The Armed Citizen® April 22, 2016

by
posted on April 22, 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 (6)

Former UCLA running back Jim Chadwick didn’t let his age stand in the way of protecting his family from an intruder. Chadwick, 90, woke up to find a stranger walking through his home, near the bedrooms. Chadwick immediately grabbed and loaded his .38 Spl.-chambered revolver and went to find out what was going on. After checking on his wife, who was alone and okay, Chadwick found the intruder lying on a bed in one of the bedrooms. The homeowner sneaked away from that door, called 911 and awakened a caregiver. Then, he went back to the bedroom, woke the man up, pointed his gun at him and told him not to move. Chadwick, who played for the Bruins in the 1940s and coached high school football afterward, held the stranger at gunpoint until the police arrived. Investigators later said they believe the intruder was intoxicated and had walked into the wrong house. (Daily Breeze, Torrance, CA, 1/6/16)

The Armed Citizen Extra®
A 44-year-old man walked into a Tipp City, Ohio, restaurant and handed the hostess a note demanding money. The employee complied, and as the robber was leaving the building, a concealed-carry instructor witnessed the crime and confronted the thief. The suspect attempted to leave the scene in a vehicle, but the armed citizen held him at gunpoint until the authorities could arrive. The culprit now faces one count of aggravated robbery. No injuries were reported. (Troy Daily News, Troy, OH, 11/28/15)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
April 1977
Wilma Montgomery, a Chicago, Ill., mother of five, was walking from the bus stop to her home when a man leapt from an alley, dragged her into the gangway of a building and ordered her to lie down. She feigned compliance, but when the man prepared to rape her, she shot him fatally with a legally registered .38 Spl. revolver. Police said the man had a record of sexual assaults. (The Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL)

Latest

Gotw Smith Wesson 386 Night Guard 1
Gotw Smith Wesson 386 Night Guard 1

Gun of the Week: Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard

In partnership with Lipsey's, Smith & Wesson recently re-introduced two of its classic Night Guard revolvers, the Models 386 and 396, which are chambered for the .357 Magnum and .44 Special, respectively.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 14, 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.

A (Slightly Confusing) History of Colt's Police Positive Revolver

For one of the most popular law-enforcement revolvers ever made, the history of the Colt Police Positive isn't nearly as linear as one would think it'd be.

Honoring America’s 250th and Those Who Defend It

Winchester Ammunition and Bass Pro Shops logos were both featured on the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in the 2026 Coca-Cola 600 race in May.

I Have This Old Gun: Walther P38

On the eve of World War II, the German military sought a new sidearm that was easier to manufacture than the P08 Luger. Its answer was the P38.

C&H Precision STRYKR: A Red-Dot Sight for PDWs

The C&H Precision STRYKR is a hard-use, enclosed-emitter optic designed for PDWs and compact carbines.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.