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

Ruger Mini-14 Upgrades
Ruger Mini-14 Upgrades

5 Must-Have Ruger Mini-14 Accessories

In production since 1973, the Ruger Mini-14 has spawned a rather healthy aftermarket of parts and accessories. Here are five that you really can't live without if you're a true Mini-14 fan.

New For 2026: U.S. Palm Eye of the Storm (EOS) Suppressors

Earlier this year, U.S. Palm promised to offer its own line of firearms and suppressors. Now, its line of suppressors, the Eye of the Storm (EOS) series, is finally here.

Gun of the Week: Taylor's & Co. TC73

The Taylor's Firearms TC73 has classic lines and a classic appearance, but unlike other lever-actions, this one has a few unique features.

The Armed Citizen® June 26, 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 U.S. Supreme Court’s Wolford v. Lopez Decision is Striking

In Wolford v. Lopez, the Supreme Court ruled that “Hawaii’s law prohibiting licensed concealed-carry permit holders from carrying handguns on private property open to the public without the property owner’s express authorization violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments.”

The Fighting Shotgun: Myths, Legends & Facts

For a host of reasons, the Winchester Model 1897 "trench gun" probably never really made it into combat on the Western Front. But, the fact remains that Americans have always revered the shotgun as the ultimate fight-stopper.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.