The Armed Citizen® Feb. 3, 2025

by
posted on February 3, 2025
** 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 routine car-service job turned into a self-defense scenario for a mechanic in Hialeah, Fla., when he was forced to defend himself from a machete-wielding attacker.

Police say the 29-year-old mechanic worked for a mobile tire-repair service and was called to fix a vehicle owned by a 36-year-old man. When the mechanic showed up and began working on the vehicle, the 36-year-old car owner noticed that the mechanic had placed a used tire on his vehicle and became irate. He verbally threatened the mechanic, then obtained a machete and charged toward the mechanic.

The mechanic, fearing for his life, drew a firearm and shot the attacker, who died at the scene. Police initially took the 29-year-old mechanic into custody following the shooting, but further investigation revealed details of the attack. "Based on the information obtained by detectives, it was determined that this was a justified shooting in self-defense," Hialeah police told reporters. (NBC Miami; Hialeah, Fla.; 11/2/24)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – December 1985

Waiting in his car for his daughter to get off work, a Norman, Okla., man watched as a suspicious character walked into the dry cleaners, where he pushed the daughter to the back of the building and bound her. The clerk's father waited until the armed robber was away from his daughter, cleaning out the cash register, then he walked in with a pistol. He held the robber at gunpoint for police. (The Oklahoman; Oklahoma City, Okla.)

Latest

US Palm STORM CAT4 01
US Palm STORM CAT4 01

Storm on the Horizon: US Palm's Storm Cat4 Rifles & Pistols

Known primarily for its line of AK-platform accessories, this year, US Palm branched out with a full line of AR-style rifles and pistols, all of which have a unique feature set.

Review: Axil XCor Pro Hearing Protection

These do-it-all earbuds from Axil actually do it all.

Federal's New 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak: The Peak Alloy Case Goes Mainstream

Federal introduced its high-pressure Peak Alloy case design with the 7 mm Backcountry in 2025. Now, the company is incorporating it into high-pressure 6.5 Creedmoor loads with the +Peak design.

I Carry: Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC in a JM Custom Kydex Holster

In our latest "I Carry" video, a Springfield Echelon 4.0FC is outfitted with Aimpoint's new COA enclosed-emitter red-dot optic, and to carry this optic-equipped handgun, we've selected a JM Custom Kydex holster.

The Armed Citizen® June 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.

Multi-Caliber MK24 to Replace SCAR-H For SOCOM

U.S. Special Forces will soon be replacing their 7.62-NATO-chambered SCAR-Hs with a new, barrel-swapping MK24 Mid-Range Gas Gun-Assault (MRGGA) gun capable of running either 7.62 NATO or 6.5 Creedmoor.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.