The Armed Citizen® May 18, 2018

by
posted on May 18, 2018
** 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 (4)

Just seeing an armed citizen with an AR-15 in his hands was enough to cause a knife-wielding assailant to stop his assault on a pregnant woman in Kendall County, Ill. “He was half a breath away from getting his head blown off, and he knew that,” the protective neighbor said after he used America’s most popular semi-automatic rifle to thwart the attack. The mother-to-be had ordered a pizza and had gone outside to wait for the delivery driver. While she was standing by, a tenant from her apartment complex started a heated discussion with her. As the argument escalated, the woman’s husband came out to see what was going on. The assailant pulled a knife and stabbed the husband, nicking the woman with the same swipe of the blade. Shouting, including a threat to kill the woman’s baby, ensued. That caught the attention of a neighbor who works as a private security officer. He looked to see what was going on, saw blood in the hallway and grabbed his AR-15. Upon seeing the rifle, the assailant bolted. Police arrived soon thereafter and tracked down the suspect. (The Beacon-News, Aurora, IL, 3/1/18)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
One afternoon, a woman was coaxing her son’s dog into the house with a stick when the dog grabbed her right hand and wouldn’t let go. As this was occurring, a neighbor heard the woman yelling and came to her aid. He tried to get the dog to let go, but when the dog wouldn’t release its grip, he went to his house, grabbed his registered handgun and called 9-1-1. Upon his return, the dog was still grasped on to the woman's hand, so he shot the dog, killing it. The woman was taken to a hospital where she was in serious condition. The neighbor said, “I didn’t want to shoot the dog by any means because I love dogs. It was a life-and-death situation.” (Columbus News Team, Omaha, NE, 4/26/18) 

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
May 1981
A stickup man had been plaguing convenience stores in the Salisbury, Md., area, so when Robert Brown saw a man fitting the robber’s description approaching his store, he reached for a gun. When the would-be robber pulled a pistol from his coat, Brown drew his own gun and the criminal fled. (The Daily Times, Salisbury, MD)

Latest

Kimber 1911 Ds Warrior Gotw 1
Kimber 1911 Ds Warrior Gotw 1

Gun of the Week: Kimber 1911 DS Warrior LW

In 2026, Kimber developed its 1911 DS Warrior, an American-made, double-stack design that is intended to be an affordable entry point into Kimber's double-stack handgun line.

The Armed Citizen® April 24, 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.

Spin Difference: The Impact of Barrel Twist Rates on Terminal Performance

When most shooters think of rifling-twist rates, they mostly think of rifles with their high BC projectiles, but the rpm of a bullet also plays a part in terminal performance.

Beretta's 1301 Tactical vs. A300 Ultima Patrol Shotguns: Which Should You Choose?

Ever since Beretta launched the A300 Ultima Patrol shotgun in 2024 as a less-pricey alternative to the 1301 Tactical, shotgunners have debated whether the 1301 is worth the extra cost. Let's examine them both.

ZEV Technologies Escaping Washington State’s Hostile Political Climate

ZEV Technologies announced it is moving its headquarters and manufacturing operations out of Washington state to Utah’s Second Amendment-friendly business climate.

U.S. v. Hemani Arguments

On March 2, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in U.S. v. Hemani. The case involves a defendant who is fighting a federal indictment for possessing a firearm while being a marijuana user.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.