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 Walther Fseries Prox Pmm 1
Gotw Walther Fseries Prox Pmm 1

Gun of the Week: Walther Arms PDP F-Series Pro-X PMM

One of Walther Arms' recent introductions combines the features of several other PDP handguns, meaning the Walther PDP F-Series Pro-X PMM is packed with a number of different design elements.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 30, 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 | Your Input is Valued

I wish to thank all our members who have sent me e-mails these last 12 months. I’m doing my best to keep up with all your e-mails, but please be aware it seems I’m always 300 to 400 e-mails behind. I want to reiterate that I am reading them all as fast as I have time for.

Building an X-Card Gun for Turkey Shoots

Unofficially known as a “turkey shoot,” X-Card competition challenges shotgunners to place shot pellets as closely as possible to the center of a target. And some makers have perfected a way to fine-tune shotguns for this purpose.

Spanish National Police Adopt Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC

The Spanish National Police (Policia Nacional) has officially adopted the Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC 9mm pistol as the issue pistol for its uniformed officers.

NRA Launches New NRA.org Platform and Official App to Modernize and Enhance the Member Experience

The National Rifle Association today launched its new NRA.org website and continued enhancements to the official NRA App, marking a major step and significant investment to modernize the organization and better serve members.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.