The Armed Citizen® May 26, 2023

by
posted on May 26, 2023
** 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. **
The Armed Citizen

Armed Citizen® Today

A 61-year-old alleged home invader is dead after forcing his way into a house of female residents in Austin, Texas, one of whom was armed and fired to protect herself and the other women.

At 5:18 a.m. on April 18, 2023, officers of the Austin Police Department received a call that the man was banging on the door of the house and trying to force his way in. While on the phone with police, the female residents of the house indicated that they were bracing the door in an attempt to prevent the man from entering the house. The man then moved to a window, where he gained entry. Once he entered the house, one of the women fired at him.

Officers arrived at the home at 5:37 a.m., nearly 20 minutes later, and found the man incapacitated on the floor of the home. Paramedics arrived shortly after and began treating the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is still under investigation, but according to an Austin Police Department spokesperson, the resident fired in self-defense and no charges are expected to be filed. There is no indication that the man knew the women in the house before he tried to break in. (KVUE, Austin, Texas, 4/18/2023)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – June 1974

Seeing two strangers taking two mini-bikes from the back of a Pinellas Park, Fla., motorcycle shop, Joe Kolodziej asked owner Ronald Hurn if he had just sold them. Told “no,” Kolodziej halted the thieves’ car at pistol point. Hurn backed him with a shotgun. Police quickly nabbed the thieves. (The Pinellas Park Post, Pinellas Park, Fla.)

Latest

jammed cartridge in chamber
jammed cartridge in chamber

Rifleman Q&A: Understanding a Firearm's Cycle of Operation

The cycle of operation is the mechanical sequence of events that it takes to fire one shot out of a firearm. If one of those steps fails to take place as designed, there is an interruption in the cycle of operation and the gun stops firing.

Review: Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm Riflescope

Looking for a performance LPVO without the usual associated cost? The Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm might be your answer.

Myths & Misunderstandings About the “Modern Fighting 1911”

The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?

Heir Apparent: The CZ 600+ Carbine

CZ's 527 action was long a popular option scaled around compact cartridges like the .223 Remington and the 7.62x39 mm. Now, the new CZ 600+ Carbine brings that same concept to the company's new CZ 600 series.

I Carry: Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard in an ANR Design Holster

In our latest "I Carry" setup, we're featuring the Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard in an ANR Design holster, and we've got a Streamlight EDC flashlight to round out our kit.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 23, 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.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.