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

New Large-Format Pistols for 2026
New Large-Format Pistols for 2026

5 New Large-Format Pistols for 2026

There's been a huge surge in the large-format pistol category, and 2026 continues to showcase new models answering the wants and needs of today's firearm owners.

Short & Powerful: The EOTech Vudu 4-12x36 mm Super Short Riflescope

EOTech's ultra-compact 3-9x32 mm Vudu was a popular addition to the company's variable-powered riflescope line, and the new 4-12x36 mm Vudu ups the ante with new features in a still-compact package.

The Armed Citizen® May 11, 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.

Ukraine Operators Use Drone Round to Defeat UAS

Ukrainian operators recently tested and defeated drones with the Drone Round—a purpose-built cartridge that requires no firearm modifications, no new equipment and no additional training.

From The Counter: The Gun Store Prime Directive

When visiting a firearm retailer, know when it’s appropriate to interject, and when you should keep quiet.

Red-Dot Occlusion Training: A Performance-Booster for You & Your Optic-Equipped Handgun

Red-dot occlusion is a passive technique that shooters can use to remain target-focused, thereby speeding up their performance with optic-equipped handguns.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.