The Armed Citizen® October 14, 2016

by
posted on October 14, 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.jpg (3)

Sneaking into someone’s home overnight turned out to be a poor decision for a bad guy in Snellville, Ga. Shortly before 4 a.m. one day in July, a husband and wife were awakened by the sound of someone attempting to break into their home. The male homeowner retrieved his gun and went to investigate. He discovered a man had put a ladder up against the house and was attempting to climb through the window of the master bathroom. The resident fired at the would-be burglar, and one of the homeowners called 9-1-1. While the police were interviewing him, the armed citizen said he was unsure whether the shot had hit the man who was breaking in. A subsequent search found the bad guy lying dead on the roof. Officers determined that the homeowners were within their rights to defend themselves, and they were not charged. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, GA, 7/29/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A group of six people were at a public park east of downtown Las Vegas around 4 a.m. playing the popular smartphone game, Pokemon Go, when a gunman and an underage driver approached them in an SUV and attempted to rob them at gunpoint. One of the Pokemon Go players, who had a concealed-carry permit, drew his gun and exchanged fire with the gunman. The armed robber and one Pokemon player were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Charges are expected against both the armed assailant and the young man who drove the SUV. (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas, NV, 7/25/16)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
May 1960
Chicago jeweler William S. Kraicek, suspicious of the stranger who entered his shop, quietly removed his pistol from a drawer behind the counter. When the stranger pulled a cal. .32 pistol and announced a stickup, Kraicek fired three times. The bandit, an ex-convict, was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival. (Chicago American, Chicago, IL)

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.