The Armed Citizen® April 29, 2016

by
posted on April 29, 2016
** 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 (8)

Gut feelings paid off for a 65-year-old New Hampshire woman who ended up shooting a man who tried to mug her. The unidentified grandmother said that she got a “funny feeling” when she pulled out of a gas station parking lot after a late night at work and noticed a dark sedan following her. As she walked from her car to her apartment, she said she saw a man getting out of that same car. With that, she reached into her purse and got her hand around her legally owned handgun. The suspected mugger accosted her, and when he went to grab her, she pulled out her gun and shot him. He was taken to a hospital and treated for the wound. The police are investigating the case. (New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester, NH, 1/5/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Eight Lansing, Mich., teens were taken into custody, several of them wounded, after their robbery attempt was foiled by an armed resident. The group attempted to break into a home, leading to an exchange of gunfire with the homeowner. Three of the culprits were struck by the resident’s defensive fire, one receiving a wound to the leg that hit a major artery. Emergency room physicians later credited a Lansing police officer with saving the teen’s life by applying a tourniquet. It required an hours-long manhunt in the area, which closed down three local schools, for police to capture all eight males involved in the botched burglary. No injuries to the armed citizen were reported. (Lansing State Journal, Lansing, MI, 11/7/15)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
June 1971

On learning that two suspicious men were prowling around a neighbor’s home, Elgin Lester of Roseburg, Ore., grabbed a pistol and went to investigate. He knew the neighbor was out of town at the time, yet there was a light burning in one window. Hiding outside, Lester waiting until one of the prowlers came out. When Lester yelled, “Halt!” the man fled. Both suspects were soon apprehended by police. (The News-Review, Roseburg, OR)

Latest

Icarry Diamondback Sdr Galco 1
Icarry Diamondback Sdr Galco 1

I Carry: Diamondback SDR in a Galco Hornet Holster

For our latest "I Carry" episode above, we paired the six-round Diamondback SDR DA/SA snubnose revolver with a simple leather holster from Galco, along with one of the latest EDC flashlights from Streamlight.

The Armed Citizen® May 8, 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.

Creating the Ideal First-Time Shooting Experience

That first time behind a trigger can shape a newcomer’s attitude towards firearms. Here are five ways to make the experience a success.

Henry Repeating Arms Founder & CEO Honored as Law Enforcement Supporter of the Year

Henry Repeating Arms founder and CEO Anthony Imperato has been named Law Enforcement Supporter of the Year by New York State Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Lodge 100.

New For 2026: TriStar Arms APOC Pro

The new APOC Pro takes the original TriStar Arms APOC pistol design introduced in 2025 and makes it optics- and suppressor-ready.

7 New Over-Under Shotguns for 2026

Ever since the development of the iconic Browning Superposed shotgun in the early 1930s, the concept of an over-under shotgun has remained popular not just with American shooters but shotgunners the world over.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.