The Armed Citizen® April 13, 2018

by
posted on April 13, 2018
** 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 (3)

When a man in Merced, Calif., kicked in the door of a home of a man armed with a shotgun, it proved to be a deadly mistake. The intruder apparently had been out drinking and thought he was forcing his way into the home of an acquaintance with whom he had a beef. It was after 10 p.m., and the homeowner fired a shot in self-defense, investigators said, after the stranger approached the armed citizen, even though the gun was at the ready. The alleged burglar was taken to the hospital where he later died. (Merced Sun Star, Merced, CA, 1/4/18)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A 25-year-old man was leaving a store late one night when a thug tried to rob him at gunpoint. In response, the would-be victim shot and killed the 18-year-old assailant. A police sergeant stated that, “Police reviewed video footage of the incident and have ruled the fatal shooting justified.” (The Advocate, Baton Rogue, LA, 4/2/18) 

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
April 1980
When Ernst Wright was awakened by the sound of a tractor-trailer coming to a halt outside his Corona, N.M., ranch house, he armed himself with a shotgun and investigated. When the driver kicked in the kitchen door and walked inside, Wright asked him to leave, then retreated to the hall. The intruder threw a crowbar at Wright, who fired one shot, hitting his attacker in the chest. State police found the wounded man inside the truck. (The Lincoln County News, Carrizozo, NM)

Latest

National Firearm Act
National Firearm Act

150,000 NFA Applications Filed On Day 1 After $0 Tax Stamp Becomes Official

Approximately 150,000 NFA enthusiasts filed their paperwork through ATF’s electronic system in just the first 24 hours of 2026, the first day after the $0 tax stamp for most NFA items became official.

Gun Of The Week: Caracal USA CMP9K

Caracal's CMP9K pistol is based on a design originally produced to replace the aging stock of Heckler & Koch MP5s in United Arab Emirates service.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 9, 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.

Preview: Roundhouse Provisions Ultimate Campout Kit

Founded by Chuck Norris (yes, that Chuck Norris), Roundhouse Provisions is a company that produces emergency foodstuffs designed to be quickly and simply prepared that will stay fresh for years.

New For 2026: Taurus TX9 Pistol

Taurus launches the TX9 family of striker-fired, polymer-frame pistols, adding to its popular TX series of handguns.

Heavy Browning At War: Combat Tales Of The Browning M1917 Machine Gun

For the first half of the 20th century, one of the most important firearms in the U.S. military arsenal was the water-cooled Browning M1917, known to gunners and infantrymen alike as the "Heavy Browning."

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.