The Armed Citizen® December 22, 2017

by
posted on December 22, 2017
** 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 (6)

An Illinois woman was entering her car at a shopping center when a knife-wielding man assaulted her and forced his way into her vehicle. After climbing in next to her he ordered her to drive to a rural area. When the woman stopped at an intersection during the drive, she saw an opportunity to reach for her firearm, for which she had a carry permit. When the bad guy saw the gun, he jumped out of the car and fled. The armed citizen drove herself to a hospital for treatment of the knife wound, and gave the police a solid account of the incident. Authorities later arrested a suspect and charged him with aggravated assault, aggravated battery and unlawful use of a gun by a felon. He was being held on bond. (foxnews.com, Chicago, IL, 10/13/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A man was walking his dog in his neighborhood one morning when a passer-by warned him that there were two pit bulls on the loose. After receiving the news, the man turned around and started heading home with his dog when the two pit bulls started chasing them. The man and his dog made it to the porch of their house when one of the pit bulls latched himself to the resident dog's the neck. The owner and another man tried to pull the pit bull off his dog but to no avail. The resident, who has a pistol permit, then shot and killed the dog. The second dog, which was wounded, was taken to a veterinarian for treatment while the owner was treated for a bite on his hand from the attacking dog. According to police, the owner was justified in protecting his dog on his own porch and will not face charges. The owner of the two pit bulls might be cited for having his dogs loose. (New Hampshire Sunday News, Manchester, NH, 10/21/17)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
December 1958
A bandit entered the dry cleaning shop of Elmer Fetter of Columbus, Ohio, and said, “This is a stickup.” The 71-year-old owner snatched a pistol from beside the cash register, poked it in his assailant’s face, and sent him scrambling out the door. Fetter said all he owns is in the shop and the pistol by the cash register is there to protect it. (Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, OH)

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.