The Armed Citizen® Oct. 2, 2015

by
posted on October 2, 2015
** 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
Quick thinking helped a husband and wife survive a home invasion in Oklahoma. Three armed men entered the couple’s home through a sliding glass door. They made the woman lay on the floor in one room and tried to force her husband to do likewise in another room, but he complained that an old injury made getting to the floor unassisted difficult. While the male homeowner was using furniture to help himself to the floor, he grabbed the .357 Mag. revolver he kept by the coffee table and came up firing, hitting one of the intruders in the hand. Marshall County Undersheriff Danny Cryer later said that the man’s wife got involved at that point. She initially grabbed and fired the gun the injured intruder had dropped, but later used her own to shoot a second interloper near the collarbone. The three strangers then fled the home and joined their wheelman. Deputies later that day detained all four suspects. They face an array of charges, including robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Cryer said the homeowners, who were not injured, did exactly what they needed to do. (The Madill Record, Madill, OK, 4/2/15)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A trio of men attempted to rob a Las Vegas, Nev. woman, Wednesday evening, but the attempt would cost one of the three his life. As the female got out of her car, the three would-be robbers approached her, one of whom pointed a gun at her and demanded her purse. That’s when the victim’s male companion got out of the vehicle’s driver seat, produced his own handgun and fired several times— striking one of the thieves and causing his companions to flee. The injured man was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. His two accomplices are still being sought by the authorities. (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas, NV, 8/7/15)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
September 1979 
The youth who attempted to rob Elmhurst, Long Island podiatrist, Dr. Marvin Lurie, could have probably chosen a better victim. Dr. Lurie, a decorated veteran of WWII combat and an NRA member, is licensed to carry a concealed handgun—and he carries one. When the knife-wielding thug slashed Lurie’s arm and demanded drugs, the doctor drew his S&W revolver and shot his attacker. The wounded criminal fled the scene. (Newsday, Long Island, NY)

Latest

attack in a back alley
attack in a back alley

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.

Rifleman Q&A: Understanding a Firearm's Cycle of Operation

The cycle of operation is the mechanical sequence of events that it takes to fire one shot out of a firearm. If one of those steps fails to take place as designed, there is an interruption in the cycle of operation and the gun stops firing.

Review: Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm Riflescope

Looking for a performance LPVO without the usual associated cost? The Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm might be your answer.

Myths & Misunderstandings About the “Modern Fighting 1911”

The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.