The Armed Citizen® March 11, 2019

by
posted on March 11, 2019
** 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. **
armed-citizen-main-image.jpg (3)

In Columbia, S.C., a pair of escaped convicts looking for an easy target picked the wrong home. After managing to escape from the county jail, one convict kicked in the back door, then armed himself with a knife sharpener before advancing to an upstairs bedroom. Roused by the 3 a.m. disturbance, the homeowner grabbed her firearm and shot the intruder as he came into her bedroom. “This was a big guy. If she hadn’t had a weapon there’s no telling what would have happened,” said County Sheriff Rick Clark. “This is the shining example of why owning and knowing how to use a gun is important. She came out on the good on this end and the other guy, the bad guy, didn’t.” (The Times and Democrat, Columbia, S.C., 12/5/18)

The Armed Citizen Extra
A Florida home invasion was thwarted by the quick reactions of an armed citizen. When two masked intruders entered a Brevard County house, one occupant grabbed a gun and shot both men. Of the two invaders, one was pronounced dead on the scene, while the other ran down the street, collapsed and later died at a hospital. No certain motive for the break in is yet known. (Spectrum News 13, Titusville, Fla., 02/08/19)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
March 1962
Tampa, Fla., night service station operator Alfonso Pierce was approached by a man with a gun and told to 'reach'. Pierce took a cal. .38 revolver from his pocket and fired 3 shots as the bandit ran. An anonymous tip led police to the man, dead in a trailer. (AP)

Latest

150 Year Old 1
150 Year Old 1

Nation's Oldest Gun Club Turns 150

The oldest continuously operating rifle club in the United States, the Newport Rifle Club (NRC) near Middletown, R.I., is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2026.

Preview: Antimatter Industries Scopeswitch 2.0

This new made-in-USA riflescope mount from Antimatter Industries changes how shooters engage targets.

Tension Destroys Your Shooting Performance. Here's How to Manage It.

Whether you’re managing a lethal-force encounter, running a stage in competition or working a timed drill from concealment, performance shooting reigns king, and one of the most brutal and insidious king-slayers of all time is self-induced tension.

EchoCore Suppressors: Embracing The Silence Using Innovative Design

It’s difficult, especially for a brand-new manufacturer, to stand out in a very crowded space, but EchoCore Suppressors has accomplished just that and notched some prestigious accolades along the way.

Gun of the Week: Dark Mountain Arms Stowaway

The Dark Mountain Arms Stowaway rifle is a bolt-action, single-shot design chambered for the 5.7x28 mm FN cartridge.

The Armed Citizen® Feb. 27, 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.