Albuquerque Shootout

by
posted on July 8, 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-1.jpg
More than likely, you’ve heard about the Albuquerque shootout at a Motel 6 that involved CNN news correspondent and former Headline News anchor Lynne Russell. Her first-hand account in this Fox News story is worth reading, and it addresses criticism from her liberal colleagues about exercising her Second Amendment rights. If she and her husband had left their guns at home, the story would be an obituary, rather than a frightening reminder that criminals strike any time, and any place.

I particularly like how she handed her purse (with the gun inside) to her husband and then asked if he saw anything inside to give the armed robber. I’m not that composed when staring down the business end of a gun. Years ago, an armed robber told me to clean out the cash register and I asked, “Did you bring a bag or do you want one of ours?” My mind was elsewhere, probably pondering how a tiny little guy could possibly raise a revolver that big over the counter.

We know Russell’s handgun is chambered in .380 ACP, a cartridge that’s often viewed with skepticism for self-defense. It worked and there are plenty of effective loads available today, including Federal Premium 99-grainers, Hornady Critical Defense’s 90-grain load, 95-grain Winchester W Train & Defend, and many more. The petite size of the handgun also begs for daily carry, especially if you’re tired of feeling like an Arizona Ranger who carries “Big Iron” on his hip (good luck getting that Marty Robbins tune out of your head today).

Thankfully, it didn’t take a huge caliber to get the job done, her husband shared the contents liberally and there’s one less life-threatening criminal roaming the streets. If you have a permit, carry early, carry often and expect the unexpected, including tiny bad guys.

Latest

Match Ready M1 Garand 1
Match Ready M1 Garand 1

Making a Match-Ready M1 Garand

For decades, fans of the M1 Garand have gone to Camp Perry to shoot the John C. Garand match, a test of their shooting skills and rifles. Here, one M1 Garand enthusiast prepares his rifle and ammo for the shoot.

Will the USPS Allow Handguns to Be Mailed?

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on April 2, 2026, published a proposed rule that would permit the mailing of lawful handguns through the U.S. mail for the first time in nearly a century.

The Trijicon AccuPoint 1-8x24 mm: A Flexible Optic for Dangerous Game Hunting

Trijicon is probably best known for its military and law-enforcement optics, but the company is also serious about its commercial line of riflescopes designed for hunting.

U.S. Army Bases Will No Longer Be Gun-Free Zones

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced this week that U.S. Army bases will no longer be gun-free zones.

Gun of the Week: CZ Shadow 2 Carry

One of the latest concealed-carry handguns to hit the consumer market is the CZ's Shadow 2 Carry. Watch our "Gun of the Week" episode to see the details of this carry-oriented design.

The Armed Citizen® April 3, 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.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.