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

More Suppressors 2
More Suppressors 2

NFA Wait Times Continue to Drop

In early 2021, it took the ATF about 280 days to process a Form 4 NFA transfer. In August 2026, using the recently implemented eForms system, that wait time had dropped to only nine days.

Pelican Air Carry-on Case Review

An industry staple just made air travel more convenient.

The ROSE Program by SIG Sauer: Empowering Women in Shooting Sports Across the Nation

The ROSE Program is a shooting program created specifically for women. It aims to create a community of women in shooting that can learn about shooting and self-defense.

I Have This Old Gun: French MAS-49

Despite being early adopters of several semi-automatic rifles for military use, the French army took several decades to work out a standardized semi-automatic rifle for general service use. The rifle that finally came to being was the MAS-49.

Polite Society Industries Launches with Complete Suppressor Line

"An armed society is a polite society," goes the famous quote, which is also the inspiration behind Polite Society Industries, a new suppressor manufacturer that now has a complete line available to consumers.

NRA-ILA Names Smith & Wesson Official Partner of the 2026 NRA Gun Bus Battleground Tour

Iconic American firearms maker Smith & Wesson will join NRA-ILA on the road as nation's leading firearm group turns out voters ahead of the 2026 midterm.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.