The Armed Citizen® October 13, 2017

by
posted on October 13, 2017
** 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)

In Spokane, Wash., a 17-year-old girl was forced to defend herself from a robbery suspect who picked the wrong home to break into. Local news stations reported on the morning news that a perimeter had been set in the vicinity of the girl’s home to catch the escapee, who led police on a car chase before getting away on foot. The girl called her father to ask if she could use one of his guns just in case of emergency. Receiving permission, the girl retrieved the gun, placed it under her pillow and went back to sleep. Later in the morning, the girl awoke to the sounds of someone moving about the house. The girl grabbed the gun and hid behind her vanity, only to have the suspect enter her room. She pointed the gun at the man, who took off running at the sight of the firearm. The man stole her boyfriend’s ATV from the property to make his escape. The girl later confirmed the robbery suspect was the same man who had broken into her home. (KHQ6, Spokane, WA, 7/17/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Late one Monday night, a man gained entry into a home through a rear door. The resident was able to arm herself with a handgun and, after a short confrontation with the intruder, fired a shot that hit and wounded him. The man was taken to a hospital and is under investigation for burglary. (Ventura County Star, Castaic, CA, 6/27/17)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
October 1980
When an armed robber threatened to kill three fellow employees and the manager of a suburban Dallas supermarket as they lay at gunpoint on the store’s floor, clerk Kathy Carter whispered a prayer and killed him with a single shot from a pistol concealed in her cashier’s booth. (The Times Herald, Dallas, TX)

Latest

attack in a back alley
attack in a back alley

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 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.

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?

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.