The Armed Citizen® August 10, 2015

by
posted on August 10, 2015
** 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 (2)
A “doggie door” is not an invitation to enter someone else’s home. A Jefferson County (Colorado) homeowner was awakened by a dog that was barking in the middle of the night. When he investigated, he saw an intruder crawling into his house through the doggie door. The resident yelled at the man, later identified as being from Nebraska, and retreated to an upstairs room. Investigators say the intruder followed and the homeowner shot the Nebraskan in the leg and head during a struggle. The intruder later died. “Based on the totally of the circumstances, and the victim’s right to defend himself in his home,” the homeowner will not be charged, said Jacki Kelley of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. (The Sentinel, Golden, CO, 12/15/14)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
November 1970
Late one evening, W.A. Hendrix became suspicious of two men busily loading a station wagon in front of a Birmingham, Ala., construction site. Taking a shotgun from his home, Hendrix went across the street to investigate. The pair attempted to escape in the car, and they refused to stop, Hendrix fired. The car crashed into a tree, and one man fled and was captured later. Hendrix held the other thief until sheriff’s deputies could arrive. (Birmingham News, Birmingham, AL)

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.