The Armed Citizen® May 22, 2012

by
posted on May 22, 2012
** 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 (3)

Miguel Lopez Hernandez, 25, and an armed accomplice entered Kelly Jewelers. The accomplice produced his handgun, ordered the store manager to get on the floor, then tossed a roll of duct tape to Hernandez. The manager, however was quickly able to retrieve his own handgun. The armed assailant dashed out the door upon seeing the firearm, leaving Hernandez armed only with the roll of duct tape. Hernandez was arrested and is under investigation for aggravated robbery; his accomplice remains at large. (KSL 5 News, Midvale, Utah, 3/10/12).

The Armed Citizen Extra

(The following account did not appear in the print version of American Rifleman)

Hall Palmer was taken captive in his own home in July 2011, and it was an antique firearm and family heirloom that helped free him. Palmer was awoken in the early morning hours by an armed intruder that first bound his hands and then demanded cash and the PIN number for a bank card that Palmer owned. The 70-year-old Palmer went along with things for awhile, before finally wriggling free of his bonds and heading upstairs. With his captor in hot pursuit, Palmer retrieved a .38 Colt Army Special that he'd inherited from his father years before and fired a single shot in the intruder's direction. The invading gunman immediately turned and fled out through the garage. (St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, Fla., 1/20/2011).

From The Armed Citizen Archives

May 1981: A Lynchburg, Va., housebreaker suffered the ultimate indignity when he was caught trying to enter Buford Thornhill's home. The armed homeowner forced the sneak thief to call police and report the crime himself. (The News, Lynchburg, Va.)

Latest

Bushmaster V-Radicator
Bushmaster V-Radicator

Review: Bushmaster V-Radicator

The business of dispatching unwanted critters requires a platform capable of a high degree of accuracy. Nuisance animals such as prairie dogs are both small and skittish in nature, meaning that they tend to keep their distance and scurry away upon the arrival of incoming fire.

New for 2026: Smith & Wesson FPC in 5.7x28 mm

The folding carbine line expands to include the 5.7 mm chambering.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 26, 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.

New For 2026: Vortex Optics AMG 1-10X 24 mm FFP Riflescope

The Vortex Optics AMG 1-10X 24 mm FFP riflescope is the shortest and lightest FFP 1-10X low-power variable optic made available to the U.S. commercial market.

New for 2026: Armasight Pro Series Thermal Platform

Armasight launches a professional-grade thermal-imaging platform designed to perform.

KelTec Launches KelTec Direct

KelTec begins its 35th anniversary celebration by launching KelTec Direct.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.