The Armed Citizen® June 26, 2017

by
posted on June 26, 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 (7)

Burglars might not be the brightest people in the world, but one in Alabama was smart enough to recognize the sound of a gun being cocked, after which he knew enough to give up and let the homeowner hold him at gunpoint until the police arrived. The family had been sleeping when the sound of breaking glass woke up the parents. While the mother called 9-1-1, the father grabbed a handgun and went into the living room, where he saw someone hiding behind the sofa. The armed citizen cocked his gun, and the intruder raised his hands and asked the man not to shoot. (al.com, Montgomery, AL, 3/28/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Late one Friday night, a couple was at home when a trespasser tried to enter their home through a broken window. The husband shot the intruder in the arm, while the wife called the police. When police arrived, they searched and found the burglar and an accomplice. Both were arrested on multiple accounts related the the home invasion. (The Union, Downieville, CA, 4/23/17)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
June 1961
When Rufus Freeman caught two safecrackers in his store near Minter City, Miss., and one turned on him with a shotgun, Freeman killed him with his own shotgun. The pistol-armed accomplice ran through the store firing at Freeman, and the storekeeper felled him with one more blast. (Memphis Commercial Appeal, Minter City, MS)

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.