbed his gun. The armed intruders confronted Heng and a struggle ensued. Heng fired several shots which caused the men to flee. One suspect suffered fatal gunshot wounds and the second suspect was reportedly still at large. It's believed that the suspects were attempting to rob the jewelry store Heng runs on the first floor of his home. (TheBlaze.com, Philadelphia, PA, 4/1/13)

Two teens have been arrested in connection to an alleged break-in at an Oasis Gas Station in Shingleton. Police say the two suspects broke in to the gas station wearing ski masks and proceeded to the cash register. The two suspects were unaware that the gas station owner and Iraq war veteran Shawn Schank was still in the building. Police say that Schank ran towards the suspects and kicked one of them to the ground. He then retrieved his AR-15 from his office and ordered them to leave the business. According to police, one of the suspects peeled his mask off and pleaded that Schank not shoot him. They then fled on foot as Schank called 911. Police say that Schank recognized the face of the suspect that removed his mask, which led to the arrest of the two individuals. (Uppermichiganssource.com, Shingleton, MI, 4/29/13)

Paul Ohle, 69, was at home baking around 9 a.m. when he heard more than a dozen bangs on his front door. By the time he made it to the door, a man had already forced his way inside. The man told Ohle that he needed help, so Ohle picked up his cell phone to call 911. The man grabbed the phone from Ohle and pushed him onto the sofa. He ordered Ohle to stay where he was as he tried to take his television. Ohle struggled with the man, but managed to get to the .38-cal. handgun he kept in his bedroom. Ohle fired multiple rounds, killing the intruder. Ohle was later taken to an area hospital where he was treated and released. (Hickory Daily Record, Hickory, NC, 2/26/13)

A widowed grandmother who awoke to the sound of her back door being smashed open held the intruder at gunpoint until police arrived at her North Spokane home. Spokane police said the 63-year-old woman fired one shot at the man when she found him in her home around 12:20 a.m. but he was not injured. "I just woke up with the crash and grabbed my gun and got out of bed and said 'I'm armed' and he kept coming at me," the homeowner said. "I shot off one round and he kept coming, so I started backing up." The intruder "flopped" on her sofa, she said, and she got the phone and called 911. When police arrived the intruder attempted to flee, but went back in the house upon seeing officers. Police entered the home where the intruder resisted, but was finally subdued with help from the K9 unit. (The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA, 4/3/13)

Ernest Robinson, an assistant high school basketball coach, was escorting two of his female team members from the building one evening when they were approached by two teenage boys.  One of the teenagers wielded a gun. The gunman ordered the girls to leave as the other teen yanked at the chain Robinson wore around his neck.  Robinson quickly pulled out his concealed pistol and fired at both assailants, killing one and wounding the other. The surviving perpetrator is now being charged with one count of armed robbery and one count of assault with intent to rob while armed. (The Detroit News, Detroit, MI, 2/15/13)

Three masked men entered Plaza Jewelers one afternoon, one carrying a gun while the other two wielded hammers. Store owner Alfonso Angela spotted the men through the store window and grabbed the gun he kept hidden behind the counter. The two men with hammers, one carrying a bag, were approaching the glass cases of jewelry when Angela cocked the hammer of his gun. Within seconds, the men were making a hasty exit. Police were called and two male suspects were later taken into custody. (San Jose Mercury News, Fair Oaks, CA, 1/21/13)

Debi Keeney, 55, was at home with her sister, Donna Carlyle, 47, when she stepped outside to smoke a cigarette. As she closed the door behind her, a man approached and pushed his way inside the apartment. The man threw Keeney to the floor and put Carlyle in a choke hold. He demanded money as Carlyle gasped for air. Keeney was quickly able to get to a .22-cal. derringer she kept hidden in a side-table drawer. She warned the man to release her sister or she would shoot. When he continued to demand money, Keeney fired. The 33-year-old intruder was later taken to a local hospital to be treated for two gunshot wounds and was listed in critical condition. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Highland, MO, 2/11/13)

The Armed Citizen Extra
A 72-year-old South Side woman on oxygen held a man at gunpoint in her home Wednesday evening after he crashed through her porch window and onto her couch. Phibbie Underwood told the intruder, 26, that "you broke into the wrong house" and "I'll kill you" after he came through the window about 8 p.m. Wednesday police reports state. She fired one shot in his direction. Police said they arrived to find the intruder lying on the floor and Underwood pointing a .22-caliber revolver at him. Underwood put on a clinic on how to defend your home with a gun, according to the police chief. "She's a brave lady," he said. "She did exactly what she's supposed to do with a home defense firearm. Good for her." "She didn't use the gun until she felt threatened." (Tribune Chronicle, Youngstown, OH, 3/29/2013)

Michael and Amy Stephens were at home with their two young daughters when they saw deputies speeding past their home. The couple then overheard on their police scanner that there was a man in the area being sought by police. Michael grabbed a flashlight and headed outside to investigate and to make sure his family's home was secure. As he stepped outside, he saw the 26-year-old fugitive nearby. Michael attempted to detain him while Amy dialed 911. The fugitive was able to grab Michael's flashlight and started swinging it wildly over his head. Amy appeared with a .243 rifle and warned the man that she would shoot. Soon after, the fugitive was arrested and booked ons several preliminary charges. Michael suffered a few stitches, but was otherwise unharmed. (Daily Inter Lake, Evergreen, MT, 1/5/13)

The Armed Citizen Extra
A woman scared off men accused of breaking into homes by using her gun for protection, according to court documents. James Deweese, 30, of Michigan City, and David Keck, 26, of Crown Point, each were hared with residential entry and criminal mischief in connection with the March 11 incident. A resident there told police she saw a black Ford Fusion pull up on her driveway. A man left the car, walked to her door and began knocking and ringing the doorbell for several minutes, court records state. The woman told police she grabbed her handgun for protection because she was suspicious of the man. The man allegedly kicked in her door, and the woman pointed her gun at him. The man ran back to the car, which was driven by another person, and the woman took a picture of the car on her cellphone, court documents state. (North West Indiana Times, 3/22/13)

Roger Mundell, Jr. entered his garage one morning only to be confronted by a seemingly rabid bobcat that had gained entry through an open door. The bobcat attacked Mundell, biting him in the face and clawing at his arms. Mundell was able to escape the garage and thought the bobcat was still trapped inside. Before he could warn his 15-year-old nephew, Michael, of the danger, the bobcat was spotted nearby. The cat lunged at Michael grabbing him by the arm. As Mundell tried to pull the cat off of his nephew, his wife, Cindy, then retrieved a firearm and handed it to Mundell who shot the bobcat. The family was treated for injuries and vaccinated for rabies. It was later determined that the bobcat was, in fact, rabid. (Spencer New Leader, Amherst, MA, 1/18/13)

The Armed Citizen Extra
A clerk at a Casper hotel used a gun she kept in her lunchbox to thwart a robbery at her business early Friday, police said. The worker pulled out the gun after two men with covered faces approached her and said they were going to rob the hotel. The would-be robbers ran from the building and remain at large, said Sgt. Deahn Amend. No shots were fired and no one was injured in the incident. (The Casper Star Tribune, Casper, Wyoming, 1/5/13)

Hasib Kuric, a homeless man living behind a gas station, spotted two men putting on masks and gloves outside the building. Kuric ran inside to warn the clerk, Leonard Carr. The men followed Kuric inside and began shooting. Carr retrieved his own firearm and returned fire. One of the masked men was fatally wounded while the other fled and was arrested a few blocks away. He was charged with two counts of second-degree Attempted Felony Murder, one count of second-degree Felony Murder, and one count of Armed Occupied Burglary. Kuric and Carr were not injured. (Local10.com, Hollywood, FL, 1/15/13)

The Armed Citizen Extra
Police in Casper say a hotel clerk used a gun she kept in her lunch box to foil a robbery attempt. Two masked men entered the Quality Inn on Poplar Street before 1 a.m. on Friday and announced they were staging a robbery. The two men ran from the building after the female clerk pulled out her handgun. A spokeswoman for the Casper Police Department says the two remain at large. The Casper robbery attempt came three days after a pair of men with bandannas over their faces robbed a hotel in Laramie. The men in that case made off with an undisclosed amount of cash and have not been captured. Police are investigating whether the two cases are connected. (The Sunday Ranger, Casper, WY, 1/6/13)