The Armed Citizen® December 2, 2016

by
posted on December 2, 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

Bank robbery doesn’t pay when an armed citizen steps up to stop the crime. In Homewood, Ala., a man walked into a local bank and held it up. The hooligan, with a piece of cloth wrapped around his hand as if to hide a gun, ordered the people inside to huddle into a corner and hand over their cell phones. As he got ready to leave the bank, the robber pointed the cloth-covered hand at the bank patrons. An armed citizen saw that as an opportunity, pulling out his concealed firearm and firing at the would-be robber. “I was thinking a lot of people’s lives were in danger and my life was in danger, too. He pointed whatever he had at us, so I fired a shot at him,” said the citizen. The shot missed, but the police arrived and arrested the bad guy as he was fleeing. (AL.com, Homewood, AL, 9/21/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
An elderly man was awakened early one Friday morning to find a man in a skull mask standing over him. A struggle ensued between the two, during which the resident fired a shot from his .22-cal. handgun, hitting the intruder. A police lieutenant said the older man was “remorseful, shook up,” but was protecting an elderly sister who also lives in the house. Furthermore, he said the case “looks like self-defense” and no charges are expected. (The Philadelphia Inquirer, Uniontown, PA, 11/6/16)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
December 1982
Alerted by the sounds of someone breaking into his Godfrey, Ill., home, Victor Calhoun took up his .44 cal. handgun and positioned himself behind a kitchen wall. He hollered a warning, whereupon the invader yelled back, “I’ll shoot.” Calhoun, 68, and his assailant then traded gunfire before the intruder fled from the house. (The Telegraph, Alton, IL)

Latest

Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber
Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber

Review: Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber

Ruger recently released a variant of its popular 10/22 made with modern materials and incorporating performance-minded engineering: the 10/22 Carbon Fiber.

Winchester Celebrates USA 250th With Commemorative Ammo Line

Winchester Ammunition's special line of commemorative ammunition honors the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding, with unique packaging that honors the American heritage.

BANISH Suppressors Introduces BANISH 556

BANISH Suppressors introduced its BANISH 556, a full-auto rated suppressor with controlled-flow technology that the company claims is the "most advanced 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem. suppressor on the market."

The Keefe Report: The Incomparable, Inimitable Phil Schreier—1962-2025

Philip Schreier, director of the NRA Museums, passed away on Dec. 29, 2025, after battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

America 250: The Tradition Of The Armed Citizen Lives On

The Declaration of Independence reaffirmed the right to self-determination—and the uniquely American practice of keeping and bearing arms allowed a new nation to thrive.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 5, 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.