The Armed Citizen® June 2, 2025

by
posted on June 2, 2025
** 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 armed homeowner responded to a break-in at his residence in Spanish Fort, Ala., just after midnight on Saturday, March 22, firing a shot and critically wounding the teenage suspect who had illegally entered his home.

According to police reports, the homeowner was alerted by his wife, who said she believed she had heard someone enter the house. When he went to investigate, he found the teen inside the home and fired a single shot, wounding the home invader in the upper abdomen. The homeowner immediately called 911, and responding officers provided aid to the suspect. Police also noted that they believed the suspect to be under the influence of "some substance" and was at a nearby residence with some friends before forcing his way into another house, where he encountered the armed homeowner.

“Inside your residence, you don’t have to retreat,” Spanish Fort Police Chief John Barber said to reporters. “The homeowner took what we believe was a reasonable step to protect himself and his family. Eventually, this will be presented to a grand jury to make sure this was the case, but that’s the initial investigation.” (FOX 10 News; Spanish Fort, Ala.; 3/22/25)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – April 1962

Douglas Zeman, a college sophomore, was in his family's living quarters to the rear of their grocery store in Chicago, Ill., when he overheard men's voices in the store tell his parents they were being robbed.

As the bandits, three of them, marched the couple toward the rear of the building at gunpoint, Zeman took a .38-cal. revolver and hid in the bathroom. When the gunmen came into sight, the student killed one of them with shots at close range. The others managed to escape empty-handed. (Chicago Tribune)
 

Latest

Fiocchi’s new Hyperformance SBR Enhanced line of ammunition
Fiocchi’s new Hyperformance SBR Enhanced line of ammunition

Selling Short: Fiocchi's Hyperformance SBR Enhanced Ammunition

Fiocchi’s new Hyperformance SBR Enhanced line of ammunition isn’t a mere marketing gimmick. It’s designed for top performance out of short-barreled rifles, and it delivers.

New For 2026: Yankee Hill Machine Victra-20 Shotgun Suppressor

Yankee Hill Machine introduced its VICTRA-12, a modular 12-ga. shotgun suppressor, last year. This year, the company is bringing out a 20-ga. version with the VICTRA-20.

The Armed Citizen® June 22, 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.

Important Notice To Members: Exercise Your Rights. Assist In The Nomination Of Directors.

The NRA Bylaws provide for the election of one-third of the members of the Board of Directors each year. Those terms of office will expire at the 2027 Annual Meeting of Members in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 24, 2027.

Skills Check: Pistol Standard Xray 2 Drill

Examine and strengthen each part of your presentation and shot in this revealing drill.

Gunsite at 50: Celebrating a Golden Anniversary

It’s no secret Gunsite Academy is celebrating its Golden Anniversary this year. In August, it’s holding a 50th Anniversary Alumni Shoot to celebrate five decades of training excellence, tradition and community.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.