The Armed Citizen® July 5, 2016

by
posted on July 5, 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 (1)

Shots rang out in a suburb of Pittsburgh when a homeowner protected his property from four juveniles who were breaking into the home. The boys were trying to enter the home through a window that housed an air conditioner. The armed citizen grabbed his .380 ACP handgun and confronted the intruders. He fired multiple shots, wounding two of the teens. All four of the suspects fled. One of the wounded was found on a nearby bridge; the second was found at a relative’s house. The two uninjured accomplices were also caught. All have been charged and placed in a juvenile detention facility. Officials said the homeowner was within his rights to defend his home. (Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh, PA, 3/23/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Two Oklahoma City, Okla., men attempted to break into a second-floor apartment with deadly consequences. When two men he didn’t recognize knocked on his door, the apartment’s resident chose not to answer it. Thinking the occupant was out, the two burglars then started kicking the front door down. When they finally got through the door, the resident was ready for them; having retrieved his gun from a back room, the armed citizen fired on the duo. One of the intruders was struck and would die at the scene, the other fled and is still being sought by the authorities. (okcfox.com, Oklahoma City, OK, 1/25/16)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
August 1973
A man walked into Don Lannoye’s Seattle, Wash., 7-11 store, flashed a gun and yelled, “I want your money!” Lannoye, who has been held up five times, instead pulled out a revolver and shot the robber in the chest. Police took the wounded suspect to a nearby hospital. (The Seattle Times, Seattle, WA)

Latest

firing a musket rifle
firing a musket rifle

Today’s Makers of Yesterday’s Firearms

Original firearms from the American Revolution era are valuable and best preserved for posterity. For those who want to shoot them, several modern makers offer quality reproductions.

Left Turn (Bolt): Tikka's New Left-Handed T3x Ace Rifles

Lefties of the world unite and rejoice, as Tikka has announced left-hand versions of its award-winning T3x Ace chassis rifles.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 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.

Skills Check: Rifle Standard Delta 2

Carbine performance is all about maintaining control. The Rifle Standard Delta 2 is a drill that pressures recoil control, visual discipline and cadence as distance decreases and time compresses.

Gun Sales Up for the 7th Month in a Row in 2026

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) estimate of last month’s gun sales was up 2.2 percent compared to August 2025.

Caring For & Feeding Your Cap-and-Ball Revolvers

Compared to pistoleros of the 19th century, today’s handgunners have it easy. It's not enough just to get an old-school, cap-and-ball revolver. You also need to acquire everything to shoot and clean it.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.