The Armed Citizen® March 27, 2020

by
posted on March 27, 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 (7)
While asleep on the couch in the early morning hours of Valentine's Day, a Palm Bay, Fla. couple was awakened to the sounds of someone trying to break through the sliding-glass door of their house. The woman grabbed her three-month-old son and ran to the bedroom. The man on the other hand retrieved a pistol and went to see who was trying to get in.

Through the glass, he saw the intruder pointing a pistol right at him. The man, in return, fired several shots through the glass at the intruder until his pistol jammed. The intruder fired several rounds in response at the homeowner, but he was struck in the confrontation and retreated.

Police found a blood trail and two bloodied sandals near the residence after the incident. The intruder turned out to be the woman's ex-boyfriend who had been bitter towards the couple and calling them from several different phone numbers leading up to the incident.

The ex-boyfriend is a felon and borrowed the pistol from a friend's mother who drove him to the residence and then to the hospital after. She reported that he was drinking heavily at the time. Police arrested the intruding ex-boyfriend when he was admitted to the hospital for his wounds. (ClickOrlando, 02/18/2020, Orlando, Fla.)    
   
From the Armed Citizen® Archives October 1985

Barging into an Albuquerque, N. Mex., apartment with a baseball bat, a man threw the female occupant on a bed. The woman managed to stab her attacker with a pair of scissors, and while he tended to his wound, she got a handgun. As he attempted to batter down the bedroom door the woman had locked in his absence, she fired and killed him. (The Tribune, Albuquerque, N. Mex.)

Latest

FP 6.5Peak Launch Fusion Terminalascent Peakalloy 19
FP 6.5Peak Launch Fusion Terminalascent Peakalloy 19

Federal's New 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak: The Peak Alloy Case Goes Mainstream

Federal introduced its high-pressure Peak Alloy case design with the 7 mm Backcountry in 2025. Now, the company is incorporating it into high-pressure 6.5 Creedmoor loads with the +Peak design.

I Carry: Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC in a JM Custom Kydex Holster

In our latest "I Carry" video, a Springfield Echelon 4.0FC is outfitted with Aimpoint's new COA enclosed-emitter red-dot optic, and to carry this optic-equipped handgun, we've selected a JM Custom Kydex holster.

The Armed Citizen® June 5, 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.

Multi-Caliber MK24 to Replace SCAR-H For SOCOM

U.S. Special Forces will soon be replacing their 7.62-NATO-chambered SCAR-Hs with a new, barrel-swapping MK24 Mid-Range Gas Gun-Assault (MRGGA) gun capable of running either 7.62 NATO or 6.5 Creedmoor.

Rifle Renaissance 2026: Exploring Rifle Skills Beyond Marksmanship

Being able to shoot in contextual situations, shoot from unusual positions, manipulate the rifle quickly and rapidly adjust one’s position based on distance are all essential skills for a well-trained rifleman. To train these abilities, The Complete Combatant hosted the first annual Rifle Renaissance event in March 2026.

New Guns For 2026: A Full Guide

While it’s claimed the firearms industry is experiencing a slowdown, that hasn’t meant a stall to innovation. It means gunmakers are working harder than ever to earn your business.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.