The Armed Citizen Dec. 1, 2014

by
posted on December 1, 2014
** 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

Bennett Valley Jewelry Store had two armed-robbery attempts in one year. In the most recent attempt, three employees were in the store when two suspects walked in, one of them armed with a handgun. A confrontation ensued and shots were fired between the armed suspect and a jewelry store employee. A female employee was treated at the hospital and released, while one suspect suffered life-threatening injuries. The other suspect left his wounded accomplice behind and drove away in a stolen convertible, which he quickly abandoned. The incident triggered a wide-area search using K-9 officers. The wife of a co-owner of the store said, "You don't think this is ever going to happen again." [The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, Calif., 7/11/2014]

From the Armed Citizen, NRA Official Journals: Jonathan Haith was sleeping at home around 9:45 p.m. when he heard a light knock on his back door. He ignored the knock at first, but a louder noise from his laundry room got his attention. The loud bang was the sound of an intruder kicking in the door. Haith quickly grabbed his AR-15 from under his bed and crouched down as he made his way down the hallway. When he peeked around the corner at the end of the hallway, he saw the intruder standing there with a gun. The intruder panicked upon spotting Haith and fired at him, prompting Haith to return fire. The intruder was struck in the stomach, causing him to flee the home before collapsing nearby. It was last reported that his condition was unclear. Haith was uninjured during the incident. "I guess I did the right thing," Haith said. "I just reacted the best way possible." (WRAL.com, Henderson, NC, 5/12/14)

From the Armed Citizen Archives April 1986:Police had just left after two intruders were chased from Fran Foster's Houston, Texas, home. The 76-year-old Foster heard a scream and ran into the next room where he found one of the burlars was back, stabbing his wife. Foster, though severely beaten, managed to shoot the assailant four times. Both he and Mrs. Foster recovered; the burglars were imprisoned. (The Post, Houston, Texas)

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.