Why I Keep It Cocked, Locked and Close

by
posted on June 23, 2016
** 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. **
gsagi2015_fs.jpg

In case you missed these stories from the last couple of weeks, here’s a potpourri of incidents that emphasize why law-abiding citizens should get training, own a gun, and be prepared to use it to ensure their well-being—and that of their loved ones—until law enforcement arrives.

Home invaders yelled “cops,” beat down the front door and killed a dad in Houston, at 7 a.m. on Father’s Day. His surviving wife and children, upstairs, were unharmed in the incident, but they’ll carry the scars forever. The ending might have been different if the law-abiding citizen was armed and trained.

In South Carolina, that same morning, a woman was shot and later in Rhode Island, a 72-year-old man was beaten badly enough by two home invaders that he required hospitalization. Criminals don’t discriminate by age, a fact made obvious by the four who broke into a California home to rob an elderly couple.

An active community volunteer, and father, was killed at his own home in Florida. It’s not bad enough that they dress up like law enforcement to gain entry into your home, sometimes they pose as utility workers, shoot dogs, more dogs and steal puppies.

Bear in mind all of these incidents occurred in the past few weeks while the victims were at home. They weren’t commuting to work, at a theater or some place with a perceived high risk of criminal encounter. They answered the door, let who they thought were authorities in, bought into the gas leak story or woke to the sound of a door breaking.

These headlines didn’t gather national attention for obvious reasons, but each of the incidents makes a case for the right to self-defense—and explains why I intend to keep my 1911 cocked, locked and close at all times.

Latest

Army 250Th Part 4 6
Army 250Th Part 4 6

250 Years of the U.S. Army: From Vietnam to Today

For more than half a century, the U.S. Army's standard infantry rifle has undergone a remarkable transformation, from the battle rifles of World War II to the compact, modular carbines carried by soldiers today.

The Alpha Foxtrot Attila: Not Just Another 2011

In a marketplace filled with 2011-style pistols, Alpha Foxtrot decided to go a different direction with its Attila handgun design, which is built to use Shield Arms S15 magazines.

JP Morgan Rescinds Discriminatory Policy Against Gunmakers

In January, JPMorgan Chase joined Citigroup and Bank of America in rescinding policies discriminating against lawful businesses in the firearm industry—in this case, reversing their policy against lending to rifle manufacturers.

Remembering Past NRA President David A. Keene

David A. Keene, a prominent conservative leader and NRA President from 2011 to 2013, died on March 8, 2026, at 80 years old, from pancreatic cancer.

Semi-Automatic Bans Are Unconstitutional

If the logical application of the rule of law means anything in this constitutional republic, bans on massively popular semi-automatic firearms will be found unconstitutional.

New Handloading Helpers: The Latest Reloading Gear From RCBS

When Hodgdon Powder Company took over RCBS in 2024, company leaders said positive change was coming. By looking at the new products RCBS introduced in 2026, it’s clear they were right.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.