The Armed Citizen® June 29, 2018

by
posted on June 29, 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 (8)

Some people are so intent on wreaking havoc they don’t even heed verbal warnings about the prospect of being shot. Such was the case in Hesperia, Calif., where a man was trying to force his way into a home of a Vietnam veteran. The military man heard someone trying to break into his home through a window. The homeowner grabbed his gun and told the burglary suspect to leave, but the intruder continued what he was doing, eventually forcibly gaining entry, police said. The armed citizen fired, critically injuring the trespasser. When the police arrived, officers found the wounded suspect on the ground in the font yard. (The Sun, San Bernardino, CA, 3/30/18) 

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Some criminals don't give up even when they've been caught in the act of their crime. When an intruder armed with a baseball bat assaulted a woman in a neighborhood, he then went to a nearby house and began to force his way inside. The male homeowner confronted the armed trespasser and warned him that he had a gun. The intruder didn't listen and continued to break into the house. The homeowner responded by firing several rounds, hitting the prowler. Even after being struck, the trespasser moved further into the home, where other family members subdued him before officers arrived. He then struggled with the officers, and after being detained, was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds(York Daily Record, York, PA, 9/12/17)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
June 1974
Seeing two strangers taking two mini-bikes from the back of a Pinellas Park, Fla., motorcycle shop, Joe Kolodziej asked owner Ronald Hurn if he had just sold them. Told “no,” Kolodziej halted the thieves’ car at pistol point. Hurn backed him with a shotgun. Police quickly nabbed the thieves. (The Pinellas Park Post, Pinellas Park, FL)

Latest

Icarry Diamondback Sdr Galco 1
Icarry Diamondback Sdr Galco 1

I Carry: Diamondback SDR in a Galco Hornet Holster

For our latest "I Carry" episode above, we paired the six-round Diamondback SDR DA/SA snubnose revolver with a simple leather holster from Galco, along with one of the latest EDC flashlights from Streamlight.

The Armed Citizen® May 8, 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.

Creating the Ideal First-Time Shooting Experience

That first time behind a trigger can shape a newcomer’s attitude towards firearms. Here are five ways to make the experience a success.

Henry Repeating Arms Founder & CEO Honored as Law Enforcement Supporter of the Year

Henry Repeating Arms founder and CEO Anthony Imperato has been named Law Enforcement Supporter of the Year by New York State Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Lodge 100.

New For 2026: TriStar Arms APOC Pro

The new APOC Pro takes the original TriStar Arms APOC pistol design introduced in 2025 and makes it optics- and suppressor-ready.

7 New Over-Under Shotguns for 2026

Ever since the development of the iconic Browning Superposed shotgun in the early 1930s, the concept of an over-under shotgun has remained popular not just with American shooters but shotgunners the world over.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.