The Armed Citizen® March 16, 2018

by
posted on March 16, 2018
** 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 (3)

A West Virginia grandmother has a motto: If you come after her with evil intentions, she’s going to stand up to you. Recently, she lived by that guiding principle, scaring off someone who was trying to pry open her bedroom window. When she saw the shadowy figure lurking outside, she called 9-1-1, grabbed her defensive handgun and yelled, “You’re going to die.” The conviction in her voice and the gun in her hand were enough to convince the perpetrator to run. (katc.com, Charleston, WV, 12/28/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A case of mistaken identity could have ended even worse if the victim’s wife had not stepped in. A man was walking from his garage to the front door of his house one evening when two men approached him and asked him his name. When the man responded, the two individuals immediately punched him in the face. The assault continued as they moved inside the house, with one of the attackers accusing the man of having an affair with his wife. Fearing for her husband's safety, the victim’s wife retrieved a handgun and fired two rounds, causing the assailants to flee the scene in a pickup truck. After police caught up with them, they confessed to conspiring to commit battery on the victim, but discovered they targeted the wrong man. They were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy and battery. (Ventura County Star, Ventura, CA, 2/3/18) 

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
March 1971
Mrs. E.F. Saltsman of Little Rock, Ark., was working in her grocery store when a young man came in, drew a pistol, and demanded money. When she produced her own gun from under the cash register, the man fled. (The Little Rock Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock, AR)

Latest

W3645 AFF 8419+
W3645 AFF 8419+

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 7, 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.

Gun of the Week: Zev Technologies x Magpul FDP-C

One of the most anticipated firearm releases of 2026 was the Zev Technologies FDP, a folding pistol-caliber design that the company produced in conjunction with Magpul Industries.

Review: Taurus 22TUC

Taurus USA's 22TUC is a little, polymer-framed .22 pocket pistol with a tip-up barrel design that, unlike many of the company's guns, is made entirely in the United States.

Korea Coast Guard Increases KelTec KSG Tactical Shotgun Inventory

KelTec recently announced that the Korea Coast Guard has ordered more KSG shotguns to join those already in service aboard the branch's patrol vessel fleet.

Rifleman Review: Mossberg 990 Aftershock

In 2025, Mossberg added to the non-NFA, shotshell-firing firearm category with its 990 Aftershock, which uses a semi-automatic operating mechanism while still maintaining a compact form factor.

Next-Gen Micro Red-Dot: The Steiner MPS 2.0

Steiner Optics has introduced the next-generation version of its Micro Pistol Sight, a red-dot optic that first hit the market in 2021.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.