The Armed Citizen® April 22, 2019

by
posted on April 22, 2019
** 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 (6)

An armed citizen of the Hoosier State received an early-morning surprise while entering his car. The Kokomo, Ind., resident was getting into his car when a suspicious man wearing a bandana entered his car without warning. The driver armed himself with his firearm and informed the suspect he was armed. This did not deter the would-be carjacker, who pulled out a handgun of his own. In response, the armed citizen fired several times at the suspect, who fled the vehicle without a fight and without firing his weapon. It is unknown if the suspect was struck, and the investigation is ongoing. (theindychannel.com, Kokomo, Ind., 2/4/19)

Armed Citizen Extra
After being bloodied and threatened by a hitchhiker he picked up in Duquesne, a 73-year-old Pennsylvania man was forced to think quickly. Having just minutes earlier picked up a male and female hitchhiker, the driver became suspicious when the male passenger began sending him along an alley. Suddenly, the passenger told him to stop his SUV, informed the driver he was going to rob him and hit him with a pistol. Though bleeding, the driver managed to exit the car. While the female passenger ran off, the man followed the driver out and leveled a gun at him. It was at this point that the driver fatally shot the would-be robber three times with this own legally carried pistol, resolving the incident. (Pittsburgh's Action 4 News, Duquesne, Pa., 4/4/19)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
April 1962
After loitering in A. A. Dear's Anniston, Ala., market for several minutes, a man pulled a pistol and demanded that Dear give him the money in the cash register. Dear then was forced to lie behind the counter. Dear had a cal. .38 revolver on a shelf and rose firing when he heard the thief close the front door. The holdup man fell dead on the sidewalk, hit by 3 shots. (The Anniston Star)

Latest

9X18 Makarov
9X18 Makarov

Shooting Surplus: Finding Affordable Mil-Surp Ammo in 2026

Today, the market for mil-surp ammo is vastly different than it was even just a few years ago. If you're a military-surplus collector and shooter, what should you look for in 2026? Here's our guide.

Colt Electro-Optics Introduces New Red Dots & Magnifier

No stranger to rebirth, Colt has recently spun off an optics division to make sure that, in a world where optics are considered to be standard equipment, a fully kitted-out gun can be all-pony.

What This Huge NFA Ruling Means for Gun Owners

The recent ruling in Jensen v. ATF and the subsequent lack of an appeal by the U.S. Department of Justice has left many gun owners with questions about purchasing NFA items. Here is some guidance.

Gun of the Week: Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard

In partnership with Lipsey's, Smith & Wesson recently re-introduced two of its classic Night Guard revolvers, the Models 386 and 396, which are chambered for the .357 Magnum and .44 Special, respectively.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 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.

A (Slightly Confusing) History of Colt's Police Positive Revolver

For one of the most popular law-enforcement revolvers ever made, the history of the Colt Police Positive isn't nearly as linear as one would think it'd be.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.