The Armed Citizen® Nov. 17, 2025

Armed Citizen® Today

An argument over drive-thru wait times at a Florida McDonald's led to an armed employee defending himself from an attack by two disgruntled customers.

Police say the situation began at 3 a.m. on October 12, when a 21-year-old McDonald's worker told two customers in the drive-thru that he was told by his manager that he was unable to take their orders, due to the restaurant being overwhelmed by online orders. He apologized for the delay, but the two customers became angry and said they would wait until the end of his shift and would attack him.

The pair then entered the McDonald's and threatened the employee with a firearm that allegedly had a "switch" and a "30-clip," according to quotes from the victim. The employee was armed and pulled out his own firearm and aimed it toward the two men. One of the aggressors allegedly attempted to grab the firearm from the employee, and he fired, grazing the man in the neck. The two aggressors then fled the scene, but both were later arrested and charged with trespass and disorderly conduct.

"[He] has a right to stand his ground and protect himself, and these guys are threatening to do violence after they've already threatened on the outside of the store and come inside," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "They created a well-found fear in him and the store manager." (WCHS News; Davenport, Fla.; 10/18/25)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives – October 1971

Bruce Hamilton, an Oldman, Ky., county attorney, was working in his office about noon one day when a man rushed in and stabbed him in the stomach. Pulling a gun from his desk, Hamilton held off his attacker until the sheriff arrived. Hamilton was not injured seriously. (The Louisville Times, Louisville, Ky.)