The Armed Citizen

Qball

Qball

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Some of you may remember this elsewhere. I'll keep this thread updated about once a month or so. I can't recall where I left off so I'll just start with the month of December. This is for those of you who may not be an NRA member thus you don't receive one of their publications. This information is not copyrighted and anyone is permitted to reproduce and publish it anywhere. There is a link at the bottom of each story that takes you to the source. Enjoy these true stories........... Dave





Bank robbery doesn’t pay when an armed citizen steps up to stop the crime. In Homewood, Ala., a man walked into a local bank and held it up. The hooligan, with a piece of cloth wrapped around his hand as if to hide a gun, ordered the people inside to huddle into a corner and hand over their cell phones. As he got ready to leave the bank, the robber pointed the cloth-covered hand at the bank patrons. An armed citizen saw that as an opportunity, pulling out his concealed firearm and firing at the would-be robber. “I was thinking a lot of people’s lives were in danger and my life was in danger, too. He pointed whatever he had at us, so I fired a shot at him,” said the citizen. The shot missed, but the police arrived and arrested the bad guy as he was fleeing. (AL.com, Homewood, AL, 9/21/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
An elderly man was awakened early one Friday morning to find a man in a skull mask standing over him. A struggle ensued between the two, during which the resident fired a shot from his .22-cal. handgun, hitting the intruder. A police lieutenant said the older man was “remorseful, shook up,” but was protecting an elderly sister who also lives in the house. Furthermore, he said the case “looks like self-defense” and no charges are expected. (The Philadelphia Inquirer, Uniontown, PA, 11/6/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/12/2/the-armed-citizen-december-2-2016/



A recent carjacking in Lubbock, Texas, resulted in a robber facing several charges after threatening a couple. A man and woman were pulling into their driveway when the criminal approached and pointed a handgun at them. As he ordered the male driver to get out of the vehicle and to hand over cash, the woman in the passenger seat retrieved her firearm and handed it off to her companion. The armed citizen then fired several rounds at the robber, striking him in the leg. Officers found the criminal and booked him. (LubbockOnline.com, Lubbock, TX, 9/24/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A retired NYPD detective was working in a Tobacco Road store one Thursday when an armed suspect walked in and announced a robbery. The retired detective attempted to disarm the suspect but was pushed to the ground. The ex-detective proceeded to fire one shot from his weapon and the suspect fled. (New York Post, Garfield, NJ, 10/22/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/12/5/the-armed-citizen-december-5-2016/


Looking for love in Las Vegas could have spelled trouble had the seeker not been armed. A man headed out one night to meet a woman he met online. Upon arriving at the designated location, the would-be suitor discovered that the woman had an accomplice. The pair attempted to rob the man, who retrieved his firearm and opened fire on the male assailant. The criminal was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not life threatening. Both suspects were charged. (KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV, 9/22/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
One Tuesday afternoon, two armed intruders confronted an elderly man in his garage and tried to steal his pickup truck. Unfortunately for the intruders, the homeowner also had a firearm with him when the men demanded his truck and fired on them, killing the two armed intruders. The homeowner was not injured and the preliminary investigation indicates the shootings were justified. (Fulton Sun, St. Louis, MO, 11/2/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/12/9/the-armed-citizen-december-9-2016/


Sounds of a break-in woke up a woman at her residence in Gwinnett County, Ga., one night. The woman retrieved her handgun and went to check out the disturbance. She saw at least three men coming in through her front door. “At that point she began firing rounds from her handgun and struck at least one suspect in the torso killing him,” explained Cpl. Deon Washington, a public information officer for the Gwinnett County Police Department. Another foe fired back at the woman before he and his accomplice fled the scene. No charges were filed against the armed citizen. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, GA, 9/17/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
One Sunday evening, an older gentleman was in his home when two men entered, both wearing masks and brandishing hunting-type knives. The men proceeded to rob him, but the resident had a rifle and shot them both, killing one and wounding the other. The homeowner was not injured and is cooperating with investigators. (The Saginaw News, Tawas City, MI, 11/15/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/12/12/the-armed-citizen-december-12-2016/


In Chicago, a concealed-carry permit holder warded off an attack late one night. As the armed citizen was sitting with another man in his car, two aggressors with guns approached and attempted to rob the two men. The quick-thinking armed citizen thwarted the attack, firing at the bad guys and hitting one of them. The assailant who was shot was later declared dead at the scene, while the second bad guy got away. (DNAInfo.com, Chicago, IL, 9/29/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A deputy police officer was assisting the Florida Highway Patrol tend to an auto accident when a driver in another vehicle unrelated to the crash nearly struck him. Believing the incident was intentional, the officer began a chase along the southbound lanes of the interstate. The man stopped at an off ramp, got out of his car and approached the officer as he exited his patrol car, and slammed him to the ground. The officer was unable to break free and was struggling to retain his weapon from his attacker. A nearby witness, a CCW permit holder whom the sheriff’s office is calling a Good Samaritan, shot the man after he failed to heed his warnings for him to stop attacking the officer. The officer is recovering from his injuries. (The News-Press, Fort Myers, FL, 11/16/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/12/16/the-armed-citizen-december-16-2016/


Hearing the sound of breaking glass from somewhere inside his home, an Amarillo, Texas, homeowner armed himself and decided to investigate. During his reconnaissance, the man saw a gloved hand with a gun in it reaching through the back door. The homeowner then fired his weapon at the person. The assailant fled the residence without getting inside the home. The homeowner was uninjured. (Amarillo Globe News, Amarillo, TX, 9/15/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A young thug brandishing a gun entered a supermarket and ordered a clerk to open up a cash register. When the store manager reached for his handgun, the man started shooting. The would-be robber was eventually wounded and later arrested. The manager was uninjured. (The Daily Nonpareil, Waterloo, IA, 11/5/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/12/19/the-armed-citizen-december-19-2016/
 
For those who think that a restraining order can protect a person, remember this: A restraining order is just a piece of paper, and sometimes people don’t abide by it; in fact, sometimes people react with violence to the very idea of one. That’s one takeaway from a defensive shooting that involved parties from two states. A woman called the police to report a stalker was outside the Los Altos Hills, Calif., home where she was staying. She was on the phone with 9-1-1 dispatchers when the suspect forced his way into the home and started shooting at her and others inside the residence. Fortunately, a male resident of the home had grabbed a gun before the intruder entered the house. He shot the bad guy several times. The alleged stalker fled but was later hospitalized and charged with attempted murder. He was then identified as someone the woman had known in Georgia. She had asked for a restraining order against him, though it was unclear if one was issued. (The Mercury News, San Jose, CA, 10/17/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Two young men kicked in the back door of a home one Friday afternoon with one of the men in possession of a gun. A woman who lives in the home fired a gun at both men, striking one in the chest. The men then retreated by jumping off a deck. The wounded intruder died, while the other was charged with murder and burglary. No charges would be filed against the homeowner. (Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY, 11/29/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/12/23/the-armed-citizen-december-23-2016/


Sometimes words are enough when an armed citizen is confronting a troublemaker. In Salt Lake City, Utah, a homeowner said the magic words—I have a gun—and scared off two burglary suspects. A man and his wife were awakened by the sound of their garage alarm going off around 3:30 a.m. one morning. The male resident got his gun and went to see what was happening. He saw a stranger inside the car in the garage and he asked what the man was doing. The suspect’s accomplice, who had been waiting in a getaway car, noticed that his buddy was being confronted and approached on foot. At that point, the homeowner said he was armed and both suspects scampered off. (Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, UT, 10/14/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Law enforcement agents moved quickly to make an arrest in an alleged murder that started out as robbery/burglary. Police were given the location at which they might find the suspect, but the suspect was warned by his father of their impending presence, and fled out the back door of an outside building in which he had been hiding. A foot chase ensued between the suspect and the officers, with the suspect firing shots at the officers. The manhunt continued over the next several hours, but the suspect was eventually located with the help of an observant homeowner, who discovered him hiding under a pool table in his garage. The homeowner had gone into the garage to retrieve a tool when he spotted a man's legs sticking out from under the table. He proceeded to disarm the man and held him at gunpoint until officers arrived. (The Banner-Gazette, Pekin, IN, 11/9/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/12/30/the-armed-citizen-december-30-2016/


One hunter saved the life of another who was being mauled by a bear. The two were scouting for deer on Chichagof Island, Alaska. “They heard a ‘whoof’ and then a brown bear emerged from the brush, charging at them,” troopers wrote in a media release about the shooting. The bear—a sow that was with two cubs—pinned one hunter on the ground and was clawing him before the other hunter sighted in and shot the bear. The man who was mauled was airlifted to a hospital where he was treated for his injuries. (adn.com, Juneau, AK, 10/2/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Late one Wednesday evening, a group of suspects, who are believed to have committed or attempted up to nine robberies over a three-day span, entered a Burger King with intentions to rob it. As the group attempted to rob the establishment, shots were exchanged between the suspects and a patron who had a concealed-carry license. The suspects left the scene in a vehicle matching a description from earlier robberies. Later, police stopped a vehicle that matched the description and arrested two adults and three juveniles and preliminarily charged them with robbery. The customer who exchanged gunfire with the suspects will not face charges. (The Indy Channel, Indianapolis, IN, 10/5/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/1/2/the-armed-citizen-january-2-2016/


Robbery just doesn’t pay when the intended victim is armed. A 26-year-old man who thought that two people in a parked car would be easy marks paid for that misjudgment with his life. The bad guy approached the car and started to rob its two passengers at gunpoint. But during the event, one of the people in the car pulled his legally owned handgun and shot the perpetrator. The bad guy’s accomplice, a 27-year-old woman who was later charged, drove the wounded man to a hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA, 10/9/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Late one Monday night on Detroit’s west side, two men in a dark-colored Chevy Impala approached a man in his car. One of the men pulled out a gun and told the victim to get out of his vehicle. Initially the victim complied, but then, being a concealed-carry license holder, exchanged gunfire with the would-be carjacker, wounding him. The wounded gunman got back in the Impala and was taken to a hospital where police later arrested him. (The Detroit News, Detroit, MI, 7/27/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/1/6/the-armed-citizen-january-6-2016/
 
Home invaders: If you’re asked to leave, save yourself a heap of trouble and just do it—or you might end up dead. That’s what happened to an intruder in Wyoming recently. A stranger entered a Sheridan, Wyo., home in the overnight hours one day. The adult male resident told the intruder to turn around and leave. The miscreant refused. The resident then armed himself with a shotgun and again asked the stranger to leave. When the interloper again refused, the armed citizen fired, fatally hitting the trespasser in the chest. (KTVQ, Sheridan, WY, 10/16/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Early one evening, a couple attempted to rob a pharmacy, entering the business wearing masks and brandishing handguns. The pharmacy owner retrieved a gun and pointed it at them through the pharmacy glass, to which the suspects responded by fleeing the building and driving off. The couple was later located in their home and taken into custody. They will face charges of robbery with a firearm and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. (Pensacola News Journal, Milton, FL, 8/26/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/1/9/the-armed-citizen-january-9-2016/


When a suspect pulled out a note demanding money, the store manager pulled out a gun. The manager of Belmont Market held the alleged robber at gunpoint until the police arrived and arrested the man. He told a news reporter afterward that he was glad he didn’t have to shoot. “The people who come here are excellent, so we don’t want to see anything…happening in our neighborhood,” the manager said. (WHIO, Dayton, OH, 10/13/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A woman and her male housemate awoke early one Friday morning after hearing a possible intruder. The woman, still wearing her pajamas, grabbed a handgun. As she began searching the home she encountered three armed men entering the front door. She proceeded to exchange gunfire with the home invaders, firing multiple rounds, fatally wounding one of them. The other two suspects fled. A police spokeswoman said she had every right to defend herself. (The Washington Post, Atlanta, GA, 9/24/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/1/13/the-armed-citizen-january-13-2016/
 
Mad Dawg;n56122 said:
Qball, thanks for bringing this thread to the new forum. I always enjoyed reading how the bad guys were served justice. Keep it up!!
Click to expand...

You got it Dawg. I'll keep it going. I enjoy reading these stories as well. It's important to keep these stories going since the msm likes to ignore them.
 
When a suspect pulled out a note demanding money, the store manager pulled out a gun. The manager of Belmont Market held the alleged robber at gunpoint until the police arrived and arrested the man. He told a news reporter afterward that he was glad he didn’t have to shoot. “The people who come here are excellent, so we don’t want to see anything…happening in our neighborhood,” the manager said. (WHIO, Dayton, OH, 10/13/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A woman and her male housemate awoke early one Friday morning after hearing a possible intruder. The woman, still wearing her pajamas, grabbed a handgun. As she began searching the home she encountered three armed men entering the front door. She proceeded to exchange gunfire with the home invaders, firing multiple rounds, fatally wounding one of them. The other two suspects fled. A police spokeswoman said she had every right to defend herself. (The Washington Post, Atlanta, GA, 9/24/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/1/13/the-armed-citizen-january-13-2017/


Keepings guns bedside paid off for an Akron, Ohio, couple. The husband and wife were awakened by noise one morning, but they figured it was just the sound of another family member returning home. A little while later, however, a stranger entered their bedroom. Both residents reached for their guns and held the intruder at gunpoint. When the police arrived and searched the home, they found the man’s jacket—with a loaded handgun in the pocket—on the couch in the living room. The man faces multiple charges. (WKYC, Akron, OH, 10/17/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Early one Saturday morning, a teenager was home alone when he heard someone trying to break into the house. The would-be robber allegedly pried open a back door and, armed with a knife, entered the residence. But the boy, who had armed himself with a shotgun, confronted the intruder and ordered him twice to drop the knife. The suspect eventually complied and fled the scene. (The Sentinel Echo, London, KY, 9/7/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/1/16/the-armed-citizen-january-16-2017/


While it’s normal for a deputy to protect the public, it’s less normal for an everyday citizen to get a chance to return the favor. But that’s what happened in Estero, Fla., recently when an armed citizen shot and killed someone who was attacking a law enforcement officer. The deputy and the assailant had been involved in a high-speed car chase on the interstate. After the vehicles came to a stop, the suspect and Deputy Dean Bardes got out of their respective cars. The suspect, who was armed, then started assaulting the law officer. A passerby, who had a license to carry a concealed handgun, stopped and told the attacker to stop beating up the deputy or he’d shoot. The attacker didn’t listen, so the armed citizen fired three times, killing the assailant. Bardes was treated and released for his injuries; he was not shot by the armed suspect. (WINK News, Fort Myers, Fla., 11/14/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A thief entered a home in Lapeer, Mich., in hopes of stealing more goods in his string of robberies. He was surprised to find an 11-year-old girl with a shotgun inside the house. The thief fled the scene in a van filled with stolen goods from his previous robberies. The young girl was able to describe the vehicle to police, which was later used to capture the robber. The prosecutor said the girl’s bravery helped put away the thief for a long time. He has been sentenced to at least 25 years in prison. (Detroit Free Press, Lapeer, MI, 7/20/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/1/20/the-armed-citizen-january-20-2017/


The road can be a dangerous place for anyone—even a carjacker, if he picks a victim who is armed. A woman driving through a Cleveland suburb was cut off in traffic by an SUV. A man exited that vehicle—gun drawn—and approached her car. Fortunately, the woman’s 23-year-old son, who is a concealed-carry permit holder, was with her. The young man pulled his firearm in defense and the bad guy fled to his SUV and drove off. Officers later arrested the suspected carjacker. (Sun Messenger, Cleveland, OH, 11/10/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A couple was at home one evening when three men broke in. One intruder pointed a gun at the husband and told him to lie on the ground while he checked his pocket for a wallet. While that was happening, the wife was able to run to her room and retrieve a gun. She returned to the scene where the intruders were standing over her husband. She told them to freeze, but they did not comply and headed for the door. She ordered them to freeze again, but one of the men turned toward her. Feeling threatened, she fired her pistol, hitting the man in the shoulder. A fight ensued between the intruder and the husband, and during the struggle for the intruder’s gun, which deputies said was stolen, two rounds were fired. The husband and a neighbor who had heard the commotion were able to hold down the criminal until deputies arrived. The man was charged with home invasion robbery with a deadly weapon. (Tampa Bay Times, Port Richey, FL, 9/1/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/1/23/the-armed-citizen-january-23-2017/


Some burglars just won’t quit until they find a place they can break into. But such determination came back to haunt a bad guy in North Carolina. In the town of Benson, police were called before sunrise one November morning and were told that a stranger was “beating on doors in the area” and possibly checking for one that was unlocked. Before the police arrived, the bad guy gained entry to one abode, where the resident had a gun and shot him. The suspect was taken to a medical facility and charges were expected. (WNCN.com, Raleigh, NC, 11/27/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Early one morning, a couple was awakened by the sound of someone kicking in the door to their home. The male homeowner grabbed a gun and, when he encountered the intruder, ordered him not to come up the steps. The burglar, who was armed with a handgun and in possession of meth, pointed the gun at the homeowner, but eventually complied. The homeowner held him at gunpoint until officers arrived. The man faces charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during a violent crime and possession of meth. (The Mountain Press, Kodak, TN, 8/24/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/1/27/the-armed-citizen-january-27-2017/
 
Getting physically removed from a store after causing trouble there apparently bruised a malcontent’s ego enough that he sought revenge. After a clerk forcibly escorted an unruly customer from a Sherman, Texas, grocery store, the man threatened to return later. He came back as promised, accosting the clerk as he made his way to a car after locking up the store. When the troublemaker pulled something out of his waistband, the clerk ran toward an alley, drawing his handgun as a precaution. The suspect, now with a machete in hand, pursued the store worker, who fired in self-defense then went back into the store to call the police. The wounded perpetrator ran off, but he was caught a few minutes later after a nearby resident called for an ambulance because a man had collapsed and needed medical aid. (HeraldDemocrat.com, Sherman, TX, 11/17/16)
The Armed Citizen® Extra
Two armed men approached a man returning home from work late one evening. As they pressed a gun into the back of his neck and forced him into his home, they told him they were paid to kill him. When one of the thugs backed away to close the door, the homeowner, a licensed gun owner, withdrew his handgun from his front pocket and shot him. There was an immediate struggle between all three men, and subsequently two more shots were fired, hitting the second perpetrator. The homeowner’s wife and child, who had been in the kitchen, ran upstairs and called 9-1-1. One intruder ran out the back door before police arrived but was later discovered at a hospital. The other man was still lying on the floor when police arrived. Both men eventually pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit home invasion and face at least a decade in prison. The homeowner was found to have been defending himself and his family and was not charged. (Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, 7/27/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/1/30/the-armed-citizen-january-30-2017/


An Idaho teen woke up after hearing a sharp banging noise early one morning. He went to investigate, and he saw his father coming into the kitchen and asked about the noise. The older man had pulled into the driveway a minute earlier and noticed that the garage door was partially open, so he went outside to check and saw a stranger crawling out of a window to a spare bedroom. When the intruder noticed he had been seen, he withdrew back into the spare room. The father and son walked through the house toward the room, with the boy grabbing a shotgun from the gun cabinet for protection. Seconds later, the burglar opened fire on the pair, who took cover. In a pause after the shots, the boy stepped forward and fired once into the intruder’s abdomen. The bad guy was taken to a hospital; both father and son were unharmed. (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID, 11/1/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A 21-year-old Michigan man is in jail facing felonious domestic assault charges after a dispute in which he attacked a 20-year-old woman and an elderly man. The couple managed to lock themselves in a bedroom but it did not deter the assailant, who kicked down the door and continued the assault. The 66-year-old male victim was able to retrieve a handgun and fire at the attacker, hitting him in the shoulder. The wounded attacker was later treated at a hospital and subsequently jailed. (The Grand Rapids Press, Wyoming, MI, 12/31/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/2/3/the-armed-citizen-february-3-2017/


Being home alone can leave one vulnerable, but a gun can turn the tables. An Indiana woman, whose spouse was away, was letting her dog out one evening. As she did, a man in a ski mask approached. She told the man to leave, but he didn’t heed her warning. The woman ran inside the house, with the attacker on her heels. He threw the woman against a wall. The woman pushed him away, got up and retreated to a bedroom. The intruder pursued her and climbed on top of her on the bed as she fought against him. She struggled to grab her husband’s gun, kept near the bed, and fired two shots at the assailant. The aggressor fled and the woman escaped serious injury. (Daily Journal, Bargersville, IN, 10/23/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A pizza delivery man, 52, was en route to deliver a pizza when two men confronted him as he walked toward a house. One of the suspects placed the victim in a chokehold from behind and stole $82 cash from him as well as a pizza. When the robber released the chokehold, the delivery man drew a handgun and fired five shots at one of the suspect's lower legs, hitting him twice. The injured 19-year-old robber was found limping on a nearby street, where police arrested him. The uninjured accomplice fled in an unknown direction and was still at large. Police recovered a knife at the crime scene. The delivery man was not charged. (Northeast Times, Philadelphia, PA, 12/20/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/2/6/the-armed-citizen-february-6-2017/



If a burglar is determined to break into a house, he will use anything to accomplish his mission—even a lawn statue of a religious figure. And one intruder did just that. Two women were at home watching TV late one evening when they heard someone trying to break into their house. As the would-be burglar struggled to break the sliding glass door with the statue, the women ran upstairs. One of the women called 9-1-1, while the other armed herself with a handgun and ran back downstairs to confront the intruder, who had successfully made his way into the kitchen and armed himself with a knife. The woman ordered the man to drop his weapon, but he ignored her. Meanwhile, police arrived and arrested the suspect, who was later charged with multiple crimes, including home invasion, reckless endangerment and first- and second-degree assault, among others. (The Frederick News-Post, Frederick, MD, 1/24/17)
From the Armed Citizen® Archives
February 1963
Claiming their auto had run out of water, four men gained entrance to the mountain cabin of 83-year-old Tony Lunsford, near Leicester, N.C. Before he opened the door, however, Lunsford slipped a .32 revolver into his pocket, a precaution he has followed for years. Once inside, the men, who were armed, rushed the mountaineer, and Lunsford started firing. All four of the attackers were apprehended by police, three of them with gunshot wounds. (AP, Leicester, NC)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/2/10/the-armed-citizen-february-10-2017/


Crime doesn’t pay in Chile—especially when the victim is an American ex-pat who keeps a gun under her pillow. A 61-year-old yoga instructor was alone in her Batuco, Chile, home when four men broke into her residence. Two of the assailants entered her bedroom, hit her on the head with a gun and prepared to tie her up. But the Texas native, a legal concealed-carry holder in Chile, put up a struggle and grabbed her gun, fatally shooting both men who had tried to bind her. Their two accomplices fled before she could exit the bedroom and shoot them. The local prosecutor said the woman will not face any charges because she acted in self-defense. The nature of the attack was such that the authorities were concerned that the woman might be in further danger, so they arranged security for her temporarily. (The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX, 11/25/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A trespasser, with a criminal history that included armed robbery and carjacking, followed a homeowner and his family into their house after they returned home from a trip. After the intruder entered a bedroom and armed himself with a bat, the homeowner, acting in self-defense, shot and killed him. Authorities said the homeowner likely will not face charges. (The Ledger, Sarasota, FL, 1/10/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/2/17/the-armed-citizen-february-17-2017/



When two armed thugs kicked in the back door of a home in Worthington, Ky., the female resident showed them they picked the wrong victim. The armed citizen fired at both men, shooting one in the chest. The attackers retreated and jumped off the deck before the one who was shot collapsed and died. No charges were filed against the resident; the surviving alleged intruder was charged with murder because his accomplice died during the commission of a felony. (The Courier Journal, Louisville, KY, 11/21/16)
From the Armed Citizen® Archives
February 1984
Robert Joe Wade was at work in his father’s Rock Hill, S.C. liquor store when a customer leaped over the counter and beat him over the head with a metal object. Wade managed to fend off the attack long enough to grab a gun from beneath the counter and fire several shots, critically wounding his assailant. No charges were filed against Wade. (The Evening Herald, Rock Hill, S.C.)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/2/20/the-armed-citizen-february-20-2017/
 
Trouble sometimes comes knocking at the door, and when it happened recently in Miami, the troublemaker ended up paying for it. Early one morning, a stranger parked in front of the home and started banging heavily on the front door. The homeowner grabbed his gun, yelled that he was armed, then shot when the would-be intruder tried to gain entry. The suspect was taken to the hospital and was listed in critical condition. (Miami Herald, Miami, FL, 11/30/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
In a job that requires making deliveries to strangers’ homes, it helps to be prepared for the worst. And that’s exactly what one Domino's pizza deliveryman found out when he arrived at a home, which turned out to be vacant. Two armed thugs, who were awaiting his arrival, robbed and kidnapped him, forcing him to drive them in his car. When they attempted to make him exit the vehicle, he defended himself with a firearm that he stowed in his car. One of the robbers was fatally shot and died at the scene, while the other fled on foot and was apprehended later by police and charged with armed robbery, second degree kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and second degree murder. The pizza deliveryman is not facing charges. (The News Star, Monroe, LA, 1/20/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/2/24/the-armed-citizen-february-24-2017/


Family ties run deep in Rosharon, Texas, where a man defended his mother-in-law during an armed robbery. While the woman was chatting on the phone with her daughter one day, two armed intruders kicked in the door of her home. The woman’s daughter, who lives across the street, told her husband of the commotion on the other end of the line. He then grabbed a shotgun and bolted across the street. There he found his mother-in-law had been forced into a back room and had a gun pointed at her. He exchanged gunfire with the two bad guys, striking one fatally in the chest. The other fled. The armed citizen faces no charges. (The Alvin Advertiser, Alvin, TX, 11/30/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
An armed masked robber with a gun entered an electronics store and got the surprise of his life, literally. The store clerk on duty, who had a concealed-carry permit and was also armed, shot and killed the intruder. No charges have been filed. (The Columbus Dispatch, Franklin Township, OH, 9/7/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/2/27/the-armed-citizen-february-27-2017/


Just the threat of being shot is enough to scare off some intruders, and that resolution was good enough for an Arizona man in his 80s. The elderly armed citizen was awakened one night by the sound of someone rifling through his cabinet drawers. The resident grabbed his handgun and confronted the suspect in the other room, ordering the alleged burglar to lie down and saying, “If you move, I’ll blow your head off.” The homeowner left that room to call 9-1-1, and by the time he returned, the interloper had fled. (Camp Verde Journal, Camp Verde, AZ, 10/19/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Late one evening, an elderly man and his wife heard a trespasser attempting to break into their house. They immediately called police and then tried to thwart his entry. The male homeowner pleaded with the intruder to stop, but he continued to force his way in, eventually breaking the door handle. The homeowner then fired his revolver at the door, killing the prowler. The homeowner is not expected to face charges. (San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio, TX, 7/26/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/3/3/the-armed-citizen-march-3-2017/


Emergency dispatchers heard gunshots during a 9-1-1 call as a Florida man who was reporting an intrusion had to defend himself. The homeowner saw a vehicle enter the driveway of his Welleby Isles home. Three men exited the car, and two of the assailants hopped a fence leading to the caller’s backyard. The resident grabbed and loaded his shotgun and called 9-1-1. He told dispatchers that the bad guys had a brick and were trying to break a window, then he fired several times as one of the intruders entered the home. The wounded man died, and his accomplice fled. The armed citizen will not face charges. (South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sunrise, FL, 12/1/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Sometimes the difference between life and death is the aid of another person. And that is exactly what a police officer found out when he was apprehending a suspect and things turned for the worst. In the middle of the altercation, the disoriented and aggressive criminal was able to gain control, ending up on top of the officer trying to take his firearm. That’s when a Good Samaritan, with a legally concealed-carry pistol, stepped in and pointed his gun at the thug, allowing the officer to detain the suspect. The Good Samaritan received the Citizens Award of Valor for his selfless act. (Mount Vernon News, Mount Vernon, OH, 7/26/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/3/6/the-armed-citizen-march-6-2017/


A Philadelphia auto repair shop owner learned the value of being prepared. One evening, a suspect attempted to rob the store. The owner responded by pulling his firearm and shooting the assailant in the shoulder, chest and buttocks. The alleged robber fled and was later arrested and taken to a hospital. (The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, 12/18/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
When an intruder gets caught breaking into a home and is warned by the homeowner to leave, he should heed the warning. However, that was not the case with one such criminal in New Haven, Conn. Late one evening, a homeowner heard banging on his front door and went to see what the commotion was. He confronted the man, who was trying to gain entry into the home, but when the trespasser smashed his way inside, the resident shot and wounded him. The prowler was taken to a hospital for treatment, and the homeowner has not been charged. (The Hartford Courant, New Haven, CT, 1/17/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/3/10/the-armed-citizen-march-10-2017/
 
In Chicago, a worker protected his employer’s place of business from being knocked off in an attempted robbery. Around 9:45 p.m., two men entered the establishment, announcing to everyone inside that they were going to rob it. The employee pulled his concealed firearm and fired, striking one assailant in the shoulder and the other in the forearm. Both were later arrested, as was a third suspect. (Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago, IL, 11/29/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Attempted robbery never pays off and that’s exactly what two teens found out when they broke into a home trying to steal an Xbox, video games and money. Masked and armed with a hammer, the teenagers broke through a back window and were standing in the dining room when the homeowner found the young men. Fearful for his safety, the homeowner fired a shot, killing one of the teens, while the other ran and was later arrested and charged with robbery, burglary, conspiracy and other related counts. The homeowner was not charged. (The Patriot-News, Penbrook, PA, 1/24/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/3/13/the-armed-citizen-march-13-2017/


Sometimes criminals don’t learn their lesson until it is too late, and that was just the case with one woman who had previously been convicted twice for possession of drugs. Early one morning, the woman was trying to gain entry into a home, where she knew at least one of the residents. The male homeowner, in defense of his life, shot and killed her near the back door of the home. The homeowner was not charged. (Knoxville News Sentinel, Knoxville, TN, 2/10/17)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
March 1962
A customer entered the Gardena, Calif., liquor store where retired policeman Lee Burris is a clerk, drew a revolver, and demanded money or Burris’ life. Burris, his spectacles knocked off by the bandit, drew his cal. .38 revolver and killed the would-be robber with bullets in the chest and side. (Los Angeles Herald & Express, Gardena, CA)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/3/17/the-armed-citizen-march-17-2017/


A mother will stop at nothing to protect her child. Such was the case with one woman who heard someone breaking through a window in her baby’s room in the middle of the day. When she heard the ruckus, she retrieved a gun and headed to the baby’s room. When she encountered the intruder, he raised his gun and fired twice at her, missing both shots. The woman fired back and hit the criminal multiple times. He was later taken to the hospital in serious condition. The incident was the second time in one month someone had tried to break in to the home. (The Indy Channel, Indianapolis, IN, 3/24/16)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
March 1972
Jerome Abbott of Brooklyn, N.Y., a product distributor, was making deliveries when a knife-wielding bandit grabbed him and demanded money. Abbott pulled a licensed .25 pistol from his pocket, put it to the robber’s chest, and fired. The wounded robber fled. (Long Island Press, New York, N.Y.)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/3/20/the-armed-citizen-march-20-2017/
 
A driver passing through Tonopah, Ariz., saved a state trooper’s life after a harrowing incident. Just before sunrise, the trooper had stopped to investigate an accident. After discovering a flipped vehicle, the officer went to set out flares to warn other motorists. The driver of the overturned car opened fire on the officer and struck him, prompting the officer to attempt to subdue the man. A passing motorist and concealed-carry holder saw the attack and stopped, asking the officer if he needed help. After the officer said, “yes,” the armed citizen went to his vehicle and retrieved his firearm, warning the trooper’s attacker to stop. The man did not, so the Good Samaritan shot him once, wounding him. While the passerby was tending to the trooper’s injuries, the assailant attacked a second time. The armed citizen shot the man again, this time killing him. Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Capt. Damon Cecil said the motorist saved the trooper’s life. (The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ, 1/17/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Criminals may think operating as a pack is an advantage when trying to rob a residence, but that’s not the case when the homeowner is prepared. That’s what three intruders found out when they tried to rob a Columbus, Ind., homeowner early one morning. The three robbers had already stolen a vehicle and several items before they were discovered by the homeowner, who held them at gunpoint in his driveway until police arrived. Police arrested them on charges of burglary, theft and auto theft. (Fox 59, Columbus, IN, 2/18/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/3/24/the-armed-citizen-march-24-2017/


Two Montana miscreants were no match for an armed homeowner during an attempted burglary. Although the intruders targeted an empty cabin in Wolf Creek, Mont., the residents came back while the bad guys were ransacking the home. The couple thought something might be amiss when they spotted an unfamiliar SUV parked outside their cabin. As the couple approached the abode, the two burglars exited the cabin and accosted the homeowners. One of the two mischief-makers pulled a firearm and attempted to shoot it, but the gun misfired. While he attempted to chamber another round, his accomplice approached the homeowner in a threatening manner with a firearm, but the armed citizen drew his concealed handgun and shot the approaching scoundrel in the leg. The residents were unharmed, and police later arrested the two suspects. (Independent Record, Helena, MT, 12/30/16)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
You are never too young to defend yourself in a life-threatening situation, and that’s what one teenager found out when two male adults broke into his house and confronted him. The teen retrieved a shotgun and fired it at one of the men, wounding him. Both intruders then ran before police arrived, but were later located. The wounded criminal was admitted to a hospital, while the other was arrested on a charge of first-degree burglary. (Bowling Green Daily News, Bowling Green, KY, 3/20/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/3/27/the-armed-citizen-march-27-2017/


Uber has a policy barring firearms, but a Florida driver and his fare are alive today because the driver didn’t follow the rules. The ride-sharing employee was taking a client to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport when a minivan suddenly cut him off in traffic on a busy street. A man then exited the driver’s side of the van with two handguns drawn and attempted to rob those in the car. Instead of getting any money, the gunman got shot. The Uber driver drew his concealed firearm and exchanged fire with the assailant. The attacker, who was shot multiple times, died on the scene, and his accomplice drove the van away. (Miami Herald, Miami, FL, 12/19/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Two of man’s best friends earned their nickname after alerting their masters, who were asleep, to an intruder in their home. The two residents caught the prowler burglarizing their home, and held him at gunpoint until police arrived. The criminal then tried to run from the home but police caught him and charged him with burglary of an inhabited dwelling. (WTVA, Tupelo, MS, 3/24/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/3/31/the-armed-citizen-march-31-2017/


Would-be thieves picked the wrong victim when they targeted a gun store for a robbery in Mableton, Ga. The owner was minding the shop when two armed thugs burst through the doors in broad daylight and held the man at gunpoint. One of the robbers shouted at him, “Get down on the floor or I’ll kill you,” the merchant recalled, adding that they then shot at him. With the lives of himself, his employee and two customers in danger, the business owner pulled out a firearm and fatally shot one of the reprobates. He then fired at the second man, who fled the store. Authorities said the business owner lawfully acted in self-defense. (11alive.com, Atlanta, GA, 1/10/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Sometimes a guy just gets lucky when he is caught in the act of burglarizing a home. When the homeowners awoke to the sound of breaking glass, the male homeowner retrieved his handgun and went into the living room. He cocked his firearm upon entering the room, which prompted the trespasser to come out from behind the couch, asking the homeowner not to shoot. While the homeowner held the burglar at gunpoint face down on the floor, the wife called 9-1-1. Police later found an open folding knife belonging to the intruder and charged him with burglary in the first degree. He is also being held on a violation of a probation charge from an unrelated incident. (NorthEscambia.com, Escambia County, AL, 3/28/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/4/3/the-armed-citizen-april-3-2017/
 
Paternal love knows no bounds. Even after being shot twice himself, a Frankford, Pa., father of four defended his family during a home invasion. After hearing a knock on the door to his home late one night, the homeowner answered only to have the person force his way inside. The resident’s wife barricaded herself and the couple’s four daughters in an upstairs room during the altercation. The intruder shot, hitting the victim twice, but the armed citizen retrieved a firearm and fired back, with the bullet fatally striking his attacker in the head. The robber was declared dead at the scene. The injured protector was taken to the hospital where he was listed in serious condition. (The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pa., 1/4/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Being aware of your surroundings, especially late at night, is always a good idea. A restaurant owner was closing up his establishment late one evening when two males jumped out from behind a large garbage bin and attempted to rob him. The owner pulled out a gun and shot at the thugs a couple of times before they could injure or steal from him. One of the criminals was hit and taken to the hospital where he died, while the other fled the scene and is still on the run. The owner is not expected to face charges. (Click2Houston, Houston, TX, 2/5/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/4/7/the-armed-citizen-april-7-2017/


Attackers come in all forms, both human and animal. A 17-year-old boy in Lignum, Va., was at home looking after his nieces and nephews when he heard noises outside that alarmed him. Concerned for the safety of the children in his care, the boy grabbed his rifle and went to investigate. He saw what turned out to be a 545-pound feral boar tearing up the front yard. The boar saw the boy and charged at him. The boy fired in response. “When he came up to me the way he did, I had no choice but to shoot him,” the teen told local media. (Richmond.com, Richmond, VA, 1/27/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Two criminals chose the wrong victim when they pulled up to a car of a Vietnam veteran, who dropping off a friend. The delinquents feigned being lost and asked for directions. After they had the attention of their intended victims, they displayed a firearm in an attempt to rob them. Fearing for his life and the life of his friend, the veteran responded by opening fire with his own concealed firearm, killing one of the criminals and injuring the other. Both felons were wanted for other violent crimes. The injured criminal will be charged for the death of his accomplice and the veteran will not face charges. (KSDK.com, St. Louis, MO, 2/4/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/4/10/the-armed-citizen-april-10-2017/


Early one morning a woman was in the act of forcing her way into a home, where she knew at least one of the residents, when one of the homeowners shot her in self-defense, killing her. After a police investigation, the shooting was considered a justifiable homicide, and the homeowner is not facing charges. (WATE.com, Knoxville, TN, 2/10/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/4/14/the-armed-citizen-april-14-2017/


Early one morning, a woman was working on her computer when she noticed one of her windows being opened from the outside. As the intruder entered the home, she warned him that she had a gun, but he did not heed the warning. The woman then fired twice, wounding the trespasser. The criminal will face burglary charges and police said that the homeowner did the right thing when faced with the potentially dangerous situation. (Fox13News.com, St. Petersburg, FL, 2/16/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/4/17/the-armed-citizen-april-17-2017/


Early one morning in March, a family in Fresno, Calif., noticed a man carrying a soda bottle and pouring liquid outside the perimeter of their home. The homeowner grabbed his firearm and went outside to investigate. When he confronted the intruder, the stranger attempted to set the homeowner on fire by tossing what turned out to be gasoline from the bottle onto the armed citizen and flicking a lighter at him. The resident fired a shot at the assailant, who grabbed a board as a weapon. The homeowner fired a second shot, after which the troublemaker dropped the board and acquiesced to the resident, who held the man at gunpoint until police arrived. The suspect was arrested and charged with attempted arson, assault with a deadly weapon and trespassing. Apparently, this was not the first time that the mischief-maker had allegedly damaged the home; two previous incidents in February were what prompted the citizen to buy a gun for protection. (Fresnobee.com, Fresno, CA, 3/1/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Late one evening, an armed man entered a Dairy Queen and began pointing a gun at employees. Before the would-be robber had a chance to do real harm, one of the employees, who had a concealed-carry permit, shot the intruder. The intruder then fled on foot and was located several hours later by police and taken to a hospital. (WKYC.com, Mayfield Heights, OH, 2/20/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/4/21/the-armed-citizen-april-21-2017/


In Indiana, a state conservation officer owes his life to an armed citizen. After receiving a call about a suspicious person, the officer approached a vehicle parked on the roadside. The vehicle’s owner began to resist and fight the officer as he tried to arrest the loiterer. Noticing the disturbance, a nearby resident came to the officer’s aid. She fired one shot, and hit the assailant in the torso. The officer, who suffered assault injuries, and the attacker were taken to the hospital, where the bad guy later died. The woman will not be charged. (The Enquirer, Rising Sun, IN, 2/22/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Early one morning, two men smashed the front window of a local doughnut shop, intending to burglarize it. Before they could do any further damage, an employee shot one of the men, killing him, while the other fled the scene. (Los Angeles Daily News, Lancaster, CA, 2/24/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/4/24/the-armed-citizen-april-24-2017/
 
Two people were sitting in a car in Venice, Ill., one morning after a Vietnam veteran had driven his friend home. Two thugs approached, one of whom pulled a gun in an attempted robbery. The veteran drew his own firearm and fired at both men, killing one. “Not only did he save himself, his friend and protect everyone around them, he may have saved another individual’s life if these people had continued to do this,” said Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons. (Belleville News-Democrat, Venice, IL, 2/4/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A man committed what police said was a violent home invasion when he used a pick axe to break through three doors of the home of a man who lives and works at his boat dealership. When the intruder gained entry through the third door, the owner, according to the police captain, “had no choice but to defend himself,” and fired two shots, killing the trespasser. (Fox10TV.com, Foley, AL, 3/1/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/5/1/the-armed-citizen-may-1-2017/


A lover’s spat could have turned lethal if not for the efforts of an armed citizen. The ex-boyfriend of an employee came into the 39-year-old’s workplace and began to harass the woman. The offender punched the woman several times before throwing her to the ground. A customer saw the commotion and helped. His intervention made the woman’s ex angry, and he attacked the armed citizen, trying to grab the man’s gun. The Good Samaritan fired twice at the suspect, who was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. (Holland Sentinel, Holland, MI, 2/24/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Late one night, three masked and armed teenagers broke through a back glass door of a home. The homeowner’s son, who was asleep in his room, heard the commotion and grabbed an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. Upon confronting the three intruders, he opened fire, killing all three. The homeowner’s son then barricaded himself in his room and called 9-1-1. A young woman, who dropped the three burglars off at the home, is being charged for three complaints of first-degree murder because the deaths of her accomplices occurred while she was in commission of a felony, one count of first-degree burglary and another for second-degree burglary. The homeowner’s son is not being charged. (Tulsa World, Wagoner, OK, 4/4/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/5/5/the-armed-citizen-may-5-2017/


A store manager got the drop on two alleged criminals in Dublin, Ga. While the manager was going to his vehicle to retrieve something, two men in their early 20s approached from behind. Brandishing a gun, one of the men demanded that the manager give over his valuables and made him sit in the car. The armed citizen played along before retrieving a revolver and firing three shots in their direction, hitting one while the other ran away. Both men were eventually caught and charged with armed robbery and aggravated assault. (The Courier Herald, Dublin, GA, 2/7/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A convenience store clerk turned the tables when an armed masked man barged into the 7-Eleven where she was working and demanded money. After the clerk gave the burglar an undisclosed amount of money, he then forced her outside of the store at gunpoint. Luckily, she had her own firearm and was able to retrieve it and fire it at her abductor, hitting him with multiple shots. The criminal was taken to a hospital and charged with armed robbery, abduction, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and wearing a mask in public. The store clerk was not harmed. (The Winchester Star, Winchester, VA, 1/27/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/5/8/the-armed-citizen-may-8-2017/


Sometimes, a warning is enough to deter a criminal attack. A taxi driver in Gates, N.Y., used that tactic to defend against an irate passenger. After picking up a female passenger, the driver took the woman to four different locations before realizing the individual would not be able to pay. The driver threatened to call 9-1-1 when he noticed she had a weapon in her hands. “She had the ice pick and was coming toward me, so I started backing up and she kept coming,” the driver told media. The woman attacked the car, damaging it, then came toward him. The driver warned her to stay away before drawing his concealed firearm. The woman paused and the driver hopped into his vehicle and drove away. The alleged assailant was later caught and charged by the police. (13WHAM.com, Gates, NY, 1/9/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
One criminal found out that attempting to steal a car near a gun store is not the brightest idea. Early one evening, two employees at a gun store noticed an unfamiliar man get into a vehicle they knew belonged to someone else. The employees confronted him and held him at gunpoint until police arrived. The man was taken into custody and booked for attempted vehicle theft. (The Daily Herald, Everett, WA, 4/4/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/5/12/the-armed-citizen-may-12-2017/


“I would do whatever it takes to protect my business, my family and my customers,” said one store owner who did just that against two armed men. The small-business owner was working one night when two men with bandanas over their faces entered the shop, flashing firearms and demanding money. The store owner, who had seen their approach on the security camera, responded by pulling out his own pistol. He refused to hand over his money and instead fired two shots in their direction, causing both intruders to flee. (Yakima Herald-Republic, Yakima, WA, 2/22/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A criminal was taken by surprise when he knocked on the door of a house late one night. When one of the resident’s answered, the robber pointed a gun at him and tried to force his way inside. Upon hearing the commotion, another individual in the house retrieved a gun and shot the intruder. The criminal was taken to a hospital and no charges were filed against the occupants of the house. (Northeast Times, Philadelphia, PA, 3/29/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/5/15/the-armed-citizen-may-15-2017/
 
Miami officials hope that footage from a home security camera will help identify a would-be burglar. The video shows a mother of two using a firearm to chase off the man who gained unlawful entry into her home. Shortly after he broke in, the intruder found himself staring down the barrel of a shotgun, which made him decide to run off. “He was running for his life and kept looking back, making sure I wasn’t going to shoot him in the back,” said the mother, who was home with her 10-year-old and toddler at the time of the home intrusion. The woman told local reporters that she didn’t want to shoot for a couple of reasons: one was that the threat had dissipated when he ran off; the other is that she didn’t want to traumatize her children more than they already had been. Police found the abandoned getaway car, and they passed the video to media outlets to help track down the suspect. (local10.com, Miami, FL, 3/21/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Early one morning, a group of young adults attempted to bust out a window of a pawn shop and rob the establishment. Two employees, who were sleeping in the building, woke up and one of them opened fire with a .45-cal. Glock handgun. The trespassers fled the scene, three of which received gunshot wounds. Police found the criminals a week later with one of the thugs pleading guilty to attempted second-degree burglary in return for an agreed upon sentence of 12 months with 11 months suspended. (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Fairbanks, AK, 3/21/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/5/19/the-armed-citizen-may-19-2017/


Imagine being jolted awake by the sound of a crash, then seeing a pick axe and a man with a black bandana over his face coming through your bedroom door. A Foley, Ala., man lived through that situation because he had a loaded gun within arm’s reach. After the stranger charged toward him while he was still in bed, the homeowner fired, killing the burglar. Two accomplices, who are charged with planning the crime, have since been arrested. (The Onlooker, Foley, AL, 3/8/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Early one morning an intruder holding a large metal flashlight walked into a couple’s unlocked apartment. One of the residents, an ex-Marine, picked up his SIG Sauer .40-cal. pistol, and warned the intruder to leave. The man complied but returned and broke the glass out of the front door. The female resident called 9-1-1 while her boyfriend shot the intruder, hitting him in the shoulder. The would-be burglar then smashed the windows of the residents’ car and returned to sit at the front door until police arrived. He was subsequently arrested and charged with burglary. The ex-Marine was not charged. (CentralMaine.com, Richmond, ME, 3/8/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/5/22/the-armed-citizen-may-22-2017/


Police in Tupelo, Miss., arrested a burglary suspect after a resident woke up during the attempted crime and held the miscreant at gunpoint. Officers said the intruder broke into the home in the middle of the night. After dogs in the home started barking and woke up their owners, one resident grabbed a gun and tracked down the bad guy and, aiming at the man, ordered the stranger to stay put while another called the police. (wtva.com, Tupelo, MS, 3/24/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A father and son came to the rescue of a man and woman being held at knifepoint in a parking lot of a shopping center. The couple had been standing and smoking cigarettes when a would-be robber walked up to them and produced a knife, eventually threatening to kill the woman. Fortunately, the man and his son were sitting in a vehicle nearby, observing the assault in progress, and went to help the couple. They displayed their handguns to the criminal and ordered him to drop the knife and get on the ground. The delinquent complied, and police arrived a short time later and charged him with aggravated robbery. (Tyler Morning Telegraph, Tyler, TX, 3/13/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/5/26/the-armed-citizen-may-26-2017/


Troublemakers in Houston probably thought they wouldn’t have a problem breaking into cars parked at a gun range after working hours. But two employees, who were staying at the range overnight because of recent burglaries in the area, had other ideas. After hearing the cars drive up around midnight, the employees grabbed a couple of guns and went outside to investigate. The armed workers saw several thugs scoping out cars and persuaded two of the suspects to give up and stand still. The others turned to flee, but once they got in their car one fired at the range employees, one of whom returned fire with an AR-15, striking one of the hooligans. (abc13.com, Houston, TX, 1/17/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A group of criminals thought advertising a dog for sale on social media was the perfect set-up for a robbery, until the tables turned. When the two prospective buyers arrived at the pet store to buy the dog, a man came out and led them around the building, where several more men were waiting for them. One of the victims, who had a licensed handgun, drew his pistol and pointed it at the robbers, who then fled the scene. (Tyler Morning Telegraph, Tyler, TX, 3/17/16)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/5/29/the-armed-citizen-may-29-2017/


While it’s not a situation you’d ever hope to be in, a recent case shows that being armed with a handgun can be enough to get the better of a troublemaker who is armed with an AK-47. A Jacksonville, Fla., resident heard gunshots and screaming one day and went outside with a handgun tucked inside his belt. The armed suspect was waving his rifle around and had tried to shoot a neighborhood dog that was near some people. As the stranger started walking toward the neighbors, the armed citizen shouted out that he wouldn’t abide violent crime in the neighborhood and told the hoodlum to leave. Instead, the outsider turned his rifle on the armed citizen, who fired his handgun, scaring off the bad guy. (news4jax.com, Jacksonville, FL, 3/20/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Early one morning, two hooded and armed thugs barged into an apartment by kicking in the front door. One of the residents, a Marine veteran, jumped up off the couch in his living room when he heard the loud noises. The intruders and the veteran began to scuffle, when another resident, the son of the veteran, heard the commotion and emerged from the bedroom with a handgun. He fired at the trespassers, killing one, who turned out to have a long history of criminal activity, and wounding the other. (The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt lake City, UT, 4/1/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/6/2/the-armed-citizen-june-2-2017/
 
A son saved his mother’s life after receiving a panicked phone call late one evening. In Sidney, Maine, a man knocked on an 84-year-old woman’s door, asking to use her phone. When she refused his request, the man started to bang on her front door. He climbed a snow bank and broke a bay window at the front of the house. It was then that the woman called her son, who grabbed his Ruger and drove over, unsure whether he would find his mother alive. Coming through the garage entrance, the armed citizen announced his presence, yelling, “I have a gun, get out of this house!” The intruder attacked the woman’s son, who shot the assailant in the chest and held him at gunpoint until the police arrived. The attacker was taken to the hospital and was to be arrested and charged after treatment. (Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME, 3/19/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
You never know when being friends with your neighbors might come in handy and that’s exactly what one lady found out when she was out of town and someone broke into her condo. Late one Saturday night, an elderly man heard the sound of breaking glass in his apartment complex and went to investigate. The man found a burglar breaking into one of the condos. When the burglar charged at the man, he fired one shot from his pistol and missed. Police nearby heard the gunshot and came to investigate. When they arrived, they found the neighbor holding the burglar at gunpoint. They immediately arrested the young thug on suspicion of committing burglary with assault or battery, and unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling. (South Florida Sun Sentinel, Deerfield Beach, FL, 3/14/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/6/5/the-armed-citizen-june-5-2017/


After a father and son saw a man pull a knife and threaten a woman during an attempted robbery, both drew their concealed handguns and put a quick end to the misdeed. The two armed citizens in Tyler, Texas, had been driving through a shopping center parking lot when they witnessed the trouble. With two guns aimed at him, the would-be robber gave up and got down on the ground. The armed citizens held him at gunpoint until the police arrived. (easttexasmatters.com, Tyler, TX, 3/12/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Sometimes people are not the only ones you need to watch out for because animals can be just as aggressive. A young man was riding his skateboard through a neighborhood one afternoon with his dog on a leash when another dog got out of a nearby yard and attacked the man's dog. The dog then turned to attack the young man who drew his concealed-carry pistol and fired a round, striking the animal and killing it. A police sergeant said the man was justified in using deadly force against the aggressive dog. (Waco Tribune-Herald, Waco, TX, 5/8/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/6/9/the-armed-citizen-june-9-2017/


Doing a good deed can help save a life and that’s exactly what one man did when he saw a fight occurring between two brothers. Early one evening, a Good Samaritan was returning home from work when he saw a fight between two brothers nearby. He immediately reported the incident to law enforcement. However, when he realized the severity of the fight and that one of the brothers had stabbed the other, he retrieved his handgun and held the assailant until police arrived. The armed brother was charged with first-degree battery. (KATV.com, Austin, AR, 4/6/17)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
June 1960
Sixteen-year-old John Rubel was with his grandmother in the living quarters over her Chicago tavern when they heard glass break in a window below. John raced downstairs, grabbed the cal. .32 revolver behind the bar, and pointed it at a man climbing in the window. “You’re too young to use that gun,” said the burglar, and John fired, the burglar tumbling out the window and fleeing the scene. Police soon arrested a suspect with a bullet wound in his shoulder. (Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, IL)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/6/12/the-armed-citizen-june-12-2017/


Early one morning, a family awoke to the sound of a trespasser banging on the back door of their home attempting to break in. The homeowner grabbed a shotgun and held the intruder at gunpoint while his wife called 9-1-1. The individual was charged with residential entry. (The Courier-Times, New Castle, IN, 5/9/17)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
June 1971
Daniel Booth, 61, manager of a motel in San Francisco, Calif., was working late in his locked office when a man approached, saying he had car trouble. When Booth came out to help, the man pulled a gun, forced Booth back inside, and pushed him to the floor. Booth grabbed a pistol and fired three times, wounding the holdup man. (The San Francisco Sunday Examiner & Chronicle, San Francisco, CA)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/6/16/the-armed-citizen-june-16-2017/


A man was standing outside his vehicle one morning when two men, one armed with a handgun, approached him demanding his keys. The victim, who had a valid concealed-carry license, pulled out his gun and fired, striking one of the criminals. The wounded robber was taken to a hospital while the other managed to run away, but was later apprehended by police. (Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago, IL, 5/10/17)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
June 1985
Rev. James Teamer of Charlotte, N.C., and his wife, awakened by a disturbance, discovered the lights were not working. After arming himself with a pistol, the 77-year-old Teamer confronted four intruders entering through a rip in the porch screen. Teamer told them to leave, but one advanced and the elderly cleric shot and wounded him. The intruders fled, but were arrested later. (The News and Observer, Raleigh, NC)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/6/19/the-armed-citizen-june-19-2017/
 
Justifiable self-defense. That’s how Oklahoma officials have described a triple shooting by a 22-year-old who used an AR-15-style rifle to kill three intruders who broke into his home. The young man was asleep when three strangers, all clad in black, broke into the house. After being awakened by noises made during the break-in, the resident grabbed his semi-automatic rifle. Seeing the intruders, whose faces were covered with masks, the armed citizen fired, killing two suspects on the spot; the third ran away, but died in the driveway. After the young man shot the home invaders, he barricaded himself in his room and called 9-1-1. When the police arrived, they discovered that one of the troublemakers was armed with a knife, while a second had a pair of brass knuckles. A weeklong investigation led officials to determine that the shooter apparently was in fear for his life when he shot, thus he was protected under Oklahoma’s “Stand Your Ground” law. A woman has since been arrested and charged in connection with planning the burglary. (Tulsa World, Tulsa, OK, 4/4/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Early one Sunday morning, a masked and armed criminal attempted to crawl through a bedroom window of a house only to find the homeowner armed as well. The homeowner shot the intruder, who then fled on foot. Shortly after, police found the trespasser and took him to the hospital, where he passed away. Authorities stated that the homeowner appears to have acted within the law. (Courier Press, Evansville, IN, 5/21/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/6/23/the-armed-citizen-june-23-2017/


Burglars might not be the brightest people in the world, but one in Alabama was smart enough to recognize the sound of a gun being cocked, after which he knew enough to give up and let the homeowner hold him at gunpoint until the police arrived. The family had been sleeping when the sound of breaking glass woke up the parents. While the mother called 9-1-1, the father grabbed a handgun and went into the living room, where he saw someone hiding behind the sofa. The armed citizen cocked his gun, and the intruder raised his hands and asked the man not to shoot. (al.com, Montgomery, AL, 3/28/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Late one Friday night, a couple was at home when a trespasser tried to enter their home through a broken window. The husband shot the intruder in the arm, while the wife called the police. When police arrived, they searched and found the burglar and an accomplice. Both were arrested on multiple accounts related the the home invasion. (The Union, Downieville, CA, 4/23/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/6/26/the-armed-citizen-june-26-2017/


Sometimes a bad guy who doesn’t heed a warning pays the price. That was the case in Pittsburgh when a man, who was armed with a crowbar, broke into a home. The resident confronted the intruder, told him to lie face down on the ground and said that police were on their way. Rather than complying, the interloper raised the crowbar and charged the armed citizen, who—after a brief scuffle—fired his gun and shot the assailant in the leg. (WPXI, Pittsburgh, PA, 4/4/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Early one evening, a family of four was at home when a young woman, posing as an official from the homeowners association, knocked on the door and asked the female resident some generic questions. The woman waved to a male accomplice in the car, who then approached the home. When the female resident noticed the approaching man, who was masked and armed, she immediately locked the door and screamed for her husband. The male intruder ignored her and proceeded to kick in the front door, but upon gaining entry was shot and killed by the husband. The female accomplice was found shortly after and arrested on charges of first-degree burglary and criminal conspiracy. The homeowner was not charged. (The Post and Courier, Charleston, SC, 3/15/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/6/30/the-armed-citizen-june-30-2017/


A gang of would-be invaders learned a lesson the hard way after surprising a 22-year-old male in his Jacksonville, N.C., apartment. While the resident was getting ready to head out to dinner one night, he heard a knock on his apartment door. His mother and a friend were in the home with him, and he wasn’t expecting any visitors. He went to the door and, looking through the peephole, saw an individual dressed in a hoodie. Since he didn’t recognize the person, he grabbed his Glock 30 before opening the door. At first, he saw no one, but as he turned his head to look down the stairs, he was kicked in the face by the stranger, who then tried to force his way into the apartment. The armed citizen fired five shots at the attacker, striking him several times. The thug later died. The apartment dweller noticed several others fleeing after he shot the man in the hooded sweatshirt. Four suspects were subsequently arrested and charged as co-conspirators. Onslow County officials said the armed citizen will not be charged because he was acting in self-defense. (jdnews.com, Jacksonville, NC, 4/27/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
A family was at home one afternoon when a group of teenagers broke into the residence by way of an upstairs balcony. While the wife protected the children, the husband grabbed a gun and confronted the intruders, holding them at gunpoint. Two of the intruders ran but were eventually caught. A neighbor called the police and all five were arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary. (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Chino Hills, CA, 5/2/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/7/3/the-armed-citizen-july-3-2017/


More than cigarettes can kill you, as one attempted robber found out. A convenience store clerk stepped out of her shop at 3:50 a.m. one morning in St. Louis to take a smoke break. As she was standing behind the building, an armed man approached and attempted to rob her. The worker—who carried for defensive purposes, especially if she worked the overnight shift—pulled a gun and fired three shots, killing the stranger who accosted her. The employee was shot twice in the leg during the confrontation, and she was taken to a hospital, where she was treated. (stltoday.com, St. Louis, MO, 4/25/17)

The Armed Citizen® Extra
Early one evening, three robbers entered a Quiznos restaurant, locked the doors behind them and produced two handguns. While one of the robbers was attempting to get money from the register, the other two tried to get into the back room. Meanwhile, one of the employees had barricaded herself behind the door in the back room. She then began to fire her own gun around the edge of the door at the robbers. A round hit one of the criminals while the other two fled. (The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, UT, 6/21/17)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/7/7/the-armed-citizen-july-7-2017/


A Good Samaritan saved the day by pulling a gun on a would-be robber near Memphis, Tenn. A parking attendant had tried to do a good deed by walking a woman to her car. As they neared her vehicle, an armed assailant attacked the attendant and pushed him to the ground. As the bad guy began to rummage through the attendant’s pockets, an armed citizen saw what was happening. The passerby pulled his gun and told the assailant to freeze. The hooligan said he was unarmed, then jumped into a waiting van to flee. The attendant suffered minor injuries but was said to be fine. (fox13memphis.com, Memphis, TN, 4/21/17)

From the Armed Citizen® Archives
July 1962
A man entered a liquor store in Los Angeles, ran behind the counter waving a 20” butcher knife and demanded that the clerk, Nathan Dorman, give him money. Dorman reached under the counter for a .45 and fired six shots at point-blank range, killing his assailant. (Los Angeles Examiner, Los Angeles, CA)
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/7/10/the-armed-citizen-july-10-2017/
 
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