The Armed Citizen® October 14, 2019

by
posted on October 14, 2019
** 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. **
armed-citizen-main-image.jpg (3)

Florida homeowner used an AR-15-platform rifle to protect himself from four alleged home invaders who reportedly broke into his house intending to rob him. An hour before the invasion, one of the men apparently knocked on the door and attempted to lure the homeowner outside by claiming to need help with his vehicle. The owner refused, explaining that he was disabled. The man returned later with three others and broke into the home, entering both at the front and rear of the residence. Awakened by the noise, the homeowner grabbed his AR-15 rifle that he kept near his bed for protection. Two robbers fired at the homeowner. One, wearing a “Jason” mask and gloves on both hands, used a semi-automatic pistol, while the other was a 22-year-old armed with a shotgun. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, one robber was killed at the scene. The other died from his injuries in a hospital. The homeowner was wounded during the invasion and  subsequently hospitalized, but was reported to be in stable condition. Police tracked the alleged accomplices to a nearby wooded area using a sheriff’s K-9 unit, and they were arrested and charged with multiple offenses. The homeowner told police he thought he recognized one of the alleged assailants from a prior online sales transaction. (villages-news.com, Summerfield, Fla., 7/11/19)

Armed Citizen Extra
An Omaha man used his modern sporting rifle to thwart a home invasion one August night. Around 10 p.m. the homeowner, who had some friends visiting, heard persistent knocking at his door. When he looked through his peephole to investigate, he saw an unknown man outside, with another man behind him in a mask. Quickly locking the door, he retrieved his rifle and returned to the door just in time to watch it splinter open. As soon as the home invader saw the rifle however, he bolted, ending the incident. (ammoland.com, Omaha, Neb., 8/12/19)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
October 1962
When Mrs. Arletta Norton, wife of the operator of the Valley Drive-In in Mt. Vernon, Ky., returned to the restaurant one night after closing, she found 2 youths inside frying hamburgers and helping themselves to candy, cigarettes, chewing gum and other stock items. When police answered Mrs. Norton's call, they found her, armed with a .38 revolver, firmly in command. (Lexington Leader)

Latest

CZ 75 Legend 01
CZ 75 Legend 01

The CZ 75 Legend: Rebirth of an Icon

If you make a short list of the most influential handgun designs of the 20th century, the CZ 75 would make the cut. A half century since its introduction, CZ is honoring that legendary status with the CZ 75 Legend.

39 New Rifles for 2026

Today's new rifles run the gamut from the latest and greatest packed with the most up-to-date features money can buy to retro-inspired models that give us a glimpse of the way things used to be if you wanted to send a bullet "over there somewhere."

The Armed Citizen® June 1, 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.

Tactical Belts For The Rest Of Us

Most shooters don’t need a "war belt." While enthusiasts like the idea of preparing for every contingency, the vast majority of us need a reliable platform for a range session, a training class or a local club match.

Review: Trijicon Credo 1-10x28 mm Riflescope

With a 10X magnification range, the Trijicon Credo 1-10x28 mm riflescope is ideal for close-range targets, long-range pursuits and everything in between.

Study Shows Widespread Public Approval for Self-Defense, Recreational Shooting

Research conducted by Responsive Management annually for the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (CAHSS) found that, in 2025, 78 percent of adult residents in the United States believe learning self-defense skills with a firearm is completely acceptable.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.