The Armed Citizen® Jan. 12, 2026

by
posted on January 12, 2026
** 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

During the night of Jan. 2, a resident heard what sounded like someone pounding on their front door in Newport, Ore. When they investigated, they saw one man repeatedly stabbing another on the front porch.

They attempted to intervene, but the assailant continued the attack, so the resident shot the assailant once, killing him. The stabbing victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition from multiple stab wounds. This attack appeared to be random, as there was no indication the 42-year-old assailant knew the 33-year-old victim or the home’s resident.

Police found an ID belonging to another man in the assailant’s possession, however, so they performed a welfare check for the ID holder. Receiving no response, they entered his location and found that 58-year-old man dead of multiple stab wounds. This victim was a known associate of the assailant. (Newport Oregon Police Department Facebook, Newport, Ore., 1/2/26 and 1/4/26)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – April 1977

Although 19-year-old Rebecca Vigil of Stockton, Calif., had never fired a pistol in her life, when two armed robbers invaded her boy friend's gas station and began to beat him, she took effective action. She first located a hidden .22-cal. revolver and emptied it into one of the robbers, she then retrieved a pistol dropped by the fatally wounded thug and used it to shoot his partner. (The News-Sentinel, Lodi, Calif.)

Latest

Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth

U.S. Army Bases Will No Longer Be Gun-Free Zones

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced this week that U.S. Army bases will no longer be gun-free zones.

Gun of the Week: CZ Shadow 2 Carry

One of the latest concealed-carry handguns to hit the consumer market is the CZ's Shadow 2 Carry. Watch our "Gun of the Week" episode to see the details of this carry-oriented design.

The Armed Citizen® April 3, 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.

In Memoriam: Lt. Gen. William Morgan Keys (1937-2026)

Lt. Gen. William M. Keys, a decorated war veteran and former President and CEO of Colt Defense and Colt’s Manufacturing Company, passed away on Jan. 24.

2026 NRA Board Election Results (Updated)

The National Rifle Association is pleased to announce the results of the 2026 elections for the NRA Board of Directors.

A Celebration of American Freedom: The 155th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits

With acres of exhibition space, addresses from NRA’s leadership, an epic country concert and literally tens of thousands of guns on display, the 155th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston­—and our nation’s 250th celebration—are not to be missed.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.