The Armed Citizen® Jan. 26, 2016

by
posted on January 26, 2016
** 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-2.jpg (2)

Luck ran out for a thief who was involved in a spree of car burglaries in Fayetteville, Ark. One would-be victim held the suspect at gunpoint after the armed citizen caught the bad guy in the act of breaking into his car. The suspect later confessed to multiple vehicle break-ins in the area. (KNWA, Fayetteville, AR)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
An Angleton, Texas, man used a handgun to keep a thief from stealing his vehicle. The man was staying at a local hotel when he and his wife were awakened in the middle of the night by sounds outside; looking into the parking lot, he watched as a 31-year-old man attempted to break into his SUV. Bringing his gun with him, the owner of the vehicle confronted and shot the culprit. The hotel manager called the police after witnessing the altercation, and the authorities arrived to find the suspect on the floor of the hotel lobby with a gunshot wound to the chest. According to the police, the wounded man is expected to live. (thefacts.com, Clute, TX, 10/20/15)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
October 1986
A Chula Vista, Calif., couple on a weekend fishing trip along the Mexican border was menaced by a group of 10 men, some armed with knives. When the men split into two groups and circled John Spizale’s camper, he got out his .45 pistol. One of the men pointed at his gun asking, “Bullets?” Spizale replied that the gun was indeed loaded and that he was prepared to use it. The group left, and the Border Patrol said that the gun’s presence probably saved the couple’s lives. (The Star-News, Chula Vista, CA)

Latest

Vang Comp 870 1
Vang Comp 870 1

Perfecting The Remington 870 Shotgun With Vang Comp Systems

One American Rifleman contributor let Vang Comp Systems work its magic on a well-used Remington 870 Police Magnum shotgun.

Gunsite Academy Celebrates 50 Years

2026 marks the 50th anniversary of Gunsite, an elite training establishment in Arizona founded by Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper to help train Americans in the pragmatic use of firearms for personal protection.

Gun of the Week: Primary Weapons Systems UXR

Primary Weapons System took the consumer demand for modularity in firearm design to the next level with its UXR or User Xchangeable Rifle.

Heritage Rough Rider Now Available in .32 H&R Magnum

Long available only in rimfire chamberings, Heritage Manufacturing's popular Rough Rider revolver series is now available in the .32 H&R Magnum centerfire chambering for the first time.

Get Your Official NRA Licensed Merchandise!

It’s never been easier to show your pride in NRA than with a new line of NRA Official Merchandise!

The Armed Citizen® April 17, 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.