The Armed Citizen® March 10, 2023

by
posted on March 10, 2023
** 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 licensed-to-carry bystander shot and wounded an active shooter in an El Paso, Texas, mall after the shooter killed a teen and began aiming at other mall goers on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.

That evening, the alleged shooter was part of a group of teens at the mall when they got into an argument with another group near the mall's food court. According to police, the suspect pulled out what was reported to be a stolen handgun and began firing, fatally shooting one 17-year-old male and wounding two others. After the shooting, the suspect ran and began aiming his stolen handgun at other bystanders.

One bystander was a 32-year-old man with a licensed concealed-carry gun. As the shooter ran toward him, the man drew his gun and shot the suspect. The armed citizen then began administering aid to the wounded shooter and other victims with the help of an off-duty El Paso police officer. Charges are currently pending against the suspect. (KTSM, El Paso, Texas, 2/17/23)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – April 1980

When Ernst Wright was awakened by the sound of a tractor-trailer coming to a halt outside his Corona, N.M., ranch house, he armed himself with a shotgun and investigated. When the driver kicked in the kitchen door and walked inside, Wright asked him to leave, then retreated to the hall. The intruder threw a crowbar at Wright, who fired one shot, hitting his attacker in the chest. State police found the wounded man inside the truck. (The Lincoln County News, Carrizozo, N.M.)

Latest

Savage Stance XR
Savage Stance XR

Review: Savage Stance XR

Savage Arms reworked its Stance pistol in 2025 to incorporate desirable features not available in the first iteration, resulting in the new Stance XR.

Preview: Die Free Kung Fu Grip

A replacement pistol grip for AR-10/15-pattern rifles, the Kung Fu Grip from Die Free Co. utilizes a reduced (12 degree) grip angle that makes shooting a gun with a short length of pull much more comfortable on the wrist—making it an ideal choice for practitioners of modern, squared-up shooting stances.

The Elusive Finnish Mausers

In the 1920s, the Finnish Shooting Sport Federation sought to replace the military’s venerable Mosin-Nagant. Its attempts to introduce Mauser target rifles as service rifles were eventually thwarted in the 1930s by design limitations and budgets.

The Armed Citizen® Dec. 22, 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.

Rifleman Q&A: Point Of Hold

Q: I have always been a rifle and handgun shooter, with little shotgun experience, and I am a little confused about the “point of hold” shown in the pattern illustrations of our magazine.

Preview: MTM Case-Gard Suppressor Protector Case

Secure, rugged and inexpensive, the Suppressor Protector Case by MTM Case-Gard is a convenient way to transport or store as many as three (cooled) silencers up to 10" in length.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.