The Armed Citizen® April 2011

*Jeff Gibson and his wife, Tammy, had returned home after an evening church service when Jeff noticed something awry. "The garage door was open," he recalled. "When I went to see what was going on, I saw a black car pulling out." The car sped down the driveway toward Tammy, who was checking the mail. "Jeff's first thought was, 'I have to neutralize this situation and protect my wife, because he's headed straight for her,'" Tammy explained. A concealed-carry permit holder, Jeff drew his handgun and fired eight shots at the vehicle, causing it to crash. Jeff held the suspects for police. "You never really think you'll have to use [your firearm]," Jeff said. "I didn't want to use it, but at least I was prepared for it when the time came." (WKRN-5, Nashville, TN, 01/26/11)

*Retired banker Hall Palmer heard a noise and got up to investigate. As soon as he opened the door, the 70-year-old was face-to-face with a man dressed in all black and armed with a pistol. The suspect ordered Palmer to sit on the bed. He wanted the PIN for a bank card he'd found downstairs. Palmer said the card was expired, but he could give him some money. The suspect bound Palmer's hands with twine, led him downstairs and found his billfold. The suspect then bound Palmer's feet, gagged his mouth and went outside. But he'd underestimated his victim. Palmer wriggled free and retrieved his late father's .38-cal. Colt Army Special revolver. When the suspect returned, Palmer fired a shot, causing him to flee. The suspect had been carrying a pillow; Palmer wonders if it was intended to muffle the sound of his execution. (St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL, 01/20/11)

Armed Citizen Extra

In the middle of the night, a 47-year-old man awoke to the sound of shattering glass in his home. Assuming that a window had been broken by an intruder, the homeowner grabbed his .357 caliber revolver and went to investigate. When he spotted the male burglar, he fired six shots, killing him. Police arrived on the scene shortly after and the man was pronounced dead. (The Brunswick News, Glynn County, GA, 11/11/10)

From The Armed Citizen Archive

April 1960: A customer walked into James W. Jackson's liquor store in Goulds, Fla., and momentarily diverted the attention of 2 bandits holding a gun on the proprietor. Jackson yanked a cal. .38 revolver from under the counter and fired at the pair who ran outside to join a lookout companion and flee the scene. Police soon picked up the lookout who informed on his accomplices. They were seized in a stolen car, one of them lying prostrate in the back seat with a stomach wound from Jackson's gun. (The Miami News, Miama, FL)