The Armed Citizen® March 26, 2021

by
posted on March 26, 2021
** 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 resident of a Union County, N.C., home acted quickly when two armed burglars forced their way in during the early morning hours of March. 21, 2021.

The two burglars, one armed with a handgun, targeted and broken their way into the home around 12:45 a.m. that Sunday morning. Once the two made it inside, the resident became aware of the situation and ran to a bedroom, arming himself with a rifle. When the burglars moved down the hallway toward the bedroom, the resident fired several rounds at them, forcing them both to flee with haste.

Both of the burglars were later apprehended by police. One of them was struck by the resident's rifle fire in the thigh and taken to a hospital. The uninjured burglar was charged with first-degree burglary, which his injured partner will also likely be charged with. No charges were filed against the resident, and the investigation is ongoing. (
wbtv.com, Charlotte, N.C., 03/21/2021)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives February 1981

Norma and Eduardo Ortega returned to their Miami, Fla., home to find two burglars ransacking their belongings. One burglar fled the house when Mrs. Ortega found her pistol and fired, but the other hid in the bathroom. He was spread-eagle on the living room floor when police arrived. The second suspect, a juvenile, was arrested later. (The Miami Herald, Miami, Fla.)

Latest

FP 6.5Peak Launch Fusion Terminalascent Peakalloy 19
FP 6.5Peak Launch Fusion Terminalascent Peakalloy 19

Federal's New 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak: The Peak Alloy Case Goes Mainstream

Federal introduced its high-pressure Peak Alloy case design with the 7 mm Backcountry in 2025. Now, the company is incorporating it into high-pressure 6.5 Creedmoor loads with the +Peak design.

I Carry: Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC in a JM Custom Kydex Holster

In our latest "I Carry" video, a Springfield Echelon 4.0FC is outfitted with Aimpoint's new COA enclosed-emitter red-dot optic, and to carry this optic-equipped handgun, we've selected a JM Custom Kydex holster.

The Armed Citizen® June 5, 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.

Multi-Caliber MK24 to Replace SCAR-H For SOCOM

U.S. Special Forces will soon be replacing their 7.62-NATO-chambered SCAR-Hs with a new, barrel-swapping MK24 Mid-Range Gas Gun-Assault (MRGGA) gun capable of running either 7.62 NATO or 6.5 Creedmoor.

Rifle Renaissance 2026: Exploring Rifle Skills Beyond Marksmanship

Being able to shoot in contextual situations, shoot from unusual positions, manipulate the rifle quickly and rapidly adjust one’s position based on distance are all essential skills for a well-trained rifleman. To train these abilities, The Complete Combatant hosted the first annual Rifle Renaissance event in March 2026.

New Guns For 2026: A Full Guide

While it’s claimed the firearms industry is experiencing a slowdown, that hasn’t meant a stall to innovation. It means gunmakers are working harder than ever to earn your business.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.