The Armed Citizen® Aug. 2, 2024

by
posted on August 2, 2024
** 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. **
The Armed Citizen

Armed Citizen® Today

An armed man defended himself from an armed burglar outside of a gas station in Memphis, Tenn., on July 7.

Surveillance footage showed the victim walking out of the convenience store in southwest Memphis at about 9:30 p.m., when a hooded individual sitting in a nearby silver Impala got out, brandished a firearm and walked toward the victim as he began to open the driver's door of his Dodge Charger. The hooded man pointed his gun at the victim and allegedly demanded that the victim hand over his property.

The victim backed away from the threatening robber, then slipped his right hand into the pocket of his shorts and quickly drew a small handgun. He then aimed it toward the head of the robber and fired. The robber dodged the shot and returned fire, with both men appearing to miss their target. The victim then ran from the scene, and the robber fled toward the silver Impala and got into the passenger seat, and the car sped away from the store.

A local truck driver who said he frequents the convenience store where the shooting occurred told local reporters, "You got to be careful. You have got to watch your back. You have to watch your front and your back. You have to be careful in these streets." Memphis Police are currently investigating but said there is no word on any injuries and no arrests have been made. (Action News 5; Memphis, Tenn.; 7/11/24)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – October 1974

After buying some beer at a Knoxville, Tenn., convenience food store, a "customer" pulled a gun and ordered clerk Mary Finger to stuff money into a bag. In his office, manager Charles Costner oveheard the demand, got a .38-cal. handgun and seriously wounded the robber when the latter tried to shoot him. (The Knoxville Journal; Knoxville, Tenn.)

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

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.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.