The Armed Citizen® January 6, 2012

by
posted on January 6, 2012
** 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

It was not a good day on the job for one would-be burglar. First, he tried to climb in the window of 77-year-old Donald McElrea’s home, but was caught in the act. Pistol in hand, McElrea confronted the burglar. The gun startled the burglar so badly that he lost his footing and plummeted 20 feet over the side of the elevated deck. McElrea told the burglar to stay on the ground while his wife called the police, and the burglar should’ve just cut his losses at that point. Instead he got up and charged McElrea, who opened fire. Police arrived to find the burglar injured from the fall, shot in the arm and considering a new line of work. (Harrison Daily Times, Harrison, AR, 10/18/11)

The Armed Citizen Extra

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

It was a seemingly quiet afternoon in a Pittsburgh, Pa., car repair shop when suddenly a masked man entered through an open door, wielding a gun and demanding money from the shop owner. After the owner handed over his money, the masked intruder stunned him in the back of the head with a stun gun. A Vietnam veteran and NRA firearms instructor who specializes in personal protection, the owner stumbled to his feet and grabbed his gun. When the intruder pointed his gun at him, the owner fired one shot, killing the man. (The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Pittsburgh, PA, 12/18/10)

From The Armed Citizen Archives

January 1966: When two gunmen in Upland, Calif., took $150 from liquor store owner Hugh M. Davenport and fled, Davenport ran out of the store with his carbine and riddled the fleeing bandits' car, bringing it to a halt. Davenport ruptured the left front tire and put holes in the radiator, the gas tank and the oil pan. The thugs then fled on foot. However, they were captured minutes later by the police. (The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA)

Latest

Ithaca Model 66  Super Single Shotgun
Ithaca Model 66  Super Single Shotgun

I Have This Old Gun: Ithaca Model 66 Super Single Shotgun

There was a time when a lever-action, single-shot scattergun was all the rage. Today, it still has some value and practical utility.

Cold-Weather Carry: 5 Great Items for Winter CCW

Don’t let the cold stop you from being prepared should things get hot.

Sighted Fire vs. Point-Shooting

A long-standing argument among handgunners revolves around the concept of sighted fire versus point-shooting. A more productive approach is to understand the problem each is trying to solve.

Derya Expands TM22 Family with Timekeeper & Pump Models

Derya continues the expansion of its rimfire line with two new models for 2026, an update of the original semi-auto TM22 and a new pump-action version.

Gun of the Week: Taurus RPC

The Taurus RPC is a welcome addition to the growing marketplace of PDWs, or personal defense weapons, a concept that pairs pistol-caliber cartridges with larger-format firearms.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 13, 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.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.