The Armed Citizen® June 5, 2017

by
posted on June 5, 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 (1)

A son saved his mother’s life after receiving a panicked phone call late one evening. In Sidney, Maine, a man knocked on an 84-year-old woman’s door, asking to use her phone. When she refused his request, the man started to bang on her front door. He climbed a snow bank and broke a bay window at the front of the house. It was then that the woman called her son, who grabbed his Ruger and drove over, unsure whether he would find his mother alive. Coming through the garage entrance, the armed citizen announced his presence, yelling, “I have a gun, get out of this house!” The intruder attacked the woman’s son, who shot the assailant in the chest and held him at gunpoint until the police arrived. The attacker was taken to the hospital and was to be arrested and charged after treatment. (Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME, 3/19/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
You never know when being friends with your neighbors might come in handy and that’s exactly what one lady found out when she was out of town and someone broke into her condo. Late one Saturday night, an elderly man heard the sound of breaking glass in his apartment complex and went to investigate. The man found a burglar breaking into one of the condos. When the burglar charged at the man, he fired one shot from his pistol and missed. Police nearby heard the gunshot and came to investigate. When they arrived, they found the neighbor holding the burglar at gunpoint. They immediately arrested the young thug on suspicion of committing burglary with assault or battery, and unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling. (South Florida Sun Sentinel, Deerfield Beach, FL, 3/14/17)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
June 1982
A youthful hoodlum leaped over the counter of Alma Harris’ South San Diego, Calif., restaurant and attacked her. As he tried to strangle her with a telephone cord, she grabbed a revolver and shot him four times. The assailant fled, but only made it about a block before collapsing. (The Union, San Diego, CA)

Latest

45 ACP M1911
45 ACP M1911

Myths & Misunderstandings About the “Modern Fighting 1911”

The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?

Heir Apparent: The CZ 600+ Carbine

CZ's 527 action was long a popular option scaled around compact cartridges like the .223 Remington and the 7.62x39 mm. Now, the new CZ 600+ Carbine brings that same concept to the company's new CZ 600 series.

I Carry: Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard in an ANR Design Holster

In our latest "I Carry" setup, we're featuring the Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard in an ANR Design holster, and we've got a Streamlight EDC flashlight to round out our kit.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 23, 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 Announces Nominating Committee & Petition Nominees for the 2027 NRA Board of Directors Election

The National Rifle Association has announced the official list of all 33 candidates nominated for the 2027 mail ballot election of directors, whether by the Nominating Committee, by petition of the members or both.

Saltstone Integrator Rifle Carry System & Modular Hunting Vest: The Cure for The Common Sling

Among a hunter’s most basic equipment is their sling. The Saltstone Integrator Rifle Carry System and Modular Hunting Vest seeks to revolutionize this.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.