The Armed Citizen® June 22, 2018

by
posted on June 22, 2018
** 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 (6)

Dogs are supposed to bark, but a North Carolina pet owner knew it was unusual for his dog to do that. So when he was awakened one morning by the noise, he decided to check on his dog. Arriving downstairs, he noticed a stranger in his outdoor sunroom. The resident grabbed his smallbore bolt-action rifle and went outside. As he approached, he noticed that the other man was fussing with the doorknob, trying to enter the home. “When I saw that, I instantly put my rifle up at him,” the pet owner told local reporters. With that, he ordered the would-be intruder to back away from the house and lie on the ground, where the armed citizen held him at gunpoint until the authorities arrived. The suspect faces multiple charges, including one count of breaking and entering. (Statesville Record & Landmark, Statesville, NC, 4/11/18)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
When a family’s burglar alarm woke them in the middle of the night, followed by their son screaming, they immediately went to check on their son. An intoxicated intruder had entered their home and assaulted their 11-year-old boy. The homeowner retrieved his handgun and held the burglar at gunpoint until police arrived. The drunk criminal had previously been arrested for multiple crimes and was charged with burglary and assault. (Chronicle-Independent, Elgin, SC, 6/1/18) 

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
June 1982
An armed robber should have taken Alton Treace’s advice when the San Jose, Calif., shop owner told him, “play it cool; I’ve got a gun here and I’m calling the police.” But the criminal, claiming to have a gun of his own, advanced on the 64-year-old Treace, who opened fire, dropping the intruder in his tracks. (The Mercury, San Jose, CA)

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

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.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.