The Armed Citizen® February 12, 2021

by
posted on February 12, 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 Polk County, Fla., defended his home and family from an erratic intruder on the morning of Feb. 7, 2021.

The incident began that Sunday morning when the homeowner's wife heard banging at the front door of the home and woke her husband. Their three children were also asleep inside the house. The homeowner went to the front door to check on the noise when he discovered it had been forced open. In response, he armed himself with a handgun.

The homeowner then looked out the door, where he saw the intruder acting erratically while swearing at him. The intruder then ran straight at the homeowner, who fired a single round at the would-be attacker. The round struck the intruder, who then turned around and then began to walk away. That wasn't the end of it, though, as the intruder turned back around and once again charged the homeowner.

The homeowner fired another shot that struck the intruder, incapacitating him. The intruder was taken to a local hospital by first responders, where he died shortly thereafter. As it turned out, the intruder was a man who lived in the neighborhood and had a criminal history that included nine past felonies. (wfla.com, Tampa, Fla., 02/08/2021)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives February 1975

Hearing screams coming from a store near his office, real estate broker Charles W. Parker, an NRA member of Jackson Heights, N.Y., grabbed his .38-cal. snub-nosed revolver, dashed next door and captured a would-be robber. The local police department awarded him a Legion of Honor plaque for "exceptional bravery."

An NRA certified pistol, rifle and shotgun instructor, Parker has won over 40 trophies for marksmanship. The Greater New York Pistol League recognized his action with an "outstanding citizen award" inscribed "Someone Who Cared to Get Involved." (The Sunday News, New York, N.Y.)

Latest

Hk Cc9 GOTW 1
Hk Cc9 GOTW 1

Gun of the Week: Heckler & Koch CC9

The Heckler & Koch CC9 isn't merely just another micro-compact. It's the result of a significant amount of work on the part of the company's US subsidiary to create the first truly American-made HK.

The Armed Citizen® May 22, 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.

The PROOF Research PXT: A New Approach to Barrel Rifling

PROOF Research has introduced PROOF eXponential Twist (PXT)—an advancement in rifling that improves durability, accuracy and shootability—to the commercial market.

Review: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker

Back when American Rifleman reviewed Springfield's Model 2020 Waypoint, we noted that we ...couldn’t help but wonder if a tactical-version Model 2020 rifle might be a logical future offshoot of the Waypoint hunting rifle." With the Model 2020 Heatseeker, that version is finally here.

Marlin Goes Mad: The Marlin Mad Pig Customs Model 1894

Marlin’s latest Model 1894 lever-action rifle, a collaboration with Mad Pig Customs that is a far cry from traditional, delivers “modern, factory‑installed features previously found only on custom builds.”

The Jewish Community Is Embracing Our 2A Freedom

In this episode of the NRA’s The Armed Citizen Podcast, we interview Gayle Pearlstein, COO and co-founder of Lox & Loaded, a Jewish-owned and -operated gun club that now—after being launched only a year ago—has 50 chapters around the United States.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.