The Armed Citizen® January 22, 2021

by
posted on January 22, 2021
** 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. **
The Armed Citizen

Armed Citizen® Today

A homeowner in Hesperia, Calif., defended himself and his family when an armed intruder attempted to to break into their home on Jan. 18, 2021.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours that Monday when the homeowner and his family heard someone trying to kick in the front door. At the door, the homeowner saw a man demanding to come in with a pistol in hand. The homeowner then directed his wife and child into a closet as he went to retrieve his pistol.

When the homeowner came back to the front door armed with his 9 mm pistol, the armed intruder raised his handgun and opened fire. The homeowner also began shooting at the intruder, who retreated behind a structural column while still shooting. The shootout last for less than a minute, during which time the intruder's .22-caliber pistol jammed.

The intruder then ran away on foot and was later caught by authorities. As it turned out, the armed would-be robber was a neighbor from just down the street, and he was charged with attempted murder, attempted robbery, and felon in possession of a firearm. The incident was caught on a camera that provided an overhead view from outside the front door. (abc7.com, Los Angeles, Calif., 01/19/2021)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives August 1981

An unidentified Rawlins, Wyo., woman was awakened about 4 a.m. by noises at the front door of her home. Thinking it might be her husband, she shouted out his name but got no response. When she approached the door armed with a shotgun, a man who had been trying to jimmy the door open with a screwdriver quickly fled. (The Daily Times, Rawlins, WY)

Latest

Hk Cc9 GOTW 1
Hk Cc9 GOTW 1

Gun of the Week: Heckler & Koch CC9

The Heckler & Koch CC9 isn't merely just another micro-compact. It's the result of a significant amount of work on the part of the company's US subsidiary to create the first truly American-made HK.

The Armed Citizen® May 22, 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.

Political Report | Braced Pistols’ Status Unresolved

The U.S. Supreme Court has characterized handguns as the “quintessential” Second Amendment arm. Pistol braces increase accuracy and ease of operation for large-format handguns, especially for users suffering from physical disabilities.

The PROOF Research PXT: A New Approach to Barrel Rifling

PROOF Research has introduced PROOF eXponential Twist (PXT)—an advancement in rifling that improves durability, accuracy and shootability—to the commercial market.

Review: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker

Back when American Rifleman reviewed Springfield's Model 2020 Waypoint, we noted that we ...couldn’t help but wonder if a tactical-version Model 2020 rifle might be a logical future offshoot of the Waypoint hunting rifle." With the Model 2020 Heatseeker, that version is finally here.

Marlin Goes Mad: The Marlin Mad Pig Customs Model 1894

Marlin’s latest Model 1894 lever-action rifle, a collaboration with Mad Pig Customs that is a far cry from traditional, delivers “modern, factory‑installed features previously found only on custom builds.”

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.