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

Icarry DD H9 1
Icarry DD H9 1

I Carry: Daniel Defense H9 in an ANR Designs Holster

In our latest “I Carry” segment above, we’re taking a closer look at the Daniel Defense H9, a unique, striker-fired design that borrows popular features from several different handguns. 

A Surprising Conversation on Just How Far an Anti-Gun State Can Go

In Massachusetts this fall, ballot question 9 is an effort to repeal 2024 legislation known as “An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws,” a complex package of fees, red tape, training requirements, and other burdens placed on law-abiding gun owners. 

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 2, 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.

Are Snub-Nose Revolvers Still Relevant?

In a world of micro-compact handguns, does the venerable snub-nose revolver still have a place? Here are four reasons why you might still consider carrying a snubby.

Behind Federal's 7 mm Backcountry Cartridge

In 2025, Federal Ammunition introduced its new 7 mm Backcountry cartridge, which operates at higher pressures than any previous commercial ammunition offering.

New for 2026: Beretta 94X Performance

The latest step in the evolution of Beretta's 90 series of handguns is the 94X Performance, a handgun that the company calls “the ultimate evolution of the Beretta competition pistol for IPSC and USPSA.”

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.