The Armed Citizen® January 21, 2019

by
posted on January 21, 2019
** 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. **
armed-citizen-main-image.jpg (5)
The Armed Citizen Extra
A Florida father faced a devastating choice after a billiards game between his two sons erupted into violent confrontation. His eldest son, age 30, had been acting irrationally all day, at one point attacking a door with a machete while his parents locked themselves in their room. After his younger brother, 26, managed to calm him down, the two began to play pool. It was during this game the disagreement arose, with the elder brother placing the younger in a chokehold, and holding a large butterfly knife over his head. The father pled with the elder brother to release his sibling, but after the younger man began to lose consciousness he was forced to fire, saving the younger son's life. (Fox News, Martin County, Fla., 12/19/2018)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
January 1960
In his 18 years of operating his Chicago tavern, John Fahey has killed 3 bandits and wounded 5 others. The 70-year-old saloonkeeper thwarted a recent holdup by grabbing a 1917 Colt revolver, one of 6 guns he keeps in hidden spots behind the bar, and shooting a would-be robber who came in at closing time and said, "This is a stickup!" (Chicago Sun-Times)

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 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.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.