The Armed Citizen: January 2, 2015

by
posted on January 2, 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 (1)

When a man heard his disabled neighbor cry out for help, he quickly responded. The neighbor had tried to break up a fight between two neighborhood dogs when they turned on him. The dogs attacked him, biting his arms and legs. When the man responded to his neighbor's cries for help, he carried his firearm. He first yelled at the dogs to divert their attention away from the neighbor being mauled. When the dogs started towards him, he shot and killed both animals. The neighbor who was attacked was taken to a local hospital, but his condition was reportedly not known. The man carrying his firearm was reportedly not harmed during the attack. (Contra Costa Times, Isleton, CA, 6/5/14)

The Armed Citizen Extra:
A Sarasota, Fla., man awoke at 6 a.m.to find an unknown man attempting to break into his home. Upon encountering the intruder in the hallway, the homeowner came under gunfire from the interloper and returned fire in response. By the time law enforcement officers reached the scene, the altercation had concluded and the criminal was already deceased. No injuries to the homeowner were reported. His 11-year-old child was present in the home at the time of the break-in. The Ledger, Lakeland, FL, 10/21/14)

From the Armed Citizen Archives November 1959:
After the fourth robbery of their Judson, Minn., implement factory, Harvey Rengsdorf and Edwin Fischer went on the alert. From his nearby home Rengsdorf noted prowlers, got his shotgun, phoned the sheriff and ran down to the store with partner Fischer. Two youths inside were preparing to rob the safe while a third sat in a nearby getaway car. When one left the store to get burglar tools and failed to heed a warning to stop, Rengsdorf fired his shotgun. Wounded by the pellets, the felon made it to the getaway car and escaped. The abandoned accomplice, though armed with a pistol, yielded to Rengsdorf's threatening shotgun and informed on his confederates. Police picked them up at their homes. (New Ulm Daily Journal, New Ulm, MN)

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 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.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.