The Armed Citizen® April 17, 2020

by
posted on April 17, 2020
** 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. **
armed-citizen-main-image.jpg (4)
Armed Citizen® Today

A man in Jacksonville, Fla. heard a neighbor screaming from inside a burning home and helped to apprehend the suspect accused of setting the blaze. The Good Samaritan, who works as a security guard, heard his neighbor screaming "Help! Help!" The man grabbed his gun and headed outside to respond.

Immediately, he saw his neighbor's house burning and ran to help. He tore down part of the fence separating the two properties and used his voice to guide the woman to safety. The armed citizen also discovered the man believed to have set the fire, who was later identified as the neighbor's son.

Using his sidearm and the handcuffs from his security job, the armed citizen detained the suspected arsonist and held him at gunpoint until the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office arrived. A video recorded by another neighbor shows the armed citizen preventing the suspect from leaving the premises.

The fire was doused by the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, and the department confirmed that the blaze was set intentionally. (FOX 30 Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Fla., 03/04/2020)
  
   
From the Armed Citizen® Archives April 1967

Ex-Marine William C. Kelley has won his third personal battle with holdup men at his Los Angeles, Calif. service station. When two men demanded the cash in his register, Kelley gave them $32.63 from the cash box. One man went after him for more. Kelley shot the holdup man three times with a .25-cal. semi-automatic pistol, then went inside for his .38-cal. revolver. Both men drove off meanwhile.

Kelley said he shot another bandit through both legs in 1965 and, later that year, killed a holdup man who shoved a shotgun at him, saying, "You're going to die." Pushing aside the shotgun, Kelley, a pistol expert, shot first. He remarked, "I don't doubt anything a man says when he's pointing a gun at you. (Los Angeles Herald-Examiner)

Latest

SA Echelon Alpha 01
SA Echelon Alpha 01

Affordable & Feature-Rich: The Springfield Armory Echelon Alpha 4.0C

Springfield Armory entered the world of modular, striker-fired handguns in 2023 with its Echelon line of pistols, and for 2026, Springfield is introducing an entry-level Echelon model with the Alpha 4.0C.

5 New SBRs for 2026

It has never been easier for gun owners to buy and use short-barreled rifles, and for the occasion, we have five of the latest SBRs on the market right now.

Review: Military Armament Corporation MAC-5K

SDS Arms, under its Military Armament Corporation (MAC) brand, imports Turkish-made roller-delayed handguns of the H&K MP5 pattern called the MAC-5K.

8 New Revolvers for 2026

Despite the incredible array of polymer-frame, striker-fired, semi-automatic handguns on the market, the classic revolver not only refuses to die, it has seen something of a resurgence in recent years.

The Armed Citizen® May 18, 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.

8 New Semi-Auto Shotguns for 2026

For 2026, the semi-automatic shotgun market has seen even more growth, with some manufacturers expanding their current offerings and other makers entering the marketplace with novel designs.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.