The Armed Citizen® July 29, 2019

by
posted on July 29, 2019
** 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. **
armed-citizen-main-image.jpg (8)

In Washington state, a homeowner encountered a vagrant who had broken into his home. He asked the intruder to leave the premises, however, the transient man refused and began to come through the back door aggressively. He allegedly attacked the owner of the home. In response, the homeowner grabbed a piece of wood and began to defend himself against his attacker in the kitchen, but this did not deter the homeless man. Fearing for the safety of his wife and himself, the man armed himself with a gun and fired a single shot at the burglary suspect. “The homeowner knew that he did the right thing, and the only thing he could do to protect himself and his wife,” said a representative of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. The homeowner will not face any charges. However, the suspect was facing charges for first-degree residential burglary upon release from a local hospital, where he was receiving treatment for a gunshot wound to the chest. (q13fox.com, Seattle, Wash., 5/17/19)

Armed Citizen Extra
A person broke into the wrong apartment one Sunday night. After kicking in the door to a Tulsa home, a would-be burglar was confronted by an armed occupant. The resident fired on the intruder, forcing him to flee. Police found no evidence that anyone was hurt. (newson6.com, Tulsa, Okla., 6/10/19)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
July 1971
Philip S. Summerhays, 27, noticed activity in a nearby parking lot when he arrived home late one night. Thinking somebody might be breaking into a car, he went to investigate and found a youth attempting to rape a 46-year-old woman. Summerhays drew a gun and held the youth for police. (The Salt Lake Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah.)

Latest

Taurus 66 Combat GOTW F
Taurus 66 Combat GOTW F

Gun of the Week: Taurus 66 Combat Revolver

Taurus USA recently expanded its revolver line with the 66 Combat, a larger, all-steel revolver chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge. Watch our "Gun of the Week" video to see the 66 Combat in use on the range.

The Armed Citizen® March 6, 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.

Armed Citizens Outperform the Police in Stopping Mass Murderers

A recent crime study indicates that armed citizens are better at stopping mass killers than the police.

Building A Legacy: One Hunter's Journey Toward a 338 ARC Bolt-Action

Hornady's 338 ARC cartridge was designed to pack plenty of subsonic power into an AR-sized platform. But how does it perform if you're looking to build something a bit more traditional?

Industry Manufacturers Pay $1.3 Billion Tax Bill

Last month, nearly $1.3 billion was delivered to state conservation and wildlife access programs as part of Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson excise taxes paid by manufacturers in the outdoor industry.

250 Years of the U.S. Army: Rifle Muskets, Trapdoors & Early Bolt-Actions

The U.S. Army would enter the 19th century equipped with a smoothbore flintlock musket that differed little from the designs of the past, and it would exit the century with a modern, bolt-action, repeating rifle that used smokeless powder ammunition.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.