The Armed Citizen® March 22, 2024

by
posted on March 22, 2024
** 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. **
The Armed Citizen

Armed Citizen® Today

A lone mother armed with a gun defended herself and her three children from a knife-wielding assailant inside a Mississippi home, garnering praise from local law enforcement.

According to a press release from Carroll County, Miss., law enforcement, officers received a call from a man at work who alerted them that a man was attempting to break into his home, with his wife and three kids inside. The 44-year-old suspect, when he couldn't kick down the door, drove a pickup truck into the dining room to gain entry.

As the man crashed into the house, the mother and three kids took refuge in the back of a closet and prayed while the suspect hunted for them. Eventually, the man found the family hiding in the closet, and as he entered, still wielding the knife, the mother shot him once in the arm, causing him to flee.

Local deputies arrived on the scene after the defensive encounter and chased the suspect, finally arresting him inside a local business. The man was taken to a local hospital to be treated for his gunshot wound and faces four counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary. At the time of the assault, police confirmed that the man was out on felony bond for possession of a weapon by a felon.

"We can all learn a lot from this family about the importance of having an emergency plan in place in our homes and, most importantly, the power of prayer," Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker told WLBT 3 News. "I thank the Lord for this father’s preparation; the bravery shown by the mother and children, and that what could have been a tragedy was transformed into a testimony of their faith in God." (WLBT 3 News; Gravel Hill, Miss.; 1/22/24)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – June 1971

Philip Finazzo, a Detroit. Mich., bar owner, rushed behind the counter and grabbed a .32-cal. revolver after an armed bandit took money from his bartender and customers. Firing several times, Finazzo fatally wounded the man and recovered the stolen cash. (The Detroit Free Press; Detroit, Mich.)

Latest

Hk Cc9 GOTW 1
Hk Cc9 GOTW 1

Gun of the Week: Heckler & Koch CC9

The Heckler & Koch CC9 isn't merely just another micro-compact. It's the result of a significant amount of work on the part of the company's US subsidiary to create the first truly American-made HK.

The Armed Citizen® May 22, 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.

Political Report | Braced Pistols’ Status Unresolved

The U.S. Supreme Court has characterized handguns as the “quintessential” Second Amendment arm. Pistol braces increase accuracy and ease of operation for large-format handguns, especially for users suffering from physical disabilities.

The PROOF Research PXT: A New Approach to Barrel Rifling

PROOF Research has introduced PROOF eXponential Twist (PXT)—an advancement in rifling that improves durability, accuracy and shootability—to the commercial market.

Review: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker

Back when American Rifleman reviewed Springfield's Model 2020 Waypoint, we noted that we ...couldn’t help but wonder if a tactical-version Model 2020 rifle might be a logical future offshoot of the Waypoint hunting rifle." With the Model 2020 Heatseeker, that version is finally here.

Marlin Goes Mad: The Marlin Mad Pig Customs Model 1894

Marlin’s latest Model 1894 lever-action rifle, a collaboration with Mad Pig Customs that is a far cry from traditional, delivers “modern, factory‑installed features previously found only on custom builds.”

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.