The Armed Citizen® March 2011

*Police said six men with ties to California's Sureno gang drove into a rural area intent on committing burglaries. Maybe they thought there wouldn't be as strong a police presence outside the city, but they forgot an important detail: Many rural homes contain firearms and folks who know how to use them. The gang members burst inside a home and were immediately greeted by gunfire. One suspect was killed, a second one was shot several times and the remaining four fled back to the city. Police arrested the five surviving suspects. (KXTV-10, Sacramento, CA, 12/10/10)

*Jackson, Miss., police spokeswoman Colendula Green said she's seen an increase in the number of armed citizens protecting their homes and businesses. "They're going to protect themselves. That's why the Castle [Doctrine] Law is in effect," Green said, noting several incidents in recent months during which Jackson homeowners have shot would-be burglars. In the latest such incident, four suspects allegedly kicked down the door to a home and ordered the family inside to lie on the floor. The homeowner quickly retrieved his gun and opened fire, shooting three of the suspects. The wounded suspects were arrested at the hospital. The fourth is still being sought. (The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, MS, 12/12/10)

Armed Citizen Extra

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

When a domestic dispute broke out at home between a man and his girlfriend, the woman's 17-year-old neice-also a resident of the home-grabbed a handgun and demanded that the man stop choking her aunt. When the man advanced on her, she shot him twice in the chest, killing him and saving her aunt's life. Officials have said they will not press charges on the girl. (Standard-Examiner, Ogden, UT, 12/18/10)

From The Armed Citizen Archive

March 1978: When Miami, Fla., resident Vernon Murtelle saw his 84-year-old neighbor being mugged, he acted quickly. Murtelle, 72, got a pistol that he has owned for over 50 years, and shot the thug. Wounded in the arm, the youthful crook ran, but was later caught by Miami police. "I didn't even mean to hit him..." said Murtelle, but "I'm sick and tired of some punk coming around here every time he wants some money for dope." (The Herald, Miami, Fla.)