The Armed Citizen® June 30, 2017

by
posted on June 30, 2017
** 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)

Sometimes a bad guy who doesn’t heed a warning pays the price. That was the case in Pittsburgh when a man, who was armed with a crowbar, broke into a home. The resident confronted the intruder, told him to lie face down on the ground and said that police were on their way. Rather than complying, the interloper raised the crowbar and charged the armed citizen, who—after a brief scuffle—fired his gun and shot the assailant in the leg. (WPXI, Pittsburgh, PA, 4/4/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Early one evening, a family of four was at home when a young woman, posing as an official from the homeowners association, knocked on the door and asked the female resident some generic questions. The woman waved to a male accomplice in the car, who then approached the home. When the female resident noticed the approaching man, who was masked and armed, she immediately locked the door and screamed for her husband. The male intruder ignored her and proceeded to kick in the front door, but upon gaining entry was shot and killed by the husband. The female accomplice was found shortly after and arrested on charges of first-degree burglary and criminal conspiracy. The homeowner was not charged. (The Post and Courier, Charleston, SC, 3/15/17) 

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
June 1972
Hearing his wife’s screams, Albert Backofen grabbed a 12-ga. shotgun from the rear of his Springfield, Mass., grocery and ran to the front. A masked gunman took one look at the shotgun, pocketed his handgun, and begged “Don’t shoot,” then ran off before police arrived. (Springfield Union, Springfield, MA)

Latest

Cz 600 American Gotw 1
Cz 600 American Gotw 1

Gun Of The Week: CZ 600+ American

CZ expanded its 600 series of rifles with a particular version tailored to the American market, and this CZ 600+ American model has a few unique features incorporated into the design.

The Armed Citizen® Dec. 5, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

30 Years Of Bond Arms Pistols

Bond Arms, the Texas-based maker of a series of double-barrel derringers inspired by a design from the Old West, celebrates 30 years in business in 2025.

Holiday Firearm Sales Off To Slow Start, Down From 2024 Numbers

NICS background checks conducted during the week of Black Friday, traditionally one of the busiest holiday shopping days of the year, show a slow start in terms of holiday gun sales.

Preview: BenShot Musket Ball Rocks Glass

America celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026, and you can toast the country’s birthday with one of BenShot’s rocks glasses specially tailored to the occasion.

Rifleman Review: Walther Arms PDP Match Steel Frame

Walther Arms took its polymer-frame Performance Duty Pistol design and crafted it entirely from steel to create its PDP Match Steel Frame, which is a true heavyweight designed just for the pure joy of shooting.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.