The Armed Citizen® November 6, 2020

by
posted on November 6, 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. **
The Armed Citizen
Armed Citizen® Today

An armed citizen defended himself and others in a group when two would-be robbers attempted to rob them in Des Moines, Iowa, in the early morning hours of Sept. 14, 2020.

Around 5:40 a.m. that Monday morning, two armed teenagers approached a small group of people outside near the 1400 block of 13th street. The teens, both 16 years old, then attempted to rob the group with their handguns drawn. Unknown to the duo, one of their victims was a concealed-carry holder. The man with a legal concealed carry drew his own handgun in response to the robbery attempt and shot the two armed teens.

One of the armed teens was wounded, while the other died of his wounds. The man who defended himself and the group then called authorities after the incident. The wounded teenage robber was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

The Des Moines Police Department determined that the concealed carry holder's response was a justified act of self-defense. None of the other victims in the group were injured in the incident. (desmoinesregister.com
, Des Moines, Iowa, 9/14/2020)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives May 1966  

Joseph Bausone, manager of a Dallas, Texas package goods store, was approached by a man who ordered a bottle of whiskey. As Bausone turned to fill the order, the intruder drew a pistol and demanded that the shopkeeper open the register. At that moment, a passerby looked into the store and saw the holdup in progress.

The thug fired one shot at Bausone, who dove under the counter and came up with his own gun and got off four quick shots. The would-be bandit staggered out of the store and fell dead. (Dallas Times Herald, Dallas, Tex.)

Latest

Icarry Springfield Sa35 Polished 1
Icarry Springfield Sa35 Polished 1

I Carry: Springfield Armory SA-35 Polished in a Falco C631 Gorham Holster

In our latest episode of "I Carry" above, we're taking a closer look at the details of the new Springfield Armory SA-35 Polished, and we're packaging it with a high-quality leather holster from Falco Holsters, along with a new EDC knife from Work Sharp.

ATF Suffers Major Cybersecurity Incident

On Aug. 27, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced that an outside group had breached its systems in what it termed a "major incident."

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 28, 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 Conversation About Gun-Making in America

Recently, a paper titled “The American Tradition of Self-Made Arms" written by Joe Greenlee, director of NRA-ILA's Office of Litigation Counsel,was cited by a court in an important ruling on frame-or-receiver litigation.

The Model 87 Ultra Special: A Rare Survivor of Ithaca's Final Gamble

In the spring of 1990, an 18-year-old received a shotgun he didn't order. The Ithaca Model 87 Ultra Special he got instead was the last gasp of one of America's most iconic shotgun makers.

As Gun Sales Stay High, Violent Crime Hits a Historic Low

According to a recent report from the FBI on national crime statistics, violent crime has decreased 9.3 percent from 2024, marking the largest year-to-year drop since the 1930s.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.