The Armed Citizen® December 30, 2016

by
posted on December 30, 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 (7)

Sometimes words are enough when an armed citizen is confronting a troublemaker. In Salt Lake City, Utah, a homeowner said the magic words—I have a gun—and scared off two burglary suspects. A man and his wife were awakened by the sound of their garage alarm going off around 3:30 a.m. one morning. The male resident got his gun and went to see what was happening. He saw a stranger inside the car in the garage and he asked what the man was doing. The suspect’s accomplice, who had been waiting in a getaway car, noticed that his buddy was being confronted and approached on foot. At that point, the homeowner said he was armed and both suspects scampered off. (Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, UT, 10/14/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Law enforcement agents moved quickly to make an arrest in an alleged murder that started out as robbery/burglary. Police were given the location at which they might find the suspect, but the suspect was warned by his father of their impending presence, and fled out the back door of an outside building in which he had been hiding. A foot chase ensued between the suspect and the officers, with the suspect firing shots at the officers. The manhunt continued over the next several hours, but the suspect was eventually located with the help of an observant homeowner, who discovered him hiding under a pool table in his garage. The homeowner had gone into the garage to retrieve a tool when he spotted a man's legs sticking out from under the table. He proceeded to disarm the man and held him at gunpoint until officers arrived. (The Banner-Gazette, Pekin, IN, 11/9/16)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
December 1982
A would-be robber brandishing a piece of broken glass demanded all the money in the cash register of a Rock Hill, S.C., convenience store. Clerk Regina Moore countered with a drawn revolver and forced the man to lie facedown on the pavement outside while she sent her son to get the police. (The Evening Herald, Rock Hill, SC)

Latest

Springfield New Coas 01
Springfield New Coas 01

Making the A-Cut: Springfield Armory's COA-Ready Operator, TRP & DS Prodigy Pistols

Springfield has already released a COA-ready version of its Echelon earlier this year, and the new models will bring the A-Cut to the company’s hammer-fired handguns, including the 1911 Operator, 1911 TRP and 1911 DS Prodigy.

Skills Check: Snake-Eyes Drill

Our drill this month trains you to form a stable firing platform early enough to gain optimal control before the shot breaks. Timing is of the essence.

A Memorial Day Conversation With Grey Team

Grey Team was founded to help armed services members and veterans with the physiological impacts traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain and more.

42 New Handguns for 2026

Within the entire firearm marketplace, handguns continue to be some of the most popular offerings, and for good reason.

The Armed Citizen® May 25, 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.

President’s Column | Hope Is Not a Strategy

It was great meeting so many enthusiastic and supportive NRA members at the NRA Annual Meeting in Houston. Your words of encouragement and suggestions are propelling your NRA 2.0 forward.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.