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

Icarry DD H9 1
Icarry DD H9 1

I Carry: Daniel Defense H9 in an ANR Designs Holster

In our latest “I Carry” segment above, we’re taking a closer look at the Daniel Defense H9, a unique, striker-fired design that borrows popular features from several different handguns. 

A Surprising Conversation on Just How Far an Anti-Gun State Can Go

In Massachusetts this fall, ballot question 9 is an effort to repeal 2024 legislation known as “An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws,” a complex package of fees, red tape, training requirements, and other burdens placed on law-abiding gun owners. 

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 2, 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.

Are Snub-Nose Revolvers Still Relevant?

In a world of micro-compact handguns, does the venerable snub-nose revolver still have a place? Here are four reasons why you might still consider carrying a snubby.

Behind Federal's 7 mm Backcountry Cartridge

In 2025, Federal Ammunition introduced its new 7 mm Backcountry cartridge, which operates at higher pressures than any previous commercial ammunition offering.

New for 2026: Beretta 94X Performance

The latest step in the evolution of Beretta's 90 series of handguns is the 94X Performance, a handgun that the company calls “the ultimate evolution of the Beretta competition pistol for IPSC and USPSA.”

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.