The Armed Citizen® March 3, 2017

by
posted on March 3, 2017
** 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

Just the threat of being shot is enough to scare off some intruders, and that resolution was good enough for an Arizona man in his 80s. The elderly armed citizen was awakened one night by the sound of someone rifling through his cabinet drawers. The resident grabbed his handgun and confronted the suspect in the other room, ordering the alleged burglar to lie down and saying, “If you move, I’ll blow your head off.” The homeowner left that room to call 9-1-1, and by the time he returned, the interloper had fled. (Camp Verde Journal, Camp Verde, AZ, 10/19/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Late one evening, an elderly man and his wife heard a trespasser attempting to break into their house. They immediately called police and then tried to thwart his entry. The male homeowner pleaded with the intruder to stop, but he continued to force his way in, eventually breaking the door handle. The homeowner then fired his revolver at the door, killing the prowler. The homeowner is not expected to face charges. (San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio, TX, 7/26/16) 

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
March 1982
Joseph Hodson, 73, was reading a newspaper in his rocking chair when a young robber entered his Indianapolis, Ind., home. The intruder ripped Hodson’s phone from the wall and began to ransack the house. Hodson armed himself with a double-barreled shotgun and, when the robber charged him, loosed a single blast that killed the criminal instantly. (The Star, Indianapolis, IN)

Latest

2026 New Suppressor Guide
2026 New Suppressor Guide

New Suppressors for 2026: A Full Guide

With the removal of the $200 NFA tax stamp on suppressors, the only sound reverberating across the firearms landscape is “cha-ching.”

MDT Now Offering Lone Peak Arms Rifle Actions

Earlier in 2026, MDT announced that it had acquired Lone Peak Arms, and now, the company's rifle actions are available to consumers.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 31, 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.

Review: TriStar KR.22

Manufactured by Kral Arms in Turkey, the TriStar Arms KR.22 is a lightweight semi-automatic that offers everything you need to get started or to perfect what you’ve learned over the years.

Safe Space: 5 Must-Have Accessories to Organize Your Gun Safe

It's a perennial problem for gun owners: not enough safe space. Here are five organizing products that will help you squeeze a bit more in your existing gun safe before you have to run out and buy another.

EAA's Witness2311 CMX XXX & SC9 XXX: A More Practical 2011 Design?

New for 2026, EAA Corp. is downsizing the Witness 2311 CMX design with the CMX XXX and SC9 XXX, two handguns that are built around an entirely new magazine.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.