After The Tornado

by
posted on April 15, 2015
** 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. **
gsagi2015_fs.jpg

On March 25, the severe weather that hit west of Tulsa, Okla., was quickly followed by opportunistic criminals, including a pair who targeted the home of a 92-year-old, legally blind woman with a handgun.

Other burglaries that took place in the tornado’s aftermath include a church and five homes, even one in which the resident just left for the day in the back of an ambulance. The culprits are still on the loose, so the odds are good there have been more.

One 92-year-old woman weathered the storm, but in the aftermath, she heard someone trying to kick in her back door. She’s lived in the neighborhood for six decades, and understandably takes a dim view of criminals targeting her friends. According to local news reports, she grabbed her gun and told the perps, “C’mon in boys! The police won’t take you away, the morgue will. I’ll take care of you.” The door-bashing duo immediately made a strategic retreat. 

Criminals strike anywhere, anytime, when you least expect it and are most vulnerable. In this case, they grossly underestimated the resolve of a 92-year-old, legally blind woman who refused to be a victim in her home, even at a time when authorities were occupied elsewhere cleaning up a deadly storm’s aftermath.  

Latest

Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1
Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Taurus Expedition

Taurus entered the bolt-action rifle market with its Expedition, a Remington 700-pattern design that's built to be versatile and affordable.

New For 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II

Charter Arms updated one of the oldest models in its lineup with the new Pathfinder II, which features a lightweight 7075 aluminum frame, making it more well-balanced and easier to carry.

Review: Kimber 2K11

The 2011-style pistol was designed to address the capacity limitations of the single-stack M1911 platform, and Kimber's approach to the concept is its 2K11, a competition-ready offering with several notable features.

Favorite Firearms: A High-Flying Hi-Standard “A-D”

Manufactured in New Haven, Conn., in late 1940, this Hi-Standard pistol was shipped as a Model “A,” but a heavier Model “D” barrel was installed later to replace the original, light barrel, leading one American Rifleman reader to call it a Model “A-D.”

Ruger Helps Families In Need Through The Kids & Clays Foundation

In the effort to help tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the nation through local Ronald McDonald Houses, Ruger is among some of the industry’s foremost Platinum-level sponsors of The Kids & Clays Foundation.

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.