The Armed Citizen® October 19, 2014

by
posted on October 19, 2014
** 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)

Hugh Mathis, a 92-year-old WWII veteran, and his wife, Ruby, 89, opened the door when a young man they knew from their neighborhood knocked. The young man had previously done odd jobs for the couple, including mowing their lawn and shoveling snow. He asked to use the Mathis’ telephone. Once inside, the man pulled a knife on Mr. Mathis and demanded money. Mrs. Mathis quickly went to the bedroom where they kept a firearm. When she returned, the would-be robber fled through the front door. He was later arrested and held on three counts of aggravated robbery. (WLWT News 5, Springfield Township, Ohio, 4/10/14)

On June 24, at about 11 a.m., there was an attempted robbery at the Jim Anderson Jewelers in Flagstaff, Ariz. A man entered the store and told the owner that he wanted to look at a tray of engagement rings and asked her if she was alone. She lied and said she wasn’t. Soon the suspect pulled out a gun and tried to get the owner to go to the back of the store to open the safe, but the owner wouldn’t do it. The gunman ordered her to the ground. A customer walked in and the owner shouted for the customer to leave. The gunman left and another suspect came into the store. But while she was alone in the store, the owner armed herself with a gun. When the suspects  returned the owner fired a shot. The suspect who had grabbed jewelry threw all of it into the air and jumped through a glass window to escape. The other suspects fled. The owner of the store was slightly injured but was treated and released and has since returned to work. Detectives are reportedly working with investigators from other agencies to solve this and other robberies in the area. Flagstaff Police Chief Kevin Treadway declined to give any information, but he did say that the case was quickly coming to a conclusion and further news in the case would be forthcoming. (Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Ariz., 8/29/14)

From The Armed Citizen® Archives 
June 1971: Mrs. Keith Boyce and her nine-month-old baby were alone in their secluded home near Tulsa, Okla., one night when a stranger pulled his car into the back yard.  Twice burglarized in the preceding 12 months, Mrs. Boyce didn’t open the door at his knock.  Instead, she waited quietly inside, holding her baby with one hand and a .22 pistol with the other.  When the man kicked in another door and entered the home, the young mother fired several times, wounding the intruder fatally. (The Tulsa Daily World, Tulsa, Okla.)

Latest

Weatherby 307 New Models F
Weatherby 307 New Models F

New For 2025: Weatherby Model 307 Range XP 2.0 & Alpine ST Rifles

Weatherby's Model 307 bolt-action rifle opens up a world of aftermarket components to consumers, thanks to its Model 700 receiver footprint, and the company now has two new models for hunters and sport shooters.

Preview: Thunderbolt To The Rebels | The United States Sharpshooters In The Civil War

Author Darin Wipperman provides a tantalizing glimpse into the world of Berdan’s sharpshooters during the American Civil War.

Gun Of The Week: Rock River Arms LAR-22 Tactical Carbine

This week, we're on the range with the Rock River Arms LAR-22 Tactical Carbine, a rimfire variant of the AR-15 that's designed for reliability and gives enthusiasts a way to shoot affordably.

The Armed Citizen® July 11, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Japanese Last-Ditch Small Arms Of World War II

The crude assortment of fighting tools used by the Japanese during World War II give clues of an unprepared and unmatched last-ditch fight that ultimately lead to Allied victory.

Federal Ammunition Awards 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships

Federal Ammunition recently awarded the 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships to two 4-H shooting sports teen ambassadors.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.