Grandmother Wins

posted on April 5, 2013
** 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. **
rackley2015_fs.jpg (2)

Once again a firearm has proven to be the great equalizer when a grandmother of 10 from Spokane, Wash., used a gun to hold a would-be burglar for police.

The suspect had been spotted earlier trying to enter another residence by a neighbor, who called police and scared him off, before the suspect broke into the home of Sandy Mize. While a K-9 unit was tracking the suspect, Mize confronted the man, firing a warning shot, before he fled out the back straight into the K-9 unit that arrested him.

The suspect was obviously determined to rob someone that night since he fled from one location to break into another. While I don’t really agree with the idea of a warning shot, there are too many things that could go wrong, there is no doubt this lady did the world a favor and helped take a bad guy off the streets.

Latest

firing a musket rifle
firing a musket rifle

Today’s Makers of Yesterday’s Firearms

Original firearms from the American Revolution era are valuable and best preserved for posterity. For those who want to shoot them, several modern makers offer quality reproductions.

Left Turn (Bolt): Tikka's New Left-Handed T3x Ace Rifles

Lefties of the world unite and rejoice, as Tikka has announced left-hand versions of its award-winning T3x Ace chassis rifles.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 14, 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.

Skills Check: Rifle Standard Delta 2

Carbine performance is all about maintaining control. The Rifle Standard Delta 2 is a drill that pressures recoil control, visual discipline and cadence as distance decreases and time compresses.

Gun Sales Up for the 7th Month in a Row in 2026

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) estimate of last month’s gun sales was up 2.2 percent compared to August 2025.

Caring For & Feeding Your Cap-and-Ball Revolvers

Compared to pistoleros of the 19th century, today’s handgunners have it easy. It's not enough just to get an old-school, cap-and-ball revolver. You also need to acquire everything to shoot and clean it.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.