The Armed Citizen® July 5, 2021

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

posted on July 5, 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 Yakima, Wash., couple found an unwelcome surprise waiting for them at home when they got back in the evening of June 24, 2021.

When the couple and their six children got back home around 7:45 p.m., noting initially seemed out of place. That was, until the couple's daughter found a strange man inside her bedroom. The mother took the children and ran outside, while the father grabbed a handgun and confronted the unwelcome intruder. As the mother was on the phone, she could hear shouting inside followed by several shots.

The father shot the would-be burglar several times went he attempted to advance. The intruder was found dead from his wounds at the scene. As it turned out, the man was the family's neighbor, who was described by others as "odd." The father is not facing charges in the shooting, and it was determined that the neighbor made his way into the daughter's bedroom through the window. (yaktrinews.com, Yakima, Wash., 06/16/2021)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives - June 1987

A man armed with a toy gun and a can of Mace entered Mike Stratton's Eugene, Oreg., pharmacy and demanded narcotic pain killers. Telling the robber he had just been hired and pretending not to be familiar with the drugs, Stratton bided his time until he could get to his revolver, then ordered the intruder to lie on the floor while a clerk telephoned police. Police said Stratton handled the situation well. (The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oreg.)

Latest

FP 6.5Peak Launch Fusion Terminalascent Peakalloy 19
FP 6.5Peak Launch Fusion Terminalascent Peakalloy 19

Federal's New 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak: The Peak Alloy Case Goes Mainstream

Federal introduced its high-pressure Peak Alloy case design with the 7 mm Backcountry in 2025. Now, the company is incorporating it into high-pressure 6.5 Creedmoor loads with the +Peak design.

I Carry: Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC in a JM Custom Kydex Holster

In our latest "I Carry" video, a Springfield Echelon 4.0FC is outfitted with Aimpoint's new COA enclosed-emitter red-dot optic, and to carry this optic-equipped handgun, we've selected a JM Custom Kydex holster.

The Armed Citizen® June 5, 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.

Multi-Caliber MK24 to Replace SCAR-H For SOCOM

U.S. Special Forces will soon be replacing their 7.62-NATO-chambered SCAR-Hs with a new, barrel-swapping MK24 Mid-Range Gas Gun-Assault (MRGGA) gun capable of running either 7.62 NATO or 6.5 Creedmoor.

Rifle Renaissance 2026: Exploring Rifle Skills Beyond Marksmanship

Being able to shoot in contextual situations, shoot from unusual positions, manipulate the rifle quickly and rapidly adjust one’s position based on distance are all essential skills for a well-trained rifleman. To train these abilities, The Complete Combatant hosted the first annual Rifle Renaissance event in March 2026.

New Guns For 2026: A Full Guide

While it’s claimed the firearms industry is experiencing a slowdown, that hasn’t meant a stall to innovation. It means gunmakers are working harder than ever to earn your business.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.