The Armed Citizen May 2008

I
t was a terrifying night that refused to end. Edith and William Stevens, both in their 80s, had already scared away an intruder. According to the sheriff's department, deputies completed an investigation and left, but two hours later the couple heard gunshots outside their home and glass breaking. William got his handgun and investigated. Finding an intruder in the hallway, he opened fire and the intruder returned it. "Had Mr. Stevens not had that handgun, I don't know what could have happened," said Maury County, Tenn., Chief Deputy Ashley Brown. The couple locked themselves in the bedroom and tried to phone police, but the lines were cut. The intruder, who police believe was after money for drugs, fired once more through a window. After discovering the intruder had fled, the couple phoned police from a neighbors house. (The Daily Herald, Columbia, Tenn., 02/10/08)
SUDDENLY AWAKENED BY the sound of someone rapping on a window, Matthew Kovschak called 9-1-1 and grabbed his .357 caliber handgun. According to police, Kovschak warned the prowler that he had a gun and police were on the way. The noise stopped, but only momentarily. Kovschak heard a commotion and then he saw a hand reaching through a broken window pane trying to unlock the back door. After one more warning, Kovschak fired four shots, twice striking the female intruder. Police believe a second suspect fled the scene. (The Ledger, Lakeland, Fla., 01/22/08)
WHEN ERIC MACFARLANE saw three teenagers kick in his neighbors door, he got his pistol and told a neighbor to call police. Fearing his neighbors small children were endangered, he ran to the scene. Police say two of the teens immediately fled, but MacFarlane found one in the doorway. "I told him to step back and lay down if he wanted to live," MacFarlane recalls. "Then I talked to him about what direction his life was going in." The teen said he broke in for money. MacFarlane told him he's lucky the decision didn't get him shot. "I just hope this young man has learned a lesson," MacFarlane explained, adding that he doesn't believe in violence. "[MacFarlane] did a really great job," said Midwest City, Okla., police Capt. Sid Porter. "We're probably going to issue him a commendation." (The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Okla., 02/21/08)
UPON WITNESSING A man yelling at a woman and pushing her into a van, a passerby tried to be a Good Samaritan. Police say he asked the woman if she was okay and told her she didn't have to get into the man's vehicle. While stopped at a traffic light moments later, the van's driver confronted the man. Both men exited their vehicles, and the van's driver knocked the Good Samaritan to the ground. Two women, including the woman the victim tried to help, exited the van and began stomping on him. A passing motorist witnessed the scene and quickly stopped. He drew a firearm and ordered the three suspects to halt the beating. Police received reports of a man holding people at gunpoint, but quickly determined he had a concealed carry permit and arrested the three suspects. (Ann Arbor News, Ann Arbor, Mich., 02/14/08)
ELWOOD PICKETT JUST wanted to be a good neighbor, so when two young men asked to use the phone, he handed it out the door. Then he grew suspicious. "They used the phone and left, but when they came back the second time, I was ready for them in case there was trouble," the 80-year-old Pickett explained. He handed the phone out a second time, but he says one of the men "pushed through like an elephant and pounded me with a knife. He ... stabbed me half to death, and I thought it was time." But it wasn't. Police say Pickett, a World War II vet and lifelong hunter, drew his .38 caliber pistol and fired three shots, striking one of the men and causing both to flee. One suspect went to the hospital; the other to jail. Pickett was badly injured but is recuperating. (Hood County News, Granbury, Tex., 02/13/08)

If you have had a firsthand "Armed Citizen" experience, call ILA/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 are condensed from individual newspaper clippings sent to "Vie Armed Citizen," 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400.
24 AMERICA'S 1" FREEDOM | May 2008

The Armed Citizen December 2009

DRESSED IN BLACK hooded jackets and black masks, two men entered a Columbus, Ga., area home around 2 a.m. through a lower-level door. Upon hearing noises, the 47-year-old resident (who has been burglarized twice before) went to investigate. When he saw the burglars, the resident called out and the intruders reacted by charging toward him. The resident pulled a .357 Mag. pistol and fired at the men, possibly injuring one before they fled the home via a sliding-glass door. When police arrived, they were able to follow a trail of blood off the property, but the trail was lost in some nearby woods. No arrests were made. (The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, Ga., 09/10/09)
"I DIDN'T KNOW who they were, and they kept asking, 'Where's the money?'" Bradley Fugate recalls of a frightening home invasion incident. Police say the armed suspects burst into the home shortly after Fugate opened the front and back doors to let some cool air inside. One of the men pushed Fugate's niece onto a bed and began rummaging through a safe. "That was enough for me and it allowed me to get my gun from where I keep it. ... I raised up and fired," Fugate said. The shot missed and the struggle led to the kitchen. "He turned around and raised his gun up at me. That's when I shot him," Fugate explained. The suspect was killed. His accomplice fled, later committing suicide during a standoff with police. "I ain't no hero, and I'm broken up about it," Fugate said. "I did what I had to do." (Dayton Daily News, Dayton, Ohio, 09/02/09)
ROCKING HER BABY to sleep one night, a Traverse City, Mich., woman heard her kitchen door open and saw a strange man enter her home. "She's just sitting there in the dead of night... and this guy comes in and scares the crap out of her," Traverse City Police Capt. Steve Morgan said. The woman ran into her bedroom and alerted her husband who retrieved a handgun and confronted the suspect, Aaron TwoCrow of Suttons Bay, Mich. On seeing the gun, TwoCrow ran from the house and was later arrested. Police say he appeared to be intoxicated, but gave no indication as to why he had entered the home. He was charged with misdemeanor illegal entry. (Traverse City Record Eagle, Traverse City, Mich., 09/22/09)
POLICE SAY A club-wielding intruder entered a home's unlocked front door while the residents were inside. He snuck down a hallway, entered a bedroom and began stealing a coin collection. The homeowner heard the ruckus and accosted the intruder, who merely shouted threats and continued taking the coins. The homeowner left the room and returned with a handgun, firing a shot at the intruder. The suspect fled the property, scattering coins as he ran. He was being sought by police. (The Island Packet, Hilton Head, s.c, 09/23/09)
WHEN A GROCERY store manager saw a woman walking away with a stolen bag of meat products, she yelled for the woman to stop. According to police, the brazen shoplifter got into her car. As the manager was writing down the license plate, the shoplifter sped toward her, striking the manager and causing her to fall onto the hood. She held on for dear life as the car sped toward an exit. A bystander saw what was occurring, so he blocked the exit with his vehicle and demanded the shoplifter get out of her car. With the manager still holding on to the hood, the shoplifter tried to maneuver around the vehicle. The bystander, a concealed-carry permit holder, drew his 9mm pistol and yelled at the shoplifter to stop. She again refused. Fearing for the manager's life, he fired a shot through the driver's side window, striking the suspect as she sped off. The car travelled about 200 feet before the wounded driver slowed down. The manager got off the hood unharmed. Police arrested the shoplifter at the hospital. (Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Mo., 09/03/09)
EARLY ONE MORNING, a pregnant woman had no idea she would be targeted by a young adult in the midst of a burglary spree. Police say the suspect had already burglarized several cars and homes when he entered the woman's residence in the early morning hours. She awoke and confronted him with a shotgun, prompting him to draw a handgun. Rather than firing a shot, the pregnant woman explained to the intruder that her gun was larger. He put his gun away and waited for police. (Press-Register, Mobile, Ala., 09/11/09)

If you have had a firsthand "Armed Citizen" experience, call ILA/PR Communications at (703) 267-1193. Studies indicate that fireanns are used over 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. Send clippings via email to artnedcitizen@nrahq.org, or by mail to "Vie Armed Citizen," 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400.
24 AMERICA'S 1" FREEDOM | December 2009

The Armed Citizen October 2009

NRA MEMBER LYNN Bonds Fourth of July holiday did not go as planned. He was expecting a visitor, so he thought nothing of it when he heard someone arrive at his home. As he entered the garage, however, he discovered that a man wearing only boxer shorts was ransacking the place. "I asked him who he was and what the [expletive] he was doing there," Bond wrote in an e-mail to the "Armed Citizen" editor. According to police, Bond ordered the intruder to leave, but he refused. Bond retrieved his 45-cal. semi-automatic handgun and suddenly the suspect found Bond's demands much more persuasive. Police nabbed the suspect nearby and found drugs on him. A .22-cal. rifle belonging to the intruder was later discovered at the scene. (The Coldwater Daily Reporter, Coldwater, Mich., 07/07/09)
POLICE SAY AN 18-year-old carjacker approached August Peters, 74, as he exited his vehicle. "Give me your car or I'll kill you," the carjacker said, putting a knife to Peters' throat. Luckily for Peters, he had an item that made him the physical equal of his youthful adversary—a firearm. Peters grabbed his pistol from inside the car and fired, striking the carjacker at least once. The suspect fled through a nearby home, struggling to run in his baggy pants, which fell off in the kitchen as he ran for the back door. Police caught up with the pantless suspect nearby. (Houston Chronicle, Houston, Texas, 07/23/09)
Two MEN TRYING to enter Cassidy Lockett's home had to be aware it was occupied. They'd likely seen Lockett in the front window as they arrived, and there was a lot of noise as she hurried her three young, frightened children into a bedroom. With the children secure, she phoned police and loaded her .22-cal. semi-automatic pistol. Police say the men, escapees from a nearby state prison, thrust a window open. One of the men leaned inside. "I was pointing the gun at him and, you know, I used a few choice words and told him to get out or I was going to shoot," Lockett said. The men fled the property, only to be caught
The next day Lockett's husband helped her pick out a new home defense firearm. "I'm definitely more prepared," she said. "We bought a 12-ga. shotgun."
within minutes by police. The next day Lockett's husband helped her pick out a new home defense firearm. "I'm definitely more prepared," she said. "We bought a 12-ga. shotgun." (Lewiston Tribune, Lewiston, Idaho, 07/27/09)
A MAN DRESSED like a ninja—with a black shirt, black pants and a blue bandana over his face—allegedly forced his way into Bradley Harvell's home. Police say the man demanded money and shocked Harvell with a stun gun several times, causing him to collapse on his bed. All Harvell could think about was survival. "I'm 82 years old," said the military veteran. "I've made it this far, and I want to keep on living." Harvell gathered all the strength he could muster, retrieved his .357 S&W magnum revolver from under the bed and shot his assailant, killing him. Police arrested three others in connection with the home invasion. (Tallahassee Democrat, Tallahassee, FL, 07/21/09)
MARGARET PARRISH HEARD her puppies barking, so she went to check on them. "As soon as she cracked the door [an intruder] grabbed her by the hair, put the gun in her ear and said, 'If you make a sound I'll blow your brains out,"' said John Parrish, her 83-year-old husband. The intruder bound Margaret's arms and legs witii duct tape. John tried to help her but met the same fate. The intruder left to ransack the home, giving John time to wriggle free. "I had to get my gun," he recalls. Meanwhile the intruder tied up another man, Danny Carlson, and a 10-year-old girl who were also in the home. He had just finished tying up Carlson when Parrish arrived on the scene with his .22-cal. revolver. Parrish fired several shots and believes he hit the intruder, who fled. Carlsons leg was injured when the intruder returned fire, but he would be okay. "I don't know what that guy would ve done if [Parrish] had not come up here," Carlson said. (The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Atlanta, Ga., 07/16/09)
IT'S BEEN A while since Everett Skinner has been hunting, but he's always kept a shotgun handy to protect his family. "In this case, I'm glad I did," he said, recalling a recent incident in which a bear tore through a screen and climbed inside his Oregon home. His daughter, Nicole, was the first to hear the bear, and she rushed to her parents' room for help. Her father grabbed his shotgun. Skinner says he and the bear saw one another simultaneously. The bear stood up and headed toward Skinner, so he fired. "It didn't even faze him," Skinner recalls. He fired three more rounds, dispatching the bear. "We were very blessed that this didn't go badly;' Nicole said. (Associated Press, 07/29/09)

If you have had a firsthand "Armed Citizen" experience, call ILA/PR Communications at (703) 267-1193. Studies indicate that firearms are used over 2 million times a year for personal protection, and that the presence of a firearm, without a shot beingfired, 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. Send clippings via email to armedcitizen@nrahq.org, or by mail to "Tlic Armed Citizen" 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400.
12 AMERICA'S 1" FREEDOM | October 2009

The Armed Citizen September 2009

NRA MEMBER VERNON Allen was watching television when an unknown male darted into his apartment. According to police, it was the third residence the suspect had unlawfully entered that evening. Allen asked the suspect, who mumbled unintelligibly, if he needed help. The suspect responded by raising his fist in a threatening manner. Allen retreated to the bedroom, got his 12-gauge shotgun and told the intruder to get out. But the suspect ignored him, instead advancing and trying to grab the shotguns barrel. "When he grabbed the barrel of that shotgun," Allen recalls, "I had to make a choice so I pulled the trigger on him." The suspect was killed. (Morris Sun Tribune, Morris, Minn., 06/21/09)
GAYLORD COX, AN 82-year-old church minister, was sleeping when a young man knocked on his bedroom window. The juvenile, who unbeknownst to Cox had recently escaped from a detention center, said he needed to use the phone because his car had broken down. Cox said he would meet him at the front door. As a precaution, Cox placed a .38-cal. revolver in his pocket before letting the juvenile inside. Police say the suspect used the phone, then immediately turned and sucker-punched the older, weaker Cox in the face, knocking him to the floor. Cox sat up, drew his pistol and fired one shot, causing his assailant to flee. The youth was apprehended nearby. (Morning Journal, Lisbon, Ohio, 06/16/09)
HEARING FOOTSTEPS, A 50-year-old woman assumed her mother had returned home from work. When she

called out but received no answer, she investigated. The footsteps belonged not to her mother, but a convicted felon wielding a knife and a gun. He threatened the woman, who attempted to appease him with cash and liquor, but his threats only grew more violent. After 30 horrible minutes, the woman's mother, 77-year-old Doris Gatchell, returned home. She proved to be a woman of action. "When someone
After 30 horrible minutes, the woman's mother, 77-year-old Doris Gatchell, returned home. She proved to be a woman of action.
comes into your house and threatens you, you don't have to tolerate that," Gatchell said. "I have taken a course in gun safety. I knew what to do." Police say Gatchell got her gun and ordered the suspect to leave the house. He promptly ran out the front door. "... It is a good thing to take a gun safety course and I recommend it for everyone, particularly women in this day and age," Gatchell added. (Calais Advertiser, Calais, Maine, 06/18/09)
ABOUT A YEAR ago, Elliott Firby and his wife grew concerned about increasing crime, so they purchased their first firearms and obtained concealed-carry permits. "You have to do something to protect yourself?' Firby said. "The police can't be there all the time." Firby began carrying his .380-cal. handgun regularly. He was glad he carried it one evening when a man leapt from a truck and accosted him. Police say the suspect pointed a shotgun at Firby, but chose polite words to announce the armed robbery. "Give it up, sir," he said. Firby slowly went to his knees, pretending to comply, before drawing his handgun in a fast, smooth motion and firing two shots. The suspect and his accomplice were arrested at the hospital when he sought treatment for a gunshot wound. (Herald-Tribune, Sarasota, Fla., 06/12/09)
POLICE SAY A 17-year-old approached Michael Dawes and asked for a dollar. Dawes said he didn't have any money, so the teen moved along. Not long after, a man approached Dawes and asked for marijuana. Dawes said he didn't have any and told the man to shove off. At that point, the teen returned to the scene and the two suspects began assaulting Dawes. A concealed-carry permit holder, Dawes drew a handgun and opened fire. The suspects fled the scene but were arrested shortly thereafter. (The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa., 06/28/09)
"WHAT WAS HE going to do?" Harold Chick asked regarding a home invader. "I don't know if he had a weapon." Chick can ponder those questions now, but it's fortunate he did not have to discover their answers on the night of the crime. Chick, who had been watching television with his wife and daughter, had just fallen asleep when he heard his television automatically shut off. When Chick opened his eyes, he was alarmed to find a man standing over him. "He was standing there at the foot of the bed, and I was wondering, 'Who the hell is standing there?"' Chick said. According to police, Chick grabbed his shotgun, which he'd kept nearby, and the intruder fled the home. (Ocala Star-Banner, Ocala, Fla., 06/05/09)

If you have had a firsthand "Armed Citizen" experience, call ILA/PR Communications at (70s) 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 are condensed from individual newspaper clippings sent to "The Armed Citizen," 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400.
22 AMERICA'S 1" FREEDOM | September 2009

The Armed Citizen June 2009

Suspected burglar stealthily approached a home in an area neighbors claim is suffering from increasing crime. Police say the burglar began removing a window screen, but was seen by the homeowner, NRA Life member Charles Jemeyson, who quickly got his pistol. "If I had not had my [gun] handy, he would have come into my home," Jemeyson wrote in an e-mail to the NRA. "I fired one round ... and he went down. He jumped up and jumped a six-foot fence." Police found the suspect at a hospital suffering from a gunshot wound, (KSAT 12 News, San Antonio, Texas, 03/16/09)
SARAH NAHMENS AND her mother often discuss personal safety and keep a .32-caliber revolver in their home. "We've always talked about defending yourself and how important that is," Nahmens said. Police say her planning paid off when two men began forcing her door open. Nahmens quickly retrieved her gun and pointed it at the door as it flew open. "It kind of kicked in and I thought, 'OK, I've got to make sure that I'm safe'... It was either going to be me or them and it couldn't be me," she explained. Nahmens fired two shots and the uninjured suspects fled. "I commend her for protecting herself?' said police Capt. Patrick Whitney. Nahmens said the incident has raised awareness in her normally quiet neighborhood. Several women have expressed interest in a "girls' day" at the shooting range to practice and learn more about firearms. (Clovis News Journal, Clovis, N.M., 02/06/09)
WHEN A MAN armed with a gun allegedly kicked in Derrick Murray's back door and shouted that he was a police officer, Murray wasn't buying it for a second. "[The suspect and his accomplices outside] were talking in street slang," Murray explained. Police say Murray quickly retrieved a semi-automatic rifle and shot the intruder, causing him to flee. But the story doesn't stop there. The intruder ran outside, where he was run over by his own getaway car. The panicked driver then backed up, running over him a second time. The suspect will face charges pending his release from the hospital. His two accomplices are being sought, (WFIE 14 News, Evansville, Ind., 03/16/09)
IOHN ANTONETZ AND his wife, Lydia Pace-Antonetz, were loading groceries into their vehicle in a Wal-Mart parking lot when, police say, a man wearing a disguise announced a robbery. The couple tried to run from the robber, but he struck Pace-Antonetz, grabbed her purse and pointed a gun at the couple. That's when Antonetz, a 63-year-old dentist with a concealed-carry permit, retrieved his .357-caliber

revolver from the vehicle. As the suspect continued threatening his wife, Antonetz rounded the vehicle and fired several shots. The suspect, who was on parole for a burglary conviction, was arrested by the police when he sought treatment for a gunshot wound at a local hospital. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Lowell, Ark., 03/25/09)
COINCIDENTALLY, ANOTHER ACT by
armed citizenry took place in a Wal-Mart parking lot in March. In that incident, police say 28-year-old Joshua Eastman was loading groceries into his vehicle when a teenage thug pointed a gun at him and demanded cash. The quick-thinking Eastman opened the door to his vehicle to form a barrier between himself and the suspect. The clever act may have saved his life. The suspect fired a shot through the door's window, which narrowly missed Eastman but propelled glass shards into his face. Eastman, a concealed-carry permit holder, drew his .32-caliber handgun, dropped below the door and shot his assailant three times. The suspect fled, but police located him nearby. (Die Pocono Record, Stroudsburg, Penn., 03/20/09)
POLICE SAY A robber wearing a ski mask decided to target a busy Burger King restaurant just before the dinner hour. The robber demanded money and flashed a gun wildly, endangering the lives of the many patrons and employees around him. One customer, John Landers, had seen enough. Landers told the 18-year-old robber to lower his gun and stop pointing it at people. The robber responded by shooting Landers several times. It was a mistake he'd quickly regret. Landers, a concealed-carry permit holder, drew his handgun and shot the robber, killing him. At press time, Landers was in the hospital recovering from injuries. Police say his actions may have saved a number of lives. (The Miami Herald, Miami, Fla., 03/25/09)

If you have had a firsthand "Armed Citizen" experience, call ILA/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 are condensed from individual newspaper clippings sent to "Tlic Armed Citizen',' 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400.
24 AMERICA'S I" FREEDOM June 2009

The Armed Citizen May 2009

Police believe an armed intruder may have used a sliding glass door to enter the home of Heath Miller, a popular middle school music teacher. Millers dogs began barking, waking Miller and his wife. Miller retrieved his .38-caliber pistol and readied himself as the masked intruder approached the bedroom door. It is unclear who fired the first shot. When the exchange of gunfire ended, the intruder lay dead. The Millers were not injured. (Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, Fla., 02/16/09)
RICHARD CREED HAD just finished helping a customer at his insurance agency when two men burst in wearing masks and carrying pistols. Police say the intruders forced Creed to an office in the rear of the store, which, unbeknownst to them, was where he stored a revolver. Creed kept his cool as they neared his gun. "It was none of the flashy lights," he explained. "It was, 'If you're gonna live, this is what you gotta do,' and you think about it real fast. It was pretty clear-headed." Creed grabbed his revolver and shot one of the men several times, causing both assailants to run. Police apprehended the suspects and discovered that their pistols were realistic toys. (The Saginaw News, Saginaw, Mich., 01/23/09)
ACCORDING TO ponce, a homeowner pulled into his driveway and watched in astonishment as a burglar carried items out of his back door. He confronted the burglar, who drew a knife and sliced the homeowner's arm. During the ensuing wrestling match, the homeowner tossed the burglar into the pool for a February swim. He retrieved a rifle before the burglar could exit the water and ordered him to stand in the middle of the pool until police arrived. (The State, Columbia, s.c, 02/21/09)
THE RESIDENTS OF an apartment complex say their typically safe neighborhood had fallen victim to a rash of break-ins. Crime reached its zenith when someone broke into an apartment occupied by a woman and her children. The woman retreated to her bedroom with the children, locked the door and armed herself with a handgun. According to police, when the suspect approached the bedroom door, the woman fired a single shot. The suspect was found outside the complex suffering from a gunshot wound. He was placed under armed guard at the hospital. (Tyler Morning Telegraph, Tyler, Texas, 02/03/09)
TURKEY FARMER BRYAN Tew was driving his tractor down the road for refueling when he noticed a strange car, its trunk open, parked in his garage. Parking his tractor in front of the car, he reached into his pickup for a .22-caliber rifle. Police

say that's when a man kicked open Tews back door and stepped outside with his arms full of electronics and money. "You ever see those cartoons where their eyes get as big as saucers? That's what he looked like," Tew said. "I yelled at him and when he saw that gun, he sat the stuff down ... and ran back into the house." The suspect slipped on the linoleum inside the home and Tew held him at gunpoint for police. "A friend of mine said your body only produces a teaspoon of adrenaline in a lifetime," Tew said. "Well, I think I used my whole teaspoon." Police are investigating the suspect's involvement in several other break-ins. (The Daily Record, Dunn,
N.C., 02/13/09)
WHILE WAITING FOR her school bus, a 9-year-old girl was attacked by a rabid coyote. The coyote bit her legs and badly injured her toe before 16-year-old David Miller and his grandfather could respond with a .22-caliber pistol. Miller bravely kicked the coyote, allowing the girl to run away, then he pinned the animal to the ground so his grandfather could shoot it behind the shoulder. The wounded coyote slipped Miller's grasp, charged the grandfather and bit down on the barrel of the pistol. Millers grandfather fired a volley of shots, killing the coyote. Miller has been honored with letters of recognition for his bravery from the governor of South Carolina and the state House of Representatives. (The Herald-Journal, Spartanburg, s.c, 02/14/09)
AUTHORITIES SAY THREE men with little regard for stealth broke into the home of John Easby-Smith. Hearing a ruckus downstairs, Easby-Smith grabbed his .45-caliber handgun from a bedside table and went to investigate. Encountering the burglars, he fired several shots, hitting one of the men and causing the trio to flee the home. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Ark., 01/23/09)

If you have a firsthand "Armed Citizen" experience, call NRA-ILA PR/Communications at (703) 267-1193. Studies indicate that firearms are used over 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. Send clippings to: "The Armed Citizen," 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400.
24 AMERICA'S 1" FREEDOM | May 2009

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