The Armed Citizen® October 5, 2020

by
posted on October 5, 2020
** 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 (1)
Armed Citizen® Today

A grand jury in Forth Worth, Tex., decided to take no action against a man who shot an armed intruder who killed two others in an area church last December.

The incident happened during at service at the church in White Settlement on Dec. 29, 2019. It started when a suspicious looking-man dressed in a long coat with a fake wig walked into the church.

Jack Wilson noticed the suspicious individual and notified security of the man, who sat at the back of the church with 260 others inside. Wilson is a firearms instructor and was armed at the time. He and two other security guards moved to sit near the suspicious man.

After a while, the suspicious man got up and pulled a shotgun out from under his coat. One of the security officers drew his handgun, but missed and was shot by the armed attacker, who then turned and shot another man before beginning to turn his attention and shotgun to the crowd.

At this point, Wilson drew his handgun and fired a single shot, subduing the armed man who died of his wound. Mr. Wilson's fast action prevented anyone else inside the church from being injured.

A prosecutor with Tarrant County district attorney's office said that Texas law allows a person to use deadly force to protect others when someone is placing them at risk of serious injury or death. Tex. Gov. Abbott awarded Mr. Wilson with the Governor's Medal of Courage for his actions, which is the highest civilian honor in the state. (easttexasmatters
.com, Forth Worth, Tex., 09/29/2020)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives August 1974    

Ohio State Rep. Harry C. (Bud) Malott was awakened in his Williamsburg, Ohio, home by the sound of glass in his front door shattering. snatching up the .38-cal. revolver he keeps next to his bed, Malott confronted two would-be burglars at the front door.

The armed duo responded by firing three shots, all misses. When Malott's wife yelled, "Shoot, Bud, shoot," Malott began firing. The pair escaped, one of them possibly wounded. (The Cincinnati Enquirer , Cincinnati, Ohio)

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.