The Armed Citizen® October 2010

by
posted on September 20, 2010
** 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

*A man, his wife and his school-age brother were asleep in their apartment when an intruder forced his way inside. Illegally wielding a gun, the suspect ordered the tenants into the bathroom. The male tenant asked to retrieve a blanket-a ruse to go get his pistol. Police said he returned and fired a single shot, wounding the intruder and causing him to flee the apartment. The suspect, who has several felony convictions, was arrested at the hospital when he sought treatment. (Tulsa World, Tulsa, OK, 07/05/10)

*Residents of a neighborhood suffering from a string of terrifying burglaries decided they’d had enough. At least two residents obtained firearms for home defense. One resident, Daniel Guajardo, borrowed a friend’s 12-ga. shotgun after his home’s third invasion. According to police, a few months later a burglar approached Guajardo’s home, and it wasn’t likely his first visit. Guajardo was not home, but his nephew, Clinton, was there. The burglar burst through the door and Clinton ran for the shotgun. He opened fire, killing the intruder. Neighbor Frank Villanueva said he knew the burglary spree would end badly for the suspect. “I was waiting for them,” he said. “If it hadn’t been Clint, it would have been me.” (Express-News, San Antonio, TX, 07/13/10)

 

Armed Citizen Extra

(The following account did not appear in the print version of American Rifleman.)

In the middle of the night, two men entered a home and, with a bat and pipe, attacked the man and woman that lived there. Amidst the scuffle, the male homeowner grabbed his handgun and fired a shot at one of the suspects, causing them to flee. When police arrived, they quickly found one man dead at the scene from a gunshot wound to the chest. The other intruder was arrested shortly after. (Times Record News, Wichita Falls, TX, 6/28/10)

 

From The Armed Citizen Archive

October 1978: Mary Perrone of Rockford, Ill., arose one morning, noticed a kitchen window had been forced open and then saw a man’s hat on the bed in an unused room. Just after she had picked up her .38 revolver, a movement caught her eye, and she turned to confront a masked intruder. The 4 ft. 10” grandmother fired once, hitting the man in the stomach. He leaped through an open window and fled, but was soon caught by police. (The Morning Star, Rockford, Ill.)

Latest

Springfield Armory Hellcat 380 Gun of the Week
Springfield Armory Hellcat 380 Gun of the Week

Gun of the Week: Springfield Armory Hellcat in .380 ACP

Springfield's latest Hellcat chambering makes the small pistol easier to shoot.

New for 2026: Stoeger M3000 Sporting Shotgun

Stoeger adds a new sporting model to its M3000 semi-automatic shotgun line.

New for 2026: Shadow Systems Axio Pistol Platform

A duty-size handgun platform joins the Shadow Systems family of 9 mm pistols.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 30, 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.

Review: Hi-Point HP-15 Carbine

In 2025, Hi-Point Firearms surprised the firearm community with the news that it would offer a complete line of HP-15 carbines and pistols. Since then, the company has expanded their offerings.

New for 2026: Springfield Armory Saint Victor .300 BLK 9.5” Pistol

Springfield Armory’s Saint Victor family now has a pistol in .300 BLK.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.