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

Taurus TX 9 9 mm pistol
Taurus TX 9 9 mm pistol

New For 2026: Taurus TX9 Pistol

Taurus launches the TX9 family of striker-fired, polymer-frame pistols, adding to its popular TX series of handguns.

Heavy Browning At War: Combat Tales Of The Browning M1917 Machine Gun

For the first half of the 20th century, one of the most important firearms in the U.S. military arsenal was the water-cooled Browning M1917, known to gunners and infantrymen alike as the "Heavy Browning."

Rifleman Review: Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter

Smith & Wesson's Model 1854 Stealth Hunter is one of the latest additions to the company's line of modernized lever-action rifles.

VKTR Goes 2011: The Vanguard VKP Pro

Primarily known for its premium AR-15 rifles, VKTR Industries jumped into the 2011 handgun world in 2026 with its VKP Pro and Vanguard designs.

Rifleman Q&A: Cracking Marlin’s Code

Q: I have a Marlin Model 782 repeater, Serial No. 27392733, with a Micro-Groove barrel. I would like to understand how to narrow down its time of manufacture.

Review: Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber

Ruger recently released a variant of its popular 10/22 made with modern materials and incorporating performance-minded engineering: the 10/22 Carbon Fiber.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.