The Armed Citizen® January 2011

*Boom! A ruckus woke a woman and her two young children. Her first thought was that an earthquake had occurred, and she quickly called her husband at work to confirm it. No earthquake had been reported. The woman worried that the source of the sound could be something more sinister, so she retrieved her handgun and walked down the hallway. Police said she encountered two burglars in the living room. Terrified, she fired several shots, killing one intruder and wounding the second, who will be arrested after his release from the hospital. "In my opinion, she did all the right things to protect herself and her children," said Police Chief Brandon Clabes. "It's unfortunate a death occurred, but it was a direct result of criminal activity." (The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, OK, 10/22/10)

*Charles Place was walking in a restaurant parking lot when a man snuck up behind him, grabbed him and reached for his wallet. Unfortunately for the suspect, the 83-year-old man was in no mood to become a victim. Police said he resisted and was knocked to the ground. That's when Place drew his .25-cal. semi-automatic handgun, for which he has a permit to carry. He showed his assailant the gun and demanded to be left alone. The suspect fled but was followed by a witness who helped police make the arrest. (The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytona Beach, FL, 09/26/10)

Armed Citizen Extra

(The following account did not appear in the print version of American Rifleman.)

Early one evening, an armed man entered a rural gas station and demanded money. The station owner was carrying a gun, and he and the would-be robber began firing at each other. When it became clear that he needed backup, the suspect ran out to the getaway car, and then a second shooter entered the firefight. The owner then retrieved another handgun he had stashed and stood his ground. The first shooter was found dead in the car of gunshot wounds, the other fled into a nearby forest. The station owner was not injured. (The News & Observer, Micro, NC, 10/16/10)

From The Armed Citizen Archive

January 1977: When a robber entered her San Antonio, Tex., convenience store and demanded money, Kiern Ahn Buentello pretended she didn't understand English. The man became flustered, and Mrs. Buentello used the opportunity to draw a pistol from beneath the counter. The frightened bandit backed out the front door and fled. (The News, San Antonio, TX)