The Armed Citizen® March 16, 2014

by
posted on March 16, 2014
** 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 (1)

Shortly before midnight, three men entered Kochanski's Concertina Beer Hall brandishing weapons and attempted to rob the polka bar. The owner of the business, Andy Kochanski, pulled out his own firearm and fired on the suspects, killing one. The other two robbers fled the scene, but were later arrested. "I defended myself," said Kochanski. "I did the shooting. Two guys with guns, what are you going to do? Protect yourself and your customers, that's what I did." (The Huffington Post, Milwaukee, Wis., 8/19/13)

Jeanna Harris, 43, was asleep when an intruder forced his way into her home through a patio door. Around 1:15 a.m. Harris awoke to the sound of someone rummaging through the belongings in her bedroom. Despite the darkness of the room, Harris could see that the intruder was just a foot or so away from her bed. She wasted no time grabbing the .20-gauge shotgun she kept next to it. She shouted at the burglar, who fled the home after seeing Harris' firearm. Harris called 911, and the 28-year-old intruder was arrested on a charge of second-degree burglary soon thereafter. No shots were fired during the incident. (The Decatur Daily, Decatur, Ala., 1/15/14)

From The Armed Citizen® Archives

August 1959: When Ray Bandle drove by his Las Vegas garage, he spied a light in the closed office. Slipping quietly into the building, Bandle trapped a burglar and held him at gunpoint until police arrived. (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas, Nev.)

Latest

AR on table with target
AR on table with target

Skills Check: Rifle Standard Delta 2

Carbine performance is all about maintaining control. The Rifle Standard Delta 2 is a drill that pressures recoil control, visual discipline and cadence as distance decreases and time compresses.

Gun Sales Up for the 7th Month in a Row in 2026

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) estimate of last month’s gun sales was up 2.2 percent compared to August 2025.

Caring For & Feeding Your Cap-and-Ball Revolvers

Compared to pistoleros of the 19th century, today’s handgunners have it easy. It's not enough just to get an old-school, cap-and-ball revolver. You also need to acquire everything to shoot and clean it.

Lighter & Better: Savage’s Updated Ultralite Series of Rifles

Savage Arms kicked off 2026 by announcing a new generation of Model 110 bolt-action rifles, and now, the company has also introduced an updated series of Ultralite rifles.

Gun of the Week: Franchi Momentum Elite MULE

One of the latest entrants into the general-utility rifle market is Franchi with its Momentum Utility Lite Elite bolt-action rifle, also known as the MULE.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 11, 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.