The Armed Citizen® May 6, 2011

by
posted on May 6, 2011
** 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

Though Rocco Bombara's legs were amputated due to a medical condition, he is far from helpless. "He's not someone to mess with," said his daughter Nicco. "He's pretty tough. He does everything on his own." Rocco also understands that sometimes evil men perceive the physically challenged as easy prey. One such individual attempted to break into Bombara's apartment while his son, daughter and several of their friends were watching television. The intruder crawled halfway inside the window and randomly fired two shots from a rifle. Bombara drew a handgun from his wheelchair and returned a more precise shot, killing the intruder. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh, PA, 01/03/11)

Armed Citizen Extra

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

When three teenagers entered a St. Louis grocery store one afternoon and tried to steal some snacks, the store owner approached them, demanding that they pay for the snacks or leave the store. Two of the teens returned what they had taken, but the third pulled out a gun and pointed it at the owner. The owner then grabbed her own gun and fired two shots at the teen, hitting him in the buttocks. The teen was found on a nearby corner and was taken to the hospital. He now faces robbery charges. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, 11/24/10)

From The Armed Citizen Archive

May 1980: Cleveland housewife Mrs. Lenwood Layton returned from a shopping trip to find her home ransacked by a burglar. Mrs. Layton got her husband's hidden revolver and headed for a bedroom where she had heard the burglar at work. When sounds of the intruder came from the closet, Mrs. Layton threw open the door, fired one shot in warning, and a youthful burglar stepped out and surrendered. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Latest

9X18 Makarov
9X18 Makarov

Shooting Surplus: Finding Affordable Mil-Surp Ammo in 2026

Today, the market for mil-surp ammo is vastly different than it was even just a few years ago. If you're a military-surplus collector and shooter, what should you look for in 2026? Here's our guide.

Colt Electro-Optics Introduces New Red Dots & Magnifier

No stranger to rebirth, Colt has recently spun off an optics division to make sure that, in a world where optics are considered to be standard equipment, a fully kitted-out gun can be all-pony.

What This Huge NFA Ruling Means for Gun Owners

The recent ruling in Jensen v. ATF and the subsequent lack of an appeal by the U.S. Department of Justice has left many gun owners with questions about purchasing NFA items. Here is some guidance.

Gun of the Week: Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard

In partnership with Lipsey's, Smith & Wesson recently re-introduced two of its classic Night Guard revolvers, the Models 386 and 396, which are chambered for the .357 Magnum and .44 Special, respectively.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 14, 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 (Slightly Confusing) History of Colt's Police Positive Revolver

For one of the most popular law-enforcement revolvers ever made, the history of the Colt Police Positive isn't nearly as linear as one would think it'd be.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.