The Armed Citizen® Dec. 10, 2021

Law-Abiding Citizens Using Their Second Amendment Rights In Self-Defense

by
posted on December 10, 2021
** 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. **
The Armed Citizen

Armed Citizen® Today

A man in Spotsylvania, Va., was not defenseless when another attempted to rob him at an ATM on Oct. 15, 2021.

The man was at the ATM of a Bank of America branch around 9 p.m. that Friday night when another man approached him as he was holding his cash. In a threatening manner, the stranger approached the man and then physically struck him several times. However, unknown to the crook, his intended victim was also a concealed-carry permit holder.

As the assailant hit him, the man was able to draw his concealed handgun and fire several rounds at the crook, prompting the would-be robber to run across the street and flee. As police responded to the scene of the attempted robbery, they received another call from a man who reported that he was shot at while at the ATM. The caller turned out to be the 24-year-old crook, who was arrested and charged with attempted robbery.  (fredericksburg.com, Fredericksburg, Va., 10/18/2021)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives - Feb. 15, 1987

An armed man entered a Dallas, Texas, liquor store, grabbed an employee and ordered two other employees who were sons of the owner to give him money. The pair complied, but the gunman said it wasn't enough. When one son had trouble getting money from a cash register, the robber began firing, wounding both sons. Eric Gouge was shot before he could reach a shotgun under the counter, but managed to fire before his father, Leslie, emerged from an office with a handgun. In the ensuing gun battle, the store owner killed the criminal. (The Morning News, Dallas, 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.