The Armed Citizen® July 26, 2016

by
posted on July 26, 2016
** 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 (7)

Two armed citizens who witnessed a drug deal gone bad in New Mexico used their guns to hold the shooter captive until the police arrived to take the suspect into custody. Officers were called to respond to a 7-Eleven after dispatchers received reports of a ruckus. Two men had apparently been fighting over drugs near the parking lot of the convenience store. One of the bad guys pulled a gun and fired several rounds, hitting the other man involved in the drug deal in the leg and nearly shooting some bystanders. Two armed citizens, seeing passersby endangered, tackled the shooter. After they took him down, each pulled a handgun and made sure neither bad guy could flee the area. The shooter faces charges of aggravated assault and other local charges, and the Albuquerque, N.M., police said federal charges are possible because he was a convicted felon who was illegally in possession of a firearm. (Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, NM, 5/19/16) 

The Armed Citizen® Extra
An armed 70-year-old man caught a burglar in the act of ransacking his residence and held the thief at gunpoint until the authorities could arrive to take him off the jail. The incident took place in Sanger, Calif. According to the local sheriff’s department, when they arrived at the scene, the suspect was sitting down on the resident’s front yard with his hands behind his back. The homeowner has held a permit to carry a concealed handgun for 50 years, but this marks the first time he’s ever had to draw it on another person. (The Fresno Bee, Fresno, CA, 1/29/16) 

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
January 1980
Two men burst into a Wichita, Kan., jewelry store, tied owner Jerry Burnell to a chair and proceeded to clean out the showcases. Burnell was able to free himself, grab a pistol and fire, mortally wounding one robber. The accomplice escaped unharmed. (The Beacon, Wichita, KS)

Latest

Ithaca Model 87 Ultra Special 1
Ithaca Model 87 Ultra Special 1

The Model 87 Ultra Special: A Rare Survivor of Ithaca's Final Gamble

In the spring of 1990, an 18-year-old received a shotgun he didn't order. The Ithaca Model 87 Ultra Special he got instead was the last gasp of one of America's most iconic shotgun makers.

Five Million Friends

From one room of friends in Missouri to a nationwide movement, Friends of NRA celebrates more than five million lives touched through community, volunteerism, and a shared commitment to the future of the shooting sports.

As Gun Sales Stay High, Violent Crime Hits a Historic Low

According to a recent report from the FBI on national crime statistics, violent crime has decreased 9.3 percent from 2024, marking the largest year-to-year drop since the 1930s.

Federal to Provide Rifle Ammunition to Top Nordic Police Agencies

The Nordic Police, comprised of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, recently selected two Federal Ammunition rifle loads for duty and training use.

New For 2026: Beretta APX A1 Ported

Beretta first entered the polymer-frame, striker-fired pistol market in 2017 with its APX, and nearly 10 years later, the company has added the APX A1 Ported to the lineup.

CDC Restores Basic Armed Citizen Data

As of Aug. 24, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s webpage is again providing defensive-gun-use data.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.