The Armed Citizen® July 3, 2017

by
posted on July 3, 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

A gang of would-be invaders learned a lesson the hard way after surprising a 22-year-old male in his Jacksonville, N.C., apartment. While the resident was getting ready to head out to dinner one night, he heard a knock on his apartment door. His mother and a friend were in the home with him, and he wasn’t expecting any visitors. He went to the door and, looking through the peephole, saw an individual dressed in a hoodie. Since he didn’t recognize the person, he grabbed his Glock 30 before opening the door. At first, he saw no one, but as he turned his head to look down the stairs, he was kicked in the face by the stranger, who then tried to force his way into the apartment. The armed citizen fired five shots at the attacker, striking him several times. The thug later died. The apartment dweller noticed several others fleeing after he shot the man in the hooded sweatshirt. Four suspects were subsequently arrested and charged as co-conspirators. Onslow County officials said the armed citizen will not be charged because he was acting in self-defense. (jdnews.com, Jacksonville, NC, 4/27/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A family was at home one afternoon when a group of teenagers broke into the residence by way of an upstairs balcony. While the wife protected the children, the husband grabbed a gun and confronted the intruders, holding them at gunpoint. Two of the intruders ran but were eventually caught. A neighbor called the police and all five were arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary. (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Chino Hills, CA, 5/2/17)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
July 1980
When two armed men entered his Mira Mesa, Calif., coin shop and announced a robbery, owner Roy Collins drew his revolver and exchanged shots with the gunmen. One robber fled, but the other grappled with Collins, pointed a gun at his head and threatened to kill him. At that, Collin’s wife, who had secured her own pistol, shot the would-be robber, critically wounding him. (The Union, San Diego, CA)

Latest

Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web
Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web

Gun Of The Week: Wilson Combat Division 77 Project 1

Join American Rifleman staff on the range in this video to get a closer look at Wilson Combat’s somewhat cryptically named “Division 77 Project 1.” 

The Armed Citizen® July 18, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: POF-USA LMR BASE Rifle

The Patriot Ordnance Factory LMR Base offers a .308 Win. chambering in a lightweight, AR-15-size package, which makes it a capable platform for today's new gun owner. And it comes at a fair price.

2025 Accessory Of The Year: Wyoming Sight Drifter

For each of the past 23 years, the editors of American Rifleman have convened to select our top picks for the past year’s best and most innovative products. Here are the most recent winners.

Henry Donates Rifles To Support Young Leukemia Victim

Henry Repeating Arms has donated a limited run of 50 “Team Keane” Golden Boy .22 lever-action rifles to support 13-year-old Keane Rhodes of Universal City, Texas, who is currently undergoing aggressive treatment for ALL T-cell leukemia.

Rifleman Review: Springfield Armory Echelon

Springfield Armory introduced its Echelon in 2023, bringing a modernized, chassis-style, striker-fired handgun to the market that has since seen several notable line extensions.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.