The Armed Citizen® July 3, 2012

July 03, 2012

Rev. Henry Guyton, 71, a Baptist church pastor, called 911 one afternoon when a man at the church began acting as if he was having a heart attack. The man, 38-year-old Jesse Gates, left the church after being examined by EMS.

Ruger American Rifle

July 02, 2012

Ruger's American Rifle hit the market earlier this year and gave consumers a high-quality rifle at a price that any shooter could afford. Durable, lightweight and accurate, the American Rifle is a true return to Ruger's company roots.

Carrying

June 27, 2012

I had a small incident the other day and, while there were no lasting repercussions, it kind of got my attention. Several young men followed me and I don’t think they were up to any good. The following was conducted from their vehicle but I was able to elude them. Since none of the group presented anything like a professional or businesslike appearance, I believe they were going to victimize me in some way—or try to. Everything came out OK, and I am very happy about that. The point to remember is that I did not have a gun.

The Armed Citizen® June 26, 2012

June 26, 2012

Just after 2 p.m. one afternoon, a woman was home alone when she heard a knock at her door. The two men at the door began inquiring about a friend of hers. Suddenly she was forced back into the house at gunpoint and into a closet.

My Backup

June 26, 2012

I’ve been trying to figure out what gun I want to carry as a backup. I first considered getting another Ruger LCP, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted a wheelgun in .38 Spl.

PMC Starfire

June 25, 2012

Do you remember Starfire hollow points? Starfires were popular for the rib-and-flute design, ensuring penetration and expansion, before disappearing from the market. To be honest, I haven’t thought about them in years, but representatives from PMC Ammunition visited the office to exhibit its products, and, to my surprise, the catalog showed the self-defense round originally designed by Tom Burczynski.

Enough Gun?

June 25, 2012

It’s fun to play off the title of a great book by Robert Ruark—“Use Enough Gun.” Ruark was writing about Africa and dangerous game hunting, and when you are facing some humongous beast that can kill you in an instant, it is wise to use all the gun you can manage. Most people never get to fire one of those big .470 doubles, so they nod wisely at the title and agree. The key element in the equation is “all the gun you can manage.” I believe that most defense shooters never really determine what they can handle. Further, I’m guessing that they can probably use a lot more gun than they realize. Guns are mysterious things to most people, having been formed by the chronic mis-use of firearms on TV and in the movies. Most new shooters choose a firearm for personal defense on the basis of a brief conversation with an enthusiastic young man at a gun store counter. While it is logistically difficult to pull off, a beginner really needs to shoot a variety of calibers, styles and models of guns before choosing. Unfortunately, this is probably not going to happen.

Kimber Solo Carry

June 25, 2012

In an age where pocket pistols are becoming predominantly polymer, Kimber wanted to give shooters an all-metal option that brought power and a little style to the concealed carry gun. They did just that with the Kimber Solo series.

Lasers: Instant Versus Control

June 20, 2012

While there is no doubt that lasers are great tools for self-defense, there is a bit of an argument about instant-on versus push-button control. Some shooters prefer Crimson Trace because the laser activates when you grip the handgun, while others favor more control over the activation of the laser like the control button on LaserMax lasers.

The Armed Citizen® June 19, 2012

June 19, 2012

A man came to the door of Herschel Matheny, 82, and Jacqueline Hicks, 75, one morning and asked to use their telephone. When the man was given a phone to use, he reportedly stabbed Matheny in the chest and demanded money from Hicks.