The Armed Citizen® August 26, 2016

by
posted on August 26, 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 (7)
A firearm proved to be the great equalizer when an ax-wielding burglar attempted to enter the home of a 92-year-old California man. The resident, a World War II veteran, armed himself after hearing a suspicious sound out by his back door. When he went to investigate, he witnessed the culprit using an ax to break through a window. “I let off a shot and he took off,” the armed citizen later told a reporter. The suspect was in such a hurry to leave that he left behind his ax. (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, AZ, 2/3/16)


The Armed Citizen® Archives
March 1982

Retired postal clerk Clark Goodwin, 68, saw a pair of men leave his next-door neighbor’s house and try to break into the neighbor’s car. When he challenged them, one of the men fired at him with a .22-cal. pistol. Goodwin then returned fire with his own pistol, routing the two suspects. The next-door neighbor was found severely beaten and rolled up in a carpet. Police speculated that the criminals planned to return and kill him. Goodwin was honored by the St. Louis Grand Jury Ass’n for his actions. (The Globe-Democrat, St. Louis, MO)

Latest

Gotw Taurus Rpc 1
Gotw Taurus Rpc 1

Gun of the Week: Taurus RPC

The Taurus RPC is a welcome addition to the growing marketplace of PDWs, or personal defense weapons, a concept that pairs pistol-caliber cartridges with larger-format firearms.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 13, 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.

Review: Kimber 2K11 Pro Comp

Kimber expanded its 2K11 line with the Pro Comp in 2026, providing a Commander-length slide and barrel topped by an integrated compensator.

New for 2026: Bear Creek Arsenal Bear Bolt Pro

North Carolina-based Bear Creek Arsenal, a prolific maker of AR-10 and AR-15 pattern firearms, is combining the modularity of the MSR platform with a traditional turn-bolt action with its Bear Bolt Pro.

I Have This Old Gun: Model 1854 Lorenz Jägerstutzen

The Austrian Lorenz Jägerstutzen was a unique variant of sharpshooting rifle that made it stateside during the American Civil War.

SHIELD Sights Celebrates 40 Years of Red-Dot Optics Innovation

SHIELD Sights is celebrating its 40th anniversary, marking four decades of British engineering, innovation and contributions to the evolution of modern red-dot optics.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.