The Armed Citizen® Feb. 6, 2023

by
posted on February 6, 2023
** 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

An alleged burglar in Polk County, Fla., is in critical condition after meeting an armed homeowner returning to his house early in the morning on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.

The resident returned home at 1:30 a.m., with his girlfriend and a puppy in tow. Upon entering his house, the man flipped on his lights, only to encounter two burglars standing in his kitchen, allegedly in the process of stealing jewelry from the house. Fearing for his own safety and that of his girlfriend, the man immediately drew his concealed-carry handgun and fired at the nearest threat, who was shot four times.

After the encounter, both the man and the burglars fled the home, with the armed resident heading to the police station to report the situation. Officers used a K9 unit to search for the suspect, and they later found the wounded burglar in a nearby park and provided immediate medical care.

According to the Haines City Police Department, the suspected burglar, who has a history of prior arrests, has been charged with burglary of a residence and grand theft. The homeowner will not face charges, and Haines City Police Chief Greg Goreck hopes the story will discourage other would-be burglars.

"One should expect that if you're brazen enough to enter into someone's residence, and it's not yours, with intent to commit an unlawful act, there may be repercussions," he said. "We live in Florida, and moreso, we live in Polk County, and most people are armed." (ABC Action News Tampa Bay, Haines City, Fla., 1/27/23)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – Feb. 16, 1987

An armed man walked into a Sherman Oaks, Calif., liquor store and demanded that the customers and a front clerk lie down on the floor. A teenage clerk working in the rear armed himself with a handgun, and, in a confrontation with the intruder, fatally wounded him. Police said the case would be treated as a justifiable homicide. (The Daily News, Van Nuys, Calif.)

Latest

National Firearm Act
National Firearm Act

150,000 NFA Applications Filed On Day 1 After $0 Tax Stamp Becomes Official

Approximately 150,000 NFA enthusiasts filed their paperwork through ATF’s electronic system in just the first 24 hours of 2026, the first day after the $0 tax stamp for most NFA items became official.

Gun Of The Week: Caracal USA CMP9K

Caracal's CMP9K pistol is based on a design originally produced to replace the aging stock of Heckler & Koch MP5s in United Arab Emirates service.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 9, 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.

Preview: Roundhouse Provisions Ultimate Campout Kit

Founded by Chuck Norris (yes, that Chuck Norris), Roundhouse Provisions is a company that produces emergency foodstuffs designed to be quickly and simply prepared that will stay fresh for years.

New For 2026: Taurus TX9 Pistol

Taurus launches the TX9 family of striker-fired, polymer-frame pistols, adding to its popular TX series of handguns.

Heavy Browning At War: Combat Tales Of The Browning M1917 Machine Gun

For the first half of the 20th century, one of the most important firearms in the U.S. military arsenal was the water-cooled Browning M1917, known to gunners and infantrymen alike as the "Heavy Browning."

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.