The Armed Citizen® June 30, 2017

by
posted on June 30, 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 (8)

Sometimes a bad guy who doesn’t heed a warning pays the price. That was the case in Pittsburgh when a man, who was armed with a crowbar, broke into a home. The resident confronted the intruder, told him to lie face down on the ground and said that police were on their way. Rather than complying, the interloper raised the crowbar and charged the armed citizen, who—after a brief scuffle—fired his gun and shot the assailant in the leg. (WPXI, Pittsburgh, PA, 4/4/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Early one evening, a family of four was at home when a young woman, posing as an official from the homeowners association, knocked on the door and asked the female resident some generic questions. The woman waved to a male accomplice in the car, who then approached the home. When the female resident noticed the approaching man, who was masked and armed, she immediately locked the door and screamed for her husband. The male intruder ignored her and proceeded to kick in the front door, but upon gaining entry was shot and killed by the husband. The female accomplice was found shortly after and arrested on charges of first-degree burglary and criminal conspiracy. The homeowner was not charged. (The Post and Courier, Charleston, SC, 3/15/17) 

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
June 1972
Hearing his wife’s screams, Albert Backofen grabbed a 12-ga. shotgun from the rear of his Springfield, Mass., grocery and ran to the front. A masked gunman took one look at the shotgun, pocketed his handgun, and begged “Don’t shoot,” then ran off before police arrived. (Springfield Union, Springfield, MA)

Latest

2026 New Suppressor Guide
2026 New Suppressor Guide

New Suppressors for 2026: A Full Guide

With the removal of the $200 NFA tax stamp on suppressors, the only sound reverberating across the firearms landscape is “cha-ching.”

MDT Now Offering Lone Peak Arms Rifle Actions

Earlier in 2026, MDT announced that it had acquired Lone Peak Arms, and now, the company's rifle actions are available to consumers.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 31, 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.

NRA-ILA Launches First-Ever National “Gun Bus Battleground Tour” to Mobilize Gun Owners for 2026 Midterms

The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) today launched its first-ever national bus tour, the 2026 NRA’s Gun Bus Battleground Tour, a more than two-month, 13-state campaign to energize and turn out gun owners in key battleground states ahead of the November midterm elections.

Review: TriStar KR.22

Manufactured by Kral Arms in Turkey, the TriStar Arms KR.22 is a lightweight semi-automatic that offers everything you need to get started or to perfect what you’ve learned over the years.

Safe Space: 5 Must-Have Accessories to Organize Your Gun Safe

It's a perennial problem for gun owners: not enough safe space. Here are five organizing products that will help you squeeze a bit more in your existing gun safe before you have to run out and buy another.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.