The Armed Citizen® November 15, 2019

by
posted on November 15, 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 (4)

A 73-year-old man returned home from a weekend away to find his house had been burglarized, but saw that many valuable items remained. Realizing the burglars were likely to return, he slept with a loaded SIG Sauer 9 mm pistol under his pillow. Just after 5 a.m., the doorbell rang. The homeowner did not answer and heard someone enter his home shortly afterwards. Gun drawn, the homeowner came downstairs and told the intruder “not to move,” and the intruder followed his directions. The homeowner, who had a concealed-carry permit, held the intruder at gunpoint while he contacted police. The alleged intruder, age 51, had previous burglary convictions and was charged with burglary. (Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio, 8/28/19)

Armed Citizen Extra
When two men broke into a couple's home, they met with stiffer resistance than they may have anticipated. Circumstances first went the way of the invaders, as they pointed a pistol at the home's male occupant and grabbed his 11-year-old daughter. When the homeowner indicated he had nothing for them, the burglars became irate, and one began pistol whipping him while the other kicked him in the head. His wife, however, despite being eight months pregnant, decided to turn the tables. After peeking out of the back bedroom to see what was going on, the woman was fired upon. She then retreated to grab an AR-15 and returned fire, clipping one man when he came toward her doorway. The man died fleeing the scene. His partner fled after the fatal shot was fired. The male victim of the attack sustained a fractured eye socket, a fractured sinus cavity, a concussion, and abrasions requiring 20 stitches and three staples in his head. (baynews9.com, Lithia, Fla., 11/1/2019)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
November 1973
Alerted to a burglary taking place on a lower level of his Reno, Nev., apartment house, Douglas Stewart got a gun and confronted a thief removing stereo equipment. Stewart commanded the burglar to stop and turned him over to police. (The Nevada State Journal, Reno, Nev.)

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.