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

Armed Citizen Podcast John Lott 1
Armed Citizen Podcast John Lott 1

Why the Murder Rate Quickly Fell to a Likely Historic Low

If the gun-control Left is to be believed, then the murder rate in the U.S. should be going up. After all, gun sales and ownership rates have been rising for the last few decades and anti-gun groups claim that gun ownership is the cause of violent crime. This, of course, is nonsense.

16 New Bolt-Action Rifles for 2026

From cutting-edge precision rifles designed for competition or hunting to traditionally styled guns that emulate designs from yesteryear, 2026 saw the introduction of an incredible array of bolt-action rifles.

Review: Chiappa Rhino 60DS 10 mm Auto

The Italian-designed-and-manufactured Chiappa Rhino remains unique today as the only current revolver with the barrel mounted at the bottom of the frame, firing from the chamber at the 6-o’clock position.

5 New Large-Format Pistols for 2026

There's been a huge surge in the large-format pistol category, and 2026 continues to showcase new models answering the wants and needs of today's firearm owners.

Short & Powerful: The EOTech Vudu 4-12x36 mm Super Short Riflescope

EOTech's ultra-compact 3-9x32 mm Vudu was a popular addition to the company's variable-powered riflescope line, and the new 4-12x36 mm Vudu ups the ante with new features in a still-compact package.

The Armed Citizen® May 11, 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.