The Armed Citizen® February 15, 2012

The first thing John Chapman did upon returning home to find his front door propped open was retrieve his Taurus .38-cal. revolver. He slowly went upstairs to investigate, noting that drawers in the bedroom had been opened and items were strewn about. An intruder then sprang from behind the bedroom door. Chapman told him not to move, but the intruder rushed at him anyway. Chapman fired two shots. The intruder ran outside and collapsed on the sidewalk. He will be arrested after his release from the hospital. (Charleston Gazette, Charleston, WV, 11/03/11)

The Armed Citizen Extra
(The following account did not appear in the print version of American Rifleman.)

A residential landscaper arrived for work one morning and quickly realized that his client's house was being burglarized. The landscaper confronted the burglar and fired a shot, striking the suspect. The suspect faced charges upon his release from the hospital. (The Everett Herald, Tacoma, WA, 08/18/11)

From The Armed Citizen Archives
February 1977: Two thieves were stashing the money they had robbed from 65-year-old Joe Fereira's grocery in a paper bag and had turned toward the front door, when Fereira, whose Fresno, Calif., store had been robbed just a few months before, drew his handgun and fired. He wounded one robber in the arm, forcing him to drop the cash. A passer-by chased and caught the other crook. (The Bee, Fresno, CA)

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9 Responses to The Armed Citizen® February 15, 2012

bob wrote:
December 16, 2012

If joe fereira did that nowadays he'd be locked up because they would say he was no longer threatened

Sam wrote:
April 08, 2012

It is not always necessary to discharge your weapon to deter a crime or to hold a perp for the police. HOWEVER, you must keep in mind that whether or not you fire your weapon, once you draw it, your life will forever be changed, for now you are aware that you may have been required to take another person's life.

S. Hatch wrote:
February 26, 2012

Mr Bivens it is appropriate to let a fleeing intruder go and one could be charged with a crime for shooting an individual who poses no threat, however holding an assailant at gun point is not a crime especially if that assailant posseses the ability to do you harm. Sometimes it may be that the mere knowledge of the fact that you are armed may deter an attacker and other times it may be necesary to provide a visual aid to a would be attacker. simply pulling out a gun does not require you to shoot if the attacker withdraws.

John H wrote:
February 23, 2012

Glen I have drawn a gun and stoped a advancing intruder with out firing. I could have fired but ending up not needing to. I really belive the crowbar carring intruder would have hit me if I was not holding a pump shotgun directed at his face. We will never know what the outcome would have been if I wasn't armed but I don't think it would have been good.

GL Dwight/Pueblo CO wrote:
February 22, 2012

I just love it when I read these jerks are shot! Much better that way as it's a sure cure to their careers as criminals. Anyone breaking into someone's home needs to be shot imo.

Glen Bivens wrote:
February 22, 2012

I enjoy reading these, but many go against what we learn in our CCW training classes. Primarily, with regard to letting theft attempts go (outside in a garage for instance) where human life is lost over a simple property theft. 1: Can't charges surface for manacing (pointing a gun), even against a would-be thief, and 2: 'Holding' someone at gunpoint. I thought one was NEVER to draw, without absolute intent to fire. Please comment.

Bill wrote:
February 22, 2012

The Armed Citizen is the first thing I read in each new issue of the Rifleman. Let us have more here!

Dogma2 wrote:
February 15, 2012

Love these accounts!

Will Rodriguez wrote:
February 15, 2012

Thank God for the 2nd Amendment. Hope the crooks go away for a long time.