The Armed Citizen® April 21, 2017

by
posted on April 21, 2017
** 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)

Early one morning in March, a family in Fresno, Calif., noticed a man carrying a soda bottle and pouring liquid outside the perimeter of their home. The homeowner grabbed his firearm and went outside to investigate. When he confronted the intruder, the stranger attempted to set the homeowner on fire by tossing what turned out to be gasoline from the bottle onto the armed citizen and flicking a lighter at him. The resident fired a shot at the assailant, who grabbed a board as a weapon. The homeowner fired a second shot, after which the troublemaker dropped the board and acquiesced to the resident, who held the man at gunpoint until police arrived. The suspect was arrested and charged with attempted arson, assault with a deadly weapon and trespassing. Apparently, this was not the first time that the mischief-maker had allegedly damaged the home; two previous incidents in February were what prompted the citizen to buy a gun for protection. (Fresnobee.com, Fresno, CA, 3/1/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Late one evening, an armed man entered a Dairy Queen and began pointing a gun at employees. Before the would-be robber had a chance to do real harm, one of the employees, who had a concealed-carry permit, shot the intruder. The intruder then fled on foot and was located several hours later by police and taken to a hospital. (WKYC.com, Mayfield Heights, OH, 2/20/17)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
April 1980
Timothy Lamprey, a police officer, was awakened by the doorbell at his Fairview Township, Pa., home. As he reached for a bathrobe, Lamprey heard someone break a window and come inside. When the intruder, a 17-year-old boy, eased into the bedroom, Lamprey grabbed his service revolver and apprehended him. (The Evening News, Harrisburg, PA)

Latest

Hk Cc9 GOTW 1
Hk Cc9 GOTW 1

Gun of the Week: Heckler & Koch CC9

The Heckler & Koch CC9 isn't merely just another micro-compact. It's the result of a significant amount of work on the part of the company's US subsidiary to create the first truly American-made HK.

The Armed Citizen® May 22, 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.

Political Report | Braced Pistols’ Status Unresolved

The U.S. Supreme Court has characterized handguns as the “quintessential” Second Amendment arm. Pistol braces increase accuracy and ease of operation for large-format handguns, especially for users suffering from physical disabilities.

The PROOF Research PXT: A New Approach to Barrel Rifling

PROOF Research has introduced PROOF eXponential Twist (PXT)—an advancement in rifling that improves durability, accuracy and shootability—to the commercial market.

Review: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker

Back when American Rifleman reviewed Springfield's Model 2020 Waypoint, we noted that we ...couldn’t help but wonder if a tactical-version Model 2020 rifle might be a logical future offshoot of the Waypoint hunting rifle." With the Model 2020 Heatseeker, that version is finally here.

Marlin Goes Mad: The Marlin Mad Pig Customs Model 1894

Marlin’s latest Model 1894 lever-action rifle, a collaboration with Mad Pig Customs that is a far cry from traditional, delivers “modern, factory‑installed features previously found only on custom builds.”

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.