The Armed Citizen® July 21, 2023

by
posted on July 21, 2023
** 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

An Albuquerque, N.M., smoke shop hadn't even opened to the public yet when it suffered two break-ins, and the latest robbery attempt ended with the store owner shooting and killing one of the alleged burglars.

After the first break-in attempt, one of the shop owners began sleeping at the store. Around 3 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, the owner was awakened by an odd scratching sound coming from the side wall of the shop. Unbeknownst to the shop owner, the sound was being created by a man attempting to tunnel his way into the store. An hour later, the alleged intruder broke through the wall.

When the burglar emerged from the tunnel and stood up, he was waving a large hammer and an axe or chisel. The shop owner grabbed his gun and told the intruder to leave. Instead, the suspect walked toward him, swinging his implements, so the owner fired, shooting and killing the intruder. (KOB4; Albuquerque, N.M.; 4/22/23)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – August 1973

Hearing noises over the intercom that connects the hallways of his Middletown, R.I., motel, Fred Armbrust got his pistol and investigated. Armbrust found a prowler in a darkened room and fired once. The man ran from the motel. Police picked him up when he sought aid for a gunshot wound in his shoulder. (The Newport Daily News, Newport, R.I.)

Latest

Savage Stance XR
Savage Stance XR

Review: Savage Stance XR

Savage Arms reworked its Stance pistol in 2025 to incorporate desirable features not available in the first iteration, resulting in the new Stance XR.

Preview: Die Free Kung Fu Grip

A replacement pistol grip for AR-10/15-pattern rifles, the Kung Fu Grip from Die Free Co. utilizes a reduced (12 degree) grip angle that makes shooting a gun with a short length of pull much more comfortable on the wrist—making it an ideal choice for practitioners of modern, squared-up shooting stances.

The Elusive Finnish Mausers

In the 1920s, the Finnish Shooting Sport Federation sought to replace the military’s venerable Mosin-Nagant. Its attempts to introduce Mauser target rifles as service rifles were eventually thwarted in the 1930s by design limitations and budgets.

The Armed Citizen® Dec. 22, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Rifleman Q&A: Point Of Hold

Q: I have always been a rifle and handgun shooter, with little shotgun experience, and I am a little confused about the “point of hold” shown in the pattern illustrations of our magazine.

Preview: MTM Case-Gard Suppressor Protector Case

Secure, rugged and inexpensive, the Suppressor Protector Case by MTM Case-Gard is a convenient way to transport or store as many as three (cooled) silencers up to 10" in length.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.