The Armed Citizen® January 12, 2018

by
posted on January 12, 2018
** 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 (2)

Criminals might consider the elderly a vulnerable segment of society and easy victims to prey upon, but that wasn’t the case in Florida. When a would-be burglar tried breaking into the home of an 81-year-old, the homeowner turned the tables on him with a gun. The incident started when a stranger rang the doorbell of a New Smyrna Beach, Fla., home. The resident, not recognizing the visitor, declined to answer the door. A few minutes later, the citizen noticed the man on the porch was putting on white gloves. At that point, the senior citizen grabbed his personal protection handgun. When the outsider proceeded to break the glass of a first-floor window and reached in to unlock it, the older man fired several rounds, possibly grazing the suspect. Police were searching for the bad guy. (The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytona Beach, FL, 10/9/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
When three men broke into a home early one morning, the homeowner was having none of that. Although the intruders shot the resident in the leg, the homeowner was able to respond with his own gunfire. One of the ill-intentioned trespassers died at the scene while another was later found dead in a stolen vehicle. The third man was taken into custody. (mlive.com, Greenleaf Township, MI, 11/20/17)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
January 1959
Grocer Bernard Frey of Buffalo, N.Y., thwarted his third holdup in five years by jerking out his own revolver when a bandit pointed a pistol and demanded money. The robber pleaded, “Don’t shoot,” dropped his gun, and fled the store. (Evening News, Buffalo, NY)

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.