The Armed Citizen® September 28, 2011

by
posted on September 28, 2011
** 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)

It’s a familiar scenario: An armed citizen with a concealed-carry permit is likely once again to have saved multiple lives. Several customers were doing business inside a pawn shop when a man walked inside, pointed a gun toward the ceiling and announced a robbery. Did the gunman intend to shoot the clerk? Would he take hostages? We’ll never know, because a customer with a concealed-carry permit promptly drew a pistol and shot the robber in the stomach. The robber has been charged with aggravated robbery. (KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX, 06/22/11)

The Armed Citizen Extra

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

When a homeowner spotted three men outside of his apartment trying to get in, he grabbed his handgun and stood his ground. After trying unsuccessfully to get in, the three men kicked the door down and approached the man with knives. The homeowner fired three shots, causing the intruders to flee. Police caught up with two of the men immediately and arrested them. (KFOX, El Paso, TX, 04/22/10)

From The Armed Citizen Archive

September 1971: Donald Sims, owner of a restaurant in Bremerton, Wash., snatched a shotgun when he heard someone breaking a window to enter his place of business. Sims caught a suspect and held him for police. (The Bremerton Sun, Bremerton, Wash.)

Latest

SA Echelon Alpha 01
SA Echelon Alpha 01

Affordable & Feature-Rich: The Springfield Armory Echelon Alpha 4.0C

Springfield Armory entered the world of modular, striker-fired handguns in 2023 with its Echelon line of pistols, and for 2026, Springfield is introducing an entry-level Echelon model with the Alpha 4.0C.

5 New SBRs for 2026

It has never been easier for gun owners to buy and use short-barreled rifles, and for the occasion, we have five of the latest SBRs on the market right now.

Review: Military Armament Corporation MAC-5K

SDS Arms, under its Military Armament Corporation (MAC) brand, imports Turkish-made roller-delayed handguns of the H&K MP5 pattern called the MAC-5K.

8 New Revolvers for 2026

Despite the incredible array of polymer-frame, striker-fired, semi-automatic handguns on the market, the classic revolver not only refuses to die, it has seen something of a resurgence in recent years.

The Armed Citizen® May 18, 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.

8 New Semi-Auto Shotguns for 2026

For 2026, the semi-automatic shotgun market has seen even more growth, with some manufacturers expanding their current offerings and other makers entering the marketplace with novel designs.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.