The Armed Citizen® April 1, 2016

by
posted on April 1, 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

A 13-year-old South Carolina boy used deadly force to defend himself and his family’s home during a daylight burglary attempt. The teen saw a vehicle with two people inside pull up behind the house. One man got out of the car and started trying to break into the house. The boy became scared and retrieved his mother’s handgun and shot at the intruder. The teen told media later that his mother has taught him about gun safety and said he could use the gun to protect himself. An exchange of gunfire followed the initial shot, but the boy was not hit. The suspect, though, was shot three times. He died at the hospital after his accomplice dropped him off for treatment and then fled. Police found a handgun that did not belong to the homeowners in the backyard, and officers later arrested the second suspect. (Post & Courier, Charleston, SC, 11/11/15)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
An Albuquerque, N.M., homeowner used his gun to prevent several car burglars from breaking into his vehicle. Catching numerous men wearing ski masks in the act, the resident opened fire when one of the creeps pointed a gun at him. All of the suspects fled the scene, but 15 minutes later they dropped one of their number off outside a local hospital with a gunshot wound before speeding away. The injured suspect is in stable condition, and the police are searching for his accomplices. (Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, NM, 12/7/15)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives:
November 1960
Maintaining a vigil in his Austin, Texas, grocery store after a series of recent break-ins, Hale Hornsby surprised a burglar and shot him in the arm with a .45-cal. pistol. The wounded man, a four-time penitentiary inmate, was later taken into custody by the police. (Austin Statesman, Austin, TX)

Latest

Gotw Hk Vp9cc 1
Gotw Hk Vp9cc 1

Gun of the Week: H&K VP9CC

Hot on the heels of its CC9 micro-compact, Heckler & Koch introduced a micro companion to its popular VP9 lineup that includes some noteworthy features.

A Raven at 50: Five Days at Gunsite Academy

In Gunsite Academy's 50th year, NRA Director Jerry Kraus made his inaugural visit to the famed training institute and left a Raven.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 9, 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.

Competition Shooting vs. Combat Training

It's an undeniable fact that competition and combat solve different problems. Mistaking one for the other or rejecting either one is a mistake.

The Truth About DGUs Gun-Control Groups Don’t Want You to Know

Last August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s webpage again posted defensive-gun-use data—essentially, estimates of how many times per year armed citizens in America use guns to defend themselves or others. 

Watchtower Defense Opens New Texas Headquarters

Watchtower Defense—which has acquired the assets of Watchtower Firearms—officially opened its new headquarters and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Tomball, Texas.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.