The Armed Citizen® January 22, 2021

by
posted on January 22, 2021
** 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

A homeowner in Hesperia, Calif., defended himself and his family when an armed intruder attempted to to break into their home on Jan. 18, 2021.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours that Monday when the homeowner and his family heard someone trying to kick in the front door. At the door, the homeowner saw a man demanding to come in with a pistol in hand. The homeowner then directed his wife and child into a closet as he went to retrieve his pistol.

When the homeowner came back to the front door armed with his 9 mm pistol, the armed intruder raised his handgun and opened fire. The homeowner also began shooting at the intruder, who retreated behind a structural column while still shooting. The shootout last for less than a minute, during which time the intruder's .22-caliber pistol jammed.

The intruder then ran away on foot and was later caught by authorities. As it turned out, the armed would-be robber was a neighbor from just down the street, and he was charged with attempted murder, attempted robbery, and felon in possession of a firearm. The incident was caught on a camera that provided an overhead view from outside the front door. (abc7.com, Los Angeles, Calif., 01/19/2021)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives August 1981

An unidentified Rawlins, Wyo., woman was awakened about 4 a.m. by noises at the front door of her home. Thinking it might be her husband, she shouted out his name but got no response. When she approached the door armed with a shotgun, a man who had been trying to jimmy the door open with a screwdriver quickly fled. (The Daily Times, Rawlins, WY)

Latest

Sight Alignment
Sight Alignment

Sighted Fire vs. Point-Shooting

A long-standing argument among handgunners revolves around the concept of sighted fire versus point-shooting. A more productive approach is to understand the problem each is trying to solve.

Derya Expands TM22 Family with Timekeeper & Pump Models

Derya continues the expansion of its rimfire line with two new models for 2026, an update of the original semi-auto TM22 and a new pump-action version.

Gun of the Week: Taurus RPC

The Taurus RPC is a welcome addition to the growing marketplace of PDWs, or personal defense weapons, a concept that pairs pistol-caliber cartridges with larger-format firearms.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 13, 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.

Review: Kimber 2K11 Pro Comp

Kimber expanded its 2K11 line with the Pro Comp in 2026, providing a Commander-length slide and barrel topped by an integrated compensator.

New for 2026: Bear Creek Arsenal Bear Bolt Pro

North Carolina-based Bear Creek Arsenal, a prolific maker of AR-10 and AR-15 pattern firearms, is combining the modularity of the MSR platform with a traditional turn-bolt action with its Bear Bolt Pro.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.