The Armed Citizen®: January 12, 2015

by
posted on January 12, 2015
** 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.jpg (3)

After the office door was closed, staff members at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital reported hearing loud arguing inside. The staff opened the door to find a patient holding a doctor and caseworker at gunpoint. They immediately dialed 9-1-1. Gunshots were heard a short time later. The caseworker was shot and killed by the gunman. The doctor was grazed by gunfire, and promptly pulled out his own gun and returned fire. When the patient emerged from the office, he was wrestled to the floor and disarmed by another doctor and caseworker. The suspect sustained multiple gunshot wounds, but was reportedly expected to recover. The doctor was expected to recover from his wounds as well. Many praise the doctor’s actions, which likely saved lives. The responding police chief said of the incident, “Without that firearm, this guy [the patient] could have went out in the hallway and just walked down the offices [shooting] until he ran out of ammunition.” (Bucks County Courier Times, Darby, PA, 7/25/14)

The Armed Citizen® Extra:
Two teenagers entered a jewelry store in Fresno, Calif., pointed a handgun at the clerk’s head and announced that they were robbing the place. When the store owner, who had been in the back office with his daughter and new-born grandchild, heard the clerk say he was being robbed, he armed himself with a shotgun and confronted the pair. Upon seeing the shotgun, the two robbers hastily fled the scene. The entire encounter was caught on security cameras, and since the teens had not bothered to wear masks or disguises, tipsters were quickly able to assist the authorities in identifying them. One of the culprits turned himself in to police, and his compatriot was arrested two days later. There were no injuries, and nothing was stolen. Both men pleaded no contest to their charges. (The Fresno Bee, Fresno, CA, 12/11/14)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives January 1980:
Responding to a knock on the door of his Louisville, Ky., home, James F. Freeman was confronted by an armed man who ordered him and five friends to lie on the floor and then demanded cash. When Freeman’s wife went into another room to get the money, the gunman followed. Freeman hurriedly found his revolver and greeted the robber with a burst of gunfire, wounding him in the side. The robber managed to escape with the cash, but was later identified by Freeman at a hospital and arrested. (The Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY)

Latest

firing a musket rifle
firing a musket rifle

Today’s Makers of Yesterday’s Firearms

Original firearms from the American Revolution era are valuable and best preserved for posterity. For those who want to shoot them, several modern makers offer quality reproductions.

Left Turn (Bolt): Tikka's New Left-Handed T3x Ace Rifles

Lefties of the world unite and rejoice, as Tikka has announced left-hand versions of its award-winning T3x Ace chassis rifles.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 14, 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.

Skills Check: Rifle Standard Delta 2

Carbine performance is all about maintaining control. The Rifle Standard Delta 2 is a drill that pressures recoil control, visual discipline and cadence as distance decreases and time compresses.

Gun Sales Up for the 7th Month in a Row in 2026

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) estimate of last month’s gun sales was up 2.2 percent compared to August 2025.

Caring For & Feeding Your Cap-and-Ball Revolvers

Compared to pistoleros of the 19th century, today’s handgunners have it easy. It's not enough just to get an old-school, cap-and-ball revolver. You also need to acquire everything to shoot and clean it.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.