The Armed Citizen® December 13, 2019

by
posted on December 13, 2019
** 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. **
armed-citizen-main-image.jpg (3)

A female manager of a rural drive-in movie theater in Hockley, Texas, shot a suspected robber who attacked her with a baseball bat. The manager was finishing her shift around 2:30 a.m.
Sept. 16 when she and another employee heard unusual noises. T
hey went to investigate and found two men allegedly hiding inside the theater. One of the men ran off, but the other reportedly wore a mask and gloves and struck the manager with the bat. She pulled out her gun and shot him dead. (CW39 Houston, Houston, Texas, 9/16/2019)

Armed Citizen Extra

When an armed citizen spotted a 26-year-old "physically fighting" with an 18-year-old woman, he knew he had to act. Despite giving the man multiple warnings to stop assaulting the female or else he would shoot, the assailant continued to punch and bite the woman, after which he began stomping on her head. The woman finally broke free, and ran behind the passerby for protection. The violent man then advanced toward the two, forcing the armed defender to act, killing the man. (fox13now.com, Provo, Utah, 6/7/2019)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
December 1958
Morris Pastor, a 79-year-old North Philadelphia tailor, grabbed a pistol from under the counter when a bandit menaced him with hand in pcket and demanded all his money. The would-be thug fled. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

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.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.