The Armed Citizen® March 14, 2012

by
posted on March 14, 2012
** 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

Tim Patterson was cooking at The Big Yellow Mobile Kitchen as he did every day when he heard a scream coming from the parking lot of a nearby Goodwill store. He rushed toward the cries for help and didn’t hesitate to draw his Kimber 1911 .45 when he saw that a man had grabbed hold of a woman and had a knife to her throat. “Drop it or I’ll shoot you!” Patterson warned. The assailant immediately released the woman, dropped the knife, raised his arms and fled. The victim, a Goodwill employee who was carrying a bank deposit in her purse at the time of the attempted robbery, was not injured. (Coeur d’Alene Press, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 11/30/11)

The Armed Citizen Extra

(The following account did not appear in the print version of American Rifleman.)

A pregnant California homeowner saw two men enter her home one morning, but couldn't get to a phone, so instead she grabbed a handgun to defend herself. When she came face-to-face with the intruders, she ordered them to flee, saying she didn't want to have to shoot them. The men advanced toward her and she fired a shot, missing the suspects but causing them to flee. Police were in pursuit of the men when this went to press. (The Times Standard, Eureka, CA, 01/26/12)

From The Armed Citizen Archive

March 1975: While Dan Cassin was stacking shelves in his Atlanta, Ga., store, two robbers rushed in, fired at least one shot, and then started thrashing the store cleanup man. Cassin immediately pulled out his cal. .38 pistol and shot one intruder to death. "They came in like storm troopers, shooting and beating people," Cassin said. "I just couldn't stand and watch." (The South Middlesex News, Framingham, Mass.)

Latest

Allan Cors In Memoriam
Allan Cors In Memoriam

Past NRA President Allan Cors, 1936-2026: Liberty Takes A Loss

One of liberty’s champions, past NRA President Allan D. Cors died on August 10, 2026.

Moving to the Micro Red-Dot: An Old Dog Learns Some New Tricks

After shooting open-sighted handguns for more than 40 years, the author's aging eyes finally caught up to him, and his concealed-carry pistol now sports a red-dot optic.

Record-Setting Number of Women Receive Free Firearms Training in Michigan

Across two days of free training at Recoil Firearms in Taylor, Mich., a record-setting 2,454 women were given hands-on instruction in the safe and effective use of firearms.

7 New Pistol Suppressors for 2026

For handgunners, having a suppressor makes range trips much more comfortable, and many new suppressors have been designed for maximum compatibility across today's most popular handgun styles and chamberings.

A Victory That Ends A Gun Registry

On August 5, U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix of the Northern District of Texas held that key regulatory provisions of the NFA are unconstitutional as applied to certain categories of firearms.

Criminal Clues: Tips to Avoid Appearing Like a Soft Target

You don’t have to be the hardest target, but you don’t want to be the softest. Here are some tips on how to avoid becoming a target for a criminal looking for his or her next opportunity.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.