The Armed Citizen® Reload February 7, 2025

A woman who witnessed an assault used her firearm in an effort to stop the attack.

by posted on February 7, 2025
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
NRA Women The Armed Citizen Aiming A Pistol

These accounts of brave armed women who defended their family, friends and strangers appeared in an earlier edition of The Armed Citizen®.

A pregnant woman in Oklahoma City, Okla., defended herself and her unborn child after shooting an intruder in her apartment, police say. On Friday, July 3, the woman heard a knock at her door and looked out at the man standing at her apartment entrance. She told police she didn't recognize the man, so she did not answer the door. Later, the woman left the apartment to take her dog out for a walk. When she returned, the stranger returned, too, and tried to force his way inside. The woman retrieved a gun and fired at the intruder, wounding him in the shoulder. Police arrived at the scene soon after and took the suspect into custody. The pregnant woman was uninjured in the encounter. (NEWS 9, Oklahoma City, Okla., 07/03/2020)

A man who had just finished a meal at a Miami-Dade fast food restaurant was followed out by a perpetrator intent on robbing him. The wrongdoer approached the victim from behind and punched him, causing him to fall to the ground. The attacker persisted, alternating between punching the victim in the face and trying to reach inside his pants pockets, unsuccessfully. Cell-phone video taken by a witness shows a good Samaritan intervening, firing her gun during the incident in an effort to stop the attack. "He was bleeding profusely, the woman told a local TV news station. "I just had to save the guy's life. That's all I did was try to save someone's life." Police said the woman warned the aggressor to stop beating the victim or she would fire her gun, but he ignored her. Authorities said she fired one shot in direction of the attacker, but didn't strike him. Witnesses told police the man then ran off. He was taken into custody a short time later in a nearby neighborhood. He faces charges of attempted strong-arm robbery and felony battery. The victim was taken to the hospital, where he was treated for multiple contusions to the head and face, deep lacerations to his right cheek and mouth and a fractured nose. (local10.com, 9/20/19, Miami-Dade, Fla.)

Latest

Julie Golob Bianchi Cup 2026 Lede
Julie Golob Bianchi Cup 2026 Lede

Springfield Armory Announces Julie Golob's 2026 Bianchi Cup Record-Setting Achievements

Golob used the Echelon 4.0FC 9 mm over the Memorial Day weekend competition, earning top women's honors in multiple divisions and historic placements.

The Armed Citizen® Reload May 29, 2026

An uninvited hotel guest who threatened employees with a knife learned the opposite of hospitality the hard way.

3 Pieces of “Expert” Advice New Gun Owners Can Ignore

With more than 20 years as an NRA Training Counselor, the author is an actual expert firearms instructor. Here's what to watch out for if you are just beginning your journey.

New Guns 2026: CZ 75 Legend Now Shipping

Introduced in early 2026, the pistol is built to honor one of the most influential handgun designs of the modern era.

New Gear 2026: Ruger ReadyDot Micro Reflex Sight System for LCP MAX Pistol

This new reflex sight requires no batteries, allowing the shooter to focus on acquiring and staying on target without worry.

5 Items You Need to Butcher Your Own Venison

Butchering your own deer isn’t really all that complicated, but there are a handful of gear items you absolutely have to have to get it done.

Women's Interests



Get the best of NRA Women delivered to your inbox.