The Armed Citizen® Reload April 24, 2026

Take the TV, take the jewelry, take the cash—but abscond with the four-legged family member and all bets are off.

by posted on April 24, 2026
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NRA Women The Armed Citizen Shooting A Pistol

These accounts of brave armed women who defended themselves appeared in earlier editions of The Armed Citizen®.

A 29-year-old woman was awakened at about 5:45 a.m. by banging on her front door. When she went to investigate, she discovered a man attempting to abscond with some of her property—including her dog. The woman ordered the man to leave, but he refused. Fearing for her life and in defense of her property, the woman fired at the intruder multiple times. The man, 20, fled and was discovered 200 yards from the home with gunshot injuries to his lower right leg, as well as a superficial gunshot wound to his right side. The man was taken to the hospital and released a few hours later, then charged with first degree burglary and possession of stolen property. His bond was set at $75,000. Sheriff’s reports confirmed that the man was not known to the homeowner. The suspect’s car was subsequently seized while investigators awaited a search warrant. (cbs17.com, Dunn, N.C., 10/5/22)

 A 22-year-old man with a history of alcohol and substance abuse was shot and killed by a 50-year-old California woman as he violently attacked her husband outside their home. As the men struggled outside of the front door, with the aggressor trying to forcibly enter, the wife ran upstairs to a bedroom and retrieved a revolver that she had purchased the day before the incident. In fear for her husband’s life, the woman fired at the aggressor. When police arrived, they found the man unresponsive. “The fight with the homeowner was a pretty violent one,” sheriff’s Sgt. Luke Schwartz told the Modesto Bee via text. “Can only imagine how terrifying it must’ve been for these folks.” Video surveillance footage and witness statements corroborated the homeowners’ account. The husband received scrapes and scratches during the fight as he was "trying to defend his home," the sheriff's office said. Reports said that early findings indicate the incident was "strictly self-defense,” and that the man was previously unknown to the couple. (theblaze.com, Patterson, Calif., 9/26/22)

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