Thursday, October 1, 2015

It’s likely that many of the Armed Citizen stories you read on A1F Daily and in America’s 1st Freedom magazine feature National Rifle Association members, as most members take self-defense seriously. Problem is, that’s a fact typically not revealed in the mainstream media accounts from which this column is derived.

That said, here are four times when confirmed NRA members saved themselves and/or their families with firearms in 2011.

When a gunman entered U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell’s home, attacked his daughter and demanded money, Boswell ran to the entryway and attempted to disarm the suspect. “When you see one of the people that you love very much, you see they’re in that kind of danger, why, you have to do something,” Boswell said. Perhaps the intruder would’ve picked a different home had he known Boswell is an NRA A-rated Democrat. As Boswell struggled with the man, his 22-year-old grandson retrieved a shotgun and trained it on the intruder. The suspect fled the home. (FoxNews.com, 7/17/11)

Around 4:30 a.m., two masked and armed men entered a Walgreens pharmacy in Benton Township, Mich., in an attempt to steal prescription drugs. One criminal guided a store manager at gunpoint over to a pharmacy counter, then jumped over the counter to where pharmacist Jeremy Hoven was working. Hoven retrieved a revolver and fired at the robber, causing both criminals to flee. Hoven’s decision to arm himself came after a Dec. 2007 robbery, at which point the longtime gun owner and NRA member obtained a Right-to-Carry permit in order to protect himself and his coworkers during the night shift. Those coworkers appreciated Hoven’s actions, with one night shift manager sending him a card with a picture of his family as a show of thanks and support. Unfortunately, Walgreens denies their employees the Right to Carry, even those charged with protecting items known to be the target of violent criminals. Walgreens fired Hoven by email eight days after the incident. Despite the actions of his former employer, Hoven is confident he did the right thing, stating, “In my mind, I can look at myself in the mirror. I can lay my head down in bed and sleep. In my mind, I did what I had to do.” (The Herald Palladium, St. Joseph-Benton Harbor, Mich., 5/18/11)

While sitting at his kitchen table, a longtime NRA member and competitive shooter was alarmed when a masked intruder walked through the front door wielding a knife. “Who the [expletive] are you?” the NRA member demanded, but the intruder just mumbled something and progressed toward him. The NRA member grabbed for the intruder’s knife hand, receiving lacerations. He continued struggling with the intruder with his left hand, and reached into his pocket with his right, drawing a .38-cal. revolver. “Get the [expletive] out of here or I’m going to shoot!” the NRA member shouted. The intruder backed away, saying, “I’m an alcoholic; I’m not going to get shot over this.” He fled the scene. (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla, Wash., 3/30/11)

After hearing a commotion, NRA Life member Joe McNeil discovered an alleged burglar trying to remove his window air-conditioning unit. When the suspect failed, he ran to the back of the home, broke the bedroom window and began to climb inside. Meanwhile, McNeil retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun and waited strategically in the hallway until the suspect came into view. “Get on the ground or I’ll shoot you!” McNeil commanded. Instead, the suspect grabbed for the shotgun. McNeil fought him off and again ordered him to the ground. He refused, forcing McNeil to fire two shotgun slugs. The suspect was taken to the hospital with severe injuries and will face burglary assault charges after his release. (The Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, N.M., 1/25/11)