The Armed Citizen® June 2, 2017

by
posted on June 2, 2017
** 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

While it’s not a situation you’d ever hope to be in, a recent case shows that being armed with a handgun can be enough to get the better of a troublemaker who is armed with an AK-47. A Jacksonville, Fla., resident heard gunshots and screaming one day and went outside with a handgun tucked inside his belt. The armed suspect was waving his rifle around and had tried to shoot a neighborhood dog that was near some people. As the stranger started walking toward the neighbors, the armed citizen shouted out that he wouldn’t abide violent crime in the neighborhood and told the hoodlum to leave. Instead, the outsider turned his rifle on the armed citizen, who fired his handgun, scaring off the bad guy. (news4jax.com, Jacksonville, FL, 3/20/17) 

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Early one morning, two hooded and armed thugs barged into an apartment by kicking in the front door. One of the residents, a Marine veteran, jumped up off the couch in his living room when he heard the loud noises. The intruders and the veteran began to scuffle, when another resident, the son of the veteran, heard the commotion and emerged from the bedroom with a handgun. He fired at the trespassers, killing one, who turned out to have a long history of criminal activity, and wounding the other. (The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt lake City, UT, 4/1/17) 

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
June 1970
Returning home from a skeet-shooting tournament, Gary K. Loyd and his son Keith, 15, of Boise, Idaho, encountered two burglars in their storage room. They covered the pair with their skeet guns until police arrived. (Statesman, Boise, ID)

Latest

Franchi Mule Gotw 1
Franchi Mule Gotw 1

Gun of the Week: Franchi Momentum Elite MULE

One of the latest entrants into the general-utility rifle market is Franchi with its Momentum Utility Lite Elite bolt-action rifle, also known as the MULE.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 11, 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.

Have .22 LR Handguns Finally Become Viable Options for Self-Defense?

Although .22 LR pistols and revolvers are plentiful and affordable, they still have notable limitations when it comes to self-defense applications. 

Aero Precision Returns with New Owners

An investment group comprised of family members passionate about firearms and the outdoor sports has purchased Aero Precision, Ballistic Advantage, Stag Arms and VG6.

The Ladies Discover Sporting Clays Experience

The Ladies Discover Sporting Clays Experience, a specially tailored clinic designed to help new female shooters become familiar with the basics of firearm safety, shotgun-handling and sporting-clays shooting.

New for 2026: Bersa B-Series Suppressors

Bersa USA has updated its suppressor lineup in 2026 with its new B-Series cans, which cover the range from .22 LR all the way up to .300 Win. Mag.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.