The Armed Citizen® March 21, 2012

by
posted on March 21, 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

A would-be burglar was arrested after a homeowner called 9-1-1 while detaining the criminal at gunpoint. The intruder, 22-year-old Jacob Pino, entered the home wearing several layers of clothing, gloves, a black nylon mask and shoes covered with plastic bags to avoid leaving identifiable prints. A backpack containing a 22-cal. handgun and a money clip belonging to the homeowner was also recovered at the scene. (The Pueblo Chieftain, Pueblo, CO, 12/14/11)

The Armed Citizen Extra

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

At home with her 10-year-old son and two dogs, a Houston homeowner was going through her morning routine when suddenly two intruders broke in. Immediately, she told her son to hide in a closet with a phone, and told him to call 9-1-1. The woman grabbed a .22 rifle and confronted the two men who were carrying large household items out her front door. She fired a shot, causing the men to flee. Authorities were in pursuit of the suspects when this went to press. (myfoxhouston.com, Houston, TX, 02/09/12)

From The Armed Citizen Archives

March 1975: When Cecil and Edna Doggett, aged 67 and 66, opened the door of their Oakland, Calif., home to what they thought were Halloween trick or treaters, four young men rushed in and began attacking them with billy clubs. During the struggle, one of the intruders dropped a .22 revolver, giving Doggett time to get his own .357 Magnum revolver from a living room drawer. The youths fled as Doggett fired twice. Two suspects, each wounded in the left leg, were taken into custody by police. (The Oakland Tribune, Oakland, Calif.)

 

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 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.