The Armed Citizen® July 23, 2013

by
posted on July 23, 2013
** 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 (2)

A man in his early 30s entered Armen's House of Music one afternoon, looked around and left. He returned just a few minutes later with a wooden club and began attacking the owner's wife, Sylvia Armen, who was working in the store at the time. The owner, Alfred Armen, heard the commotion and ran to his wife's aid. He tried to defend his wife and fought with the suspect before shooting him fatally. Mr. and Mrs. Armen were later taken to a hospital with head injuries and are expected to recover. According to police, there was no motive behind the attack. (WTAE.com, Bethel Park, PA, 4/27/13)

A Montana homeowner arrived at his home to find a suspicious car parked outside. He entered the home, encountered an intruder and shot him in the chest, according to the deputy. The intruder managed to flee the home out a window and into his car, only to crash his Ford into a fence. He was found dead in the car a short time later by emergency responders. (The Montana Standard, Helena, MT, 5/24/13)

From The Armed Citizen Archives

October 1980: Seventy-year-old Baxter Blagg was preparing to retire when a man climbed through the bedroom window of his home and aimed a revolver at his head. When his wife rushed through the room, distracting the intruder, Blagg was able to snatch his .38 from beneath a pillow. He fired and fatally wounded his assailant, who turned out to be an escaped convict. (The Tribune, Tulsa, OK)

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 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.