The Armed Citizen® July 26, 2021

Law-Abiding Citizens Using Their 2nd Amendment Rights In Self-Defense

by
posted on July 26, 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 Guinda, Calif., defended himself when a duo of would-be burglars broke into his home on the night of July 20, 2021.

The homeowner had returned to the residence midday on Tuesday and noticed that some tools and a firearm were missing, which made him suspicious. Later that night, around 9:00 p.m., the homeowner noticed headlights in his driveway, and he wasn't expecting visitors. With the early warning of the uninvited guests, the homeowner had time to retrieve a firearm for protection. He then waited inside for the intruders to make their move.

As Lt. Gary Hallenbeck of the Yolo County Sheriff's Office said, "He didn't not go out and confront these people. He stayed in the house, and eventually, these people came into the residence." After a short period of time the two robbers, a man and woman, broke into the residence where they ended up confronting the homeowner. The homeowner defended himself against the intrusive duo with several shots from his gun. The man was mortally wounded by the shots while the woman survived in critical condition. Authorities said the homeowner has cooperated and that the firearm used was legal for the state. (foxnews.com, New York, Wis., 07/22/2021)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives - December 1991

Alerted when she saw a strange car drive up and the occupants knock on the door, a 19-year-old woman got a rifle and hid in a bedroom closet. When the men broke through a cellar door and entered the bedroom, she stepped out of the closet, trained the gun on them and ordered them out. They fled. (The Lawrence County Advocate, Lawrenceburg, Tenn.)

Latest

attack in a back alley
attack in a back alley

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 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.

Rifleman Q&A: Understanding a Firearm's Cycle of Operation

The cycle of operation is the mechanical sequence of events that it takes to fire one shot out of a firearm. If one of those steps fails to take place as designed, there is an interruption in the cycle of operation and the gun stops firing.

Review: Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm Riflescope

Looking for a performance LPVO without the usual associated cost? The Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm might be your answer.

Myths & Misunderstandings About the “Modern Fighting 1911”

The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.