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

Crosman Raiden 01
Crosman Raiden 01

Affordable, Full-Auto Fun: The Crosman Raiden BB Gun

Over the past two decades, the world of BB guns has gotten way more sophisticated than the simple muscle-powered models of our youth. A case in point is Crosman’s new-for-2026 Raiden.

New Dragons: Managing Muzzle Flash From Today's Suppressors

Muzzle flash has always been an issue for those who employ firearms seriously, and with today's crop of suppressors, there are design elements to be aware of.

Gun of the Week: Mossberg 590R Chisel

For those who are seeking a shotgun that's a bit more heavy-duty, Mossberg's 590 line offers plenty of options, and one of the latest is the striking 590R Chisel.

The Armed Citizen® June 12, 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.

A Cathartic Journey Back to Midway Arms & the MidwayUSA Foundation

NRA CEO & EVP Doug Hamlin returned to MidwayUSA, a place he first visited decades ago in the early 1990s as publisher of Guns & Ammo magazine alongside the late, great Robert E. Petersen.

Review: Steiner MPS-C

The new Steiner MPS-C is the compact but rugged, closed-emitter optic we’ve all been waiting for.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.