The Armed Citizen® August 11, 2017

by
posted on August 11, 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 (2)

When a Pennsylvania man heard his front door being kicked in early one June morning, followed by his wife’s screams, he grabbed his handgun and went to investigate. Downstairs, he saw a stranger, armed with a piece of wood. As the intruder lunged toward the armed homeowner with the wood raised in a threatening manner, the resident fired and the intruder collapsed. The homeowner’s wife then called 9-1-1. The suspect was taken to the hospital, where he was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He faces charges of burglary, simple assault and criminal mischief. (pennlive.com, Harrisburg, PA, 6/4/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A group of would-be burglars broke into a house of a Marine Corps veteran, threatening to harm him if he reported the crime. Unintimidated, the veteran immediately reported the break-in, and as promised, the thugs returned with a shotgun and fired several shots into the house. The homeowner retrieved his own firearm, but not before getting hit in the shoulder. Undeterred, the brave veteran returned fire, wounding all three intruders. Police arrested one of them at the house and caught the other two at a nearby store. The homeowner was taken to a hospital for treatment and, according to the sheriff captain, was deemed to have acted in “a clear-cut case of self-defense.” The trio was set to be booked into jail after being released from the hospital. (The Press-Register, Mobile, AL, 6/22/17) 

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
August 1960
In Columbus, Ga., Mrs. Thelma D. Lee, a mother of five small children, awoke to see an intruder at her bedside. Mrs. Lee, whose husband must work at night, eased a cal. .22 revolver from under her pillow and fired. The intruder fled to another room and Mrs. Lee fired at him again. Police found his body face down nearby. (AP, Columbus, GA)

Latest

Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth

U.S. Army Bases Will No Longer Be Gun-Free Zones

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced this week that U.S. Army bases will no longer be gun-free zones.

Gun of the Week: CZ Shadow 2 Carry

One of the latest concealed-carry handguns to hit the consumer market is the CZ's Shadow 2 Carry. Watch our "Gun of the Week" episode to see the details of this carry-oriented design.

The Armed Citizen® April 3, 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.

In Memoriam: Lt. Gen. William Morgan Keys (1937-2026)

Lt. Gen. William M. Keys, a decorated war veteran and former President and CEO of Colt Defense and Colt’s Manufacturing Company, passed away on Jan. 24.

2026 NRA Board Election Results (Updated)

The National Rifle Association is pleased to announce the results of the 2026 elections for the NRA Board of Directors.

A Celebration of American Freedom: The 155th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits

With acres of exhibition space, addresses from NRA’s leadership, an epic country concert and literally tens of thousands of guns on display, the 155th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston­—and our nation’s 250th celebration—are not to be missed.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.