The Armed Citizen® April 20, 2014

by
posted on April 20, 2014
** 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. **
ac2009_fs.jpg (5)

After an argument occurred at a house party, one man was asked to leave. The 27-year-old man returned a short time later with a rifle and began firing shots outside the home. According to witnesses, the man then pointed the rifle at several people attending the party. A 39-year-old partygoer took action to stop what could have resulted in tragedy; he pulled out his own firearm and shot the man brandishing the rifle. The assailant was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported. (KPHO.com, Glendale, Ariz., 10/20/13)

A homeowner was awakened by noises in and around his home shortly before 4 a.m. When he went to investigate, he found a man he did not know climbing through a window that had just been broken. The resident had armed himself with his handgun and ordered the intruder not to move. Instead of complying, the intruder turned toward the resident prompting him to fire. The intruder then jumped out the same window and fled. His body, however, was discovered only a short distance from the home. He was pronounced dead at the scene. (Ravalli Republic, Corvallis, Ore., 3/18/14)

From The Armed Citizen® Archives

August 1977: 12-year-old Pamela Thompson was alone in her Baltimore, Md., home when she heard someone breaking in. Since the house had no telephone, she could not summon help. So she loaded a cal. .22 rifle and fired once, hitting the would-be robber, who was later apprehended by police. (The Sun, Baltimore, Md.)

Latest

attack in a back alley
attack in a back alley

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 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.

Rifleman Q&A: Understanding a Firearm's Cycle of Operation

The cycle of operation is the mechanical sequence of events that it takes to fire one shot out of a firearm. If one of those steps fails to take place as designed, there is an interruption in the cycle of operation and the gun stops firing.

Review: Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm Riflescope

Looking for a performance LPVO without the usual associated cost? The Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm might be your answer.

Myths & Misunderstandings About the “Modern Fighting 1911”

The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.