The Armed Citizen® August 13, 2013

by
posted on August 13, 2013
** 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 (1)

Sandra Mize, 63, was asleep when she heard someone break in through the back door of her home. She grabbed the .22-cal. handgun she keeps by her bed and ran into her dark living room. Mize could see the silhouette of a man in her kitchen and warned him that she was armed. The man approached her despite her warnings. Mize fired once. The intruder advanced to the living room where he collapsed on the sofa. Mize kept her gun aimed at the intruder and asked him if he had been hit, but received no response. Soon after, police arrived and the intruder made his getaway attempt. He leapt from the sofa and tried to flee through the back door, but was met by a police dog. Officers arrested the 35-year-old perpetrator, who was uninjured. He has reportedly been jailed on two counts of burglary. (The Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA, 4/4/13)

Two would-be robbers were shot Friday night after they burst into a home with a fake gun and, authorities said, met a person inside who had a real one. The two men were in serious condition at the hospital Friday night, suffering multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. Five people were home at the time of the attempted robbery, none of which were injured. A visitor in the home shot the intruders with a .40-cal. handgun. The suspects stumbled outside, collapsing on the sidewalk. (The Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay, FL, 7/20/13)

From The Armed Citizen Archives

April 1974: Out rabbit hunting and aware of an alert for three escaped prisoners, retired policeman George Koban, 46, of Ebensburg, Pa., spotted three suspects and ordered them to halt. They did, and proved to be the escapees. "They saw the shotgun and finally stopped when I asked them to," Koban said. "I never threatened to shoot." (The Indiana Evening Gazzette, Indiana, Pa.)

Latest

jammed cartridge in chamber
jammed cartridge in chamber

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?

Heir Apparent: The CZ 600+ Carbine

CZ's 527 action was long a popular option scaled around compact cartridges like the .223 Remington and the 7.62x39 mm. Now, the new CZ 600+ Carbine brings that same concept to the company's new CZ 600 series.

I Carry: Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard in an ANR Design Holster

In our latest "I Carry" setup, we're featuring the Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard in an ANR Design holster, and we've got a Streamlight EDC flashlight to round out our kit.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 23, 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.