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

M2 .50-caliber machine gun
M2 .50-caliber machine gun

The Short Life of America’s Anti-Tank Rifles

At the dawn of mechanized warfare, the U.S. Military contended with the reality that infantrymen would need an effective arm to defeat tanks. Their idea? Bring more gun.

Springfield Armory's XD Mod.4 OSP: Anything But Basic

For nearly 25 years, Springfield Armory has offered its affordable and reliable XD series of handguns, and for 2026, that design has now entered its fourth generation with the Mod.4 OSP.

The Armed Citizen® March 23, 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.

Suppressor Sales Reach Unprecedented Levels

According to 4473 Cloud, a service provider to federal firearms licensees, more than 1.5 million Form 4s for suppressor transfers have been filed so far this year.

First Look: Shooters Global SG Pulse Pro

The Shooters Global SG Pulse Pro is an impressive all-in-one gadget, offering you a timer, DOPE cards, a level and a stability tracker in one aluminum, water-resistant body with multiple mounting options.

The Guns of Shanghai 1937: A Prelude to WWII's Brutal Urban Combat

Often overlooked by Western military historians, the Battle of Shanghai in 1937 was an early sign of the brutal urban combat that would characterize much of World War II. An incredible array of arms was used in the fighting.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.