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

Mantis X Review 1
Mantis X Review 1

Review: Mantis TitanX Training System

You don’t have to go all the way to the range to enhance your shooting skills.

Radical Update: The Benelli M2-G1 Tactical Shotgun

For 2026, Benelli has given its tactical M2 shotgun a radical update with the new M2-G1 version.

President’s Column | President Meets President

I am quite certain, that for the first time in NRA history the President of the United States met with the NRA president, the NRA president asked for his support for national Right-to-Carry (NRTC), and then, on a national stage, President Trump called out the NRA president’s name and pledged his support for national Right-to-Carry legislation. But that’s exactly what happened at a rally near Allentown, Pa., in late June.

Gun of the Week: TriStar Arms KR.22

Semi-automatic .22 rifles have been a staple in the firearm marketplace for decades, and the TriStar Arms KR.22 brings yet another lightweight, affordable option that accepts Ruger 10/22 rotary magazines.

Political Report | Trump Reiterates National Right-to-Carry Support

I am repeatedly reminded of how critical it was that the NRA engaged early in supporting Donald Trump’s 2016 candidacy—and that he won. A recent example came in June, when President Trump spoke to American workers at a Mack Trucks facility in Macungie, Pa.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 21, 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.