The Armed Citizen® Jan. 26, 2016

by
posted on January 26, 2016
** 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-2.jpg (2)

Luck ran out for a thief who was involved in a spree of car burglaries in Fayetteville, Ark. One would-be victim held the suspect at gunpoint after the armed citizen caught the bad guy in the act of breaking into his car. The suspect later confessed to multiple vehicle break-ins in the area. (KNWA, Fayetteville, AR)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
An Angleton, Texas, man used a handgun to keep a thief from stealing his vehicle. The man was staying at a local hotel when he and his wife were awakened in the middle of the night by sounds outside; looking into the parking lot, he watched as a 31-year-old man attempted to break into his SUV. Bringing his gun with him, the owner of the vehicle confronted and shot the culprit. The hotel manager called the police after witnessing the altercation, and the authorities arrived to find the suspect on the floor of the hotel lobby with a gunshot wound to the chest. According to the police, the wounded man is expected to live. (thefacts.com, Clute, TX, 10/20/15)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
October 1986
A Chula Vista, Calif., couple on a weekend fishing trip along the Mexican border was menaced by a group of 10 men, some armed with knives. When the men split into two groups and circled John Spizale’s camper, he got out his .45 pistol. One of the men pointed at his gun asking, “Bullets?” Spizale replied that the gun was indeed loaded and that he was prepared to use it. The group left, and the Border Patrol said that the gun’s presence probably saved the couple’s lives. (The Star-News, Chula Vista, CA)

Latest

More Suppressors 2
More Suppressors 2

NFA Wait Times Continue to Drop

In early 2021, it took the ATF about 280 days to process a Form 4 NFA transfer. In August 2026, using the recently implemented eForms system, that wait time had dropped to only nine days.

Pelican Air Carry-on Case Review

An industry staple just made air travel more convenient.

The ROSE Program by SIG Sauer: Empowering Women in Shooting Sports Across the Nation

The ROSE Program is a shooting program created specifically for women. It aims to create a community of women in shooting that can learn about shooting and self-defense.

I Have This Old Gun: French MAS-49

Despite being early adopters of several semi-automatic rifles for military use, the French army took several decades to work out a standardized semi-automatic rifle for general service use. The rifle that finally came to being was the MAS-49.

Polite Society Industries Launches with Complete Suppressor Line

"An armed society is a polite society," goes the famous quote, which is also the inspiration behind Polite Society Industries, a new suppressor manufacturer that now has a complete line available to consumers.

NRA-ILA Names Smith & Wesson Official Partner of the 2026 NRA Gun Bus Battleground Tour

Iconic American firearms maker Smith & Wesson will join NRA-ILA on the road as nation's leading firearm group turns out voters ahead of the 2026 midterm.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.