The Armed Citizen August 2009

Armed Citizen
driana Sauceda was touching up her makeup before work when she glanced in her car's sideview mirror and caught a man staring at her. As the man approached, the terrified Sauceda scrambled to lock the doors and raise the windows. But it was too late. Police say the man opened the drivers side door and pointed a gun at Sauceda, shouting, "Get the [expletive] out!" Instead, Sauceda punched him in the face and drew her gun from the glove box. The would-be carjacker screamed and fled to a getaway car. Sauceda had purchased a firearm and obtained a concealed-carry permit after she was robbed previously. (St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, Fla., 05/15/09)
TEN COLLEGE STUDENTS were enjoying a birthday party at an off-campus apartment when two armed men burst through the door. Police say the intruders separated the men from the women and demanded their cell phones and money. That's when one of the male students took action, drawing his gun from a backpack and shooting at the suspect guarding the men. That suspect fled the apartment. The student then hurried to the women, where he found the second suspect about to commit a rape. He yelled for the girls to get down and fired several shots at the suspect, who jumped out the window and died nearby. "Apparently, [the dead suspect's] intent was to rape and murder us all," said student Charles Bailey, "I think all of us are really cognizant of the fact that we could have all been killed." (WSB-TV, Atlanta, Ga., 05/04/09)
FOUR ACCUSED SHOPLIFTERS were fleeing a grocery store when a shopper got in their way. Police say they'd stolen groceries worth less than $50, but were apparently willing to kill for it. The driver pointed the thieves' truck directly at the shopper and floored the gas pedal. Fortunately the shopper, who has a concealed-carry permit, drew a handgun, shot out the truck's front tire and leapt from its oncoming path. Another shopper called 9-1-1 to report "an undercover officer shooting at someone who tried to run him down." The "officer" was determined to be the armed shopper, who proceeded to follow the vehicle until the flat tire disabled it. Thanks to his help all four men were arrested. (Azle News, Azle, Texas, 05/07/09)
A NEIGHBORHOOD IN Detroit's east side has seen a rash of break-ins and, according to a 38-year-old professional who lives there, the residents have decided to do something about it. "I can bet you everyone on this block has a [firearm], and they're going to defend themselves" she said. The woman's assertion comes after the neighborhood's most recent break-in, in which police say a resident caught

the burglar in the act. As the suspect climbed through the window, the resident fired two shots. The suspect collapsed outside and died. The incident happened across the street from the 38-year-old's home. "[It's] not good that he's dead, but good that it sends a message," she said. (Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Mich., 05/05/09)
IT WAS THE middle of the night, but a homeowner was awake in his living room after working the third shift. And so he was ready, rather than sleeping, when he heard a man force his way into the home. Police say the homeowner investigated a strange noise and found the suspect standing by the front door. He aimed his .22-cal. revolver at the intruder and yelled at him to leave. The intruder charged the homeowner, forcing him to shoot. At the shot's report, the intruder fled the home. Police alerted area hospitals to be on the lookout for a man seeking treatment for a gunshot wound. (The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 05/09/09)
POLICE SAY BRYAN Derocher saw two suspicious men prowling around his property, so he called his brother, Chris, who lives on the property in a separate dwelling. Chris hurried home to find his garage window damaged and motion-sensor light on. Bryan, armed with a handgun, joined Chris to investigate. When they opened the garage door, they discovered the two prowlers inside. One man aimed what appeared to be a gun (later identified as a BB gun) at the Derochers. Bryan fired two shots, killing the gunman. The other prowler threw his hands into the air and waited for police. His dead accomplice had previous arrests for armed robbery, burglary, illegal carrying of a firearm and other serious charges. Police were investigating about 15 recent burglaries—an unusual number for the area—and suspect the prowlers' involvement. (Daily Comet, Thibodaux, La., 05/07/09)

If you have had a firsthand "Armed Citizen" experience, call U.A/PR Communications at (703) 267-1193. Studies indicate that firearms are used more than 2 million times a year for personal protection, and that the presence, of a firearm, without a shot being fired, prevents crime in many instances. Shooting usually can be justified only where crime constitutes an immediate, imminent threat to life, limb or, in some cases, property. Anyone is free to quote or reproduce these accounts, which arc condensed from newspaper clippings sent via e-mail to armedcitizen@nrahq.org, or by mail to "Vie Armed Citizen," 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400.

20 AMERICA'S 1" FREEDOM

August 2009