Nashville, TN
A 68-year-old grandmother was startled by the sound of someone breaking in. She grabbed her 410 ga shotgun - a gun she had kept for many years - a gun she was never sure she could actually use on a human being and didn't want to find out.  However, when her french doors flew open and her burglar alarm went off - mortal fear- she fired on three men who were breaking in.  Her first volly of bird shot struck one in the face and another in the chest.  All three fled and are in police custody.  At least one was armed because police found the magazine to his gun in the yard.  She received many calls and e-mails cheering her actions.  "one of them said 'Go granny Go'" she recalled. "I don't consider myself old, but apparently everyone else does"  WTVF-TV - 8/01/11

Atlanta, GA
A woman in her early 50s was getting out of the shower when the bathroom lights suddenly went out.  An intruder collided with her in the dark, causing her to fall backward into the shower and injure her back.  She fought the man but he put a knife to her throat.

"She was telling him she had money and please don't hurt her", said police Cpl. Edwin Ritter, adding that the attack was an attempted sexual assault.  The intruder forced the woman into her bedroom, but that's exactly where she kept her .22 cal pistol. She broke free, retrieved her gun and shot her would-be rapist several times.  He ran outside, collapsed and died.  "Thank God she is o.k. and had a weapon to protect herself with", said a neighbor.
The Atlanta Journal - Constitution, 5-12-11

Orange, TeXas
Seeking help following an assault at the hands of her boyfriend, a woman phoned her parents.  They picked her up and brought her to their home, calmed their terrified daughter and she went to sleep.  The boyfriend banged on the door .  The parents would not answer but the boyfriend kicked in the door and began assaulting them.

The mother managed to struggle free, then ran to the bedroom to get her pistol.  Meanwhile, the suspect beat the father severly.  She opened fire, killing the suspect.
The Orange Leader, Orange, Texas ~ 5-16-11

Raleigh, North Carolina
Robert Parsley was watching TV when he heard a noise outside.  He grabbed his .357 magnum, to investigate.  The doorbell rang several times.  Parsley looked out the window and saw a man tugging on the locked screen door.  Holding the gun behind his back, he turned on the porch light and asked the young man what he was doing.  He claimed his wife was in labor and heavily perspiring and he needed help.  But Parsley found the man's story suspicious.

His instincts were correct.  Earlier that evening, the suspect stole an excavator and used it to severely damage a church. Parsley brought the gun into view.  "Sorry for waking you, the young man said as he ran off.  Two police cruisers pulled up with their spotlights on searching for the suspect. Parsley told them the direction he had run and they found him breaking into a nearby home.  WTVD-ABC, Raleigh, N.C. - 5-20-11

Kirkland, Washington
Tim Lewis was at the park throwing a frisbee when he said, "All hell broke loose".  Three pit bulls all off leash advanced upon and attacked his dog.  Lewis tried to pull the pit bull off, but the other two then joined in.  The owner showed up and helped Lewis pull off the most agressive dog, but then it turned on Lewis.  That's when Lewis (a concealed-carry permit holder), drew his pistol and fired a shot, striking the attacking dog.  The wounded dog is recovering after surgery.  "If I didn't have a gun, I'd be dead right now, ".  Lewis said.  "It's not something I wanted to do.  I love animals".
Kirkland Patch, Kirkland, WA - 5-21-11

Austin, Texas
In the early morning hours, a man broke into a home and assaulted the woman inside, fondling her and tearing her clothes.  She screamed and the man fled.  The following night evil visited the home again.  At 3 AM, the woman's husband heard a loud noise and retrieved a firearm.  As the suspect forced the back door open, the husband opened fire, killing him. Police believe the same suspect was involved in both incidents.  KVUE-TV, 11/14/10

Las Vegas, Nevada
Three young men knocked on a door one evening, but the man and woman inside didn't recognize them and their instincts told them something wasn't right.  The woman hid in a closet and the man got his gun.  They were fortunate to have trusted their guts, because the suspects promptly kicked in the door.  The homeowner yelled  and fired a shot, wounding one of the suspects and causing his accomplices to flee the scene.  The suspect was taken to the hospital and later arrested.  His accomplices are still being sought by police. KLAS-TV 11/18/10

Portland, Maine
While a getaway driver waited in the car, two men smashed in the front door of a home. The commotion alerted the 40 year-old homeowner who quickly got his shotgun.  Finding themselves at the business end of a shotgun, one of the suspects ran away so fast he fell and suffered a head injury requiring medical attention.  The other wisely waited for police.  A neighbor flagged down an officer who responded to the scene. The officer quickly determined that the armed homeowner was defending himself.  "We've learned that the guy with the gun is not always the bad guy", said police Lt. Mike Nugent.  All three suspects were arrested.  The Portland Press Herald - 11/24/10

Mobile, Alabama
A 32 year old man was leaving a fast food restaurant when a robber approached him, demanded cash, and threatened him with a box cutter.  The would-be victim. who had a concealed carry permit, acted quickly, drawing a handgun and shooting his attacker.  The suspect will be arrested when released from the hospital.  "(in a robbery), you ain't got time to wait for police," said Billy Pompey, "Got to protect yourself".  WALA-TV  11/11/10

New Orleans
Stories of armed citizens defending themselves during Hurricane Katrina are well documented, but many may not be aware that the looting and burglaries are ongoing.  Lionel Lewis, 61, still lives in a FEMA trailer next to his hurricane-damaged home.  One evening he heard someone forcing their way into his home, likely to steal copper pipes.  Lewis phoned police, armed himself with a handgun and investigated.  "Don't move," he told the suspect.  Instead, the suspect wheeled around and swung a 2X4 at Lewis, who ducked the blow.  The assailant prepared for another swing but before he could make it, Lewis shot him.  Police arrested the would-be-burglar and took him to the hospital for treatment. Times Picayune, 11/12/10

Chicago, Illinois
Two men armed with mace kicked in a 79-year-old man's door.  One sprayed him with mace while the other viciously punched him.  Then, something the suspects hadn't planned for happened: the elderly man drew a gun, opened fire and badly injured both suspects.  They fled from the house and collapsed outside.  One suspect was arrested, the other died.  Chicago Sun Times - 09/30/10 Chicago, IL
    note:  prior to last year's supreme court decision, the man who protected himself with a gun would have, instead been arrested for having a firearm.

Detroit, Michigan
A 36 year-old-man pumped gas into his SUV, while his girlfried entered the convenience store to purchase a drink for her 5-year-old daughter, who sat in the vehicle.  A carjacker approached and shot the man without warning, causing him to fall to the ground.  The carjacker attempted to enter the vehicle and speed off with the girl inside.  The wounded man (who has a concealed carry permit), drew his handgun and fired several shots at the attacker, killing him.  The SUV owner was expected to recover.  The little girl was not injured.  ~ The Detroit News,  - 10/20/10

Greensboro, NC
Emboldened by a prior, successful convenience store robbery, two suspects tried their luck at a second store.  They rushed inside and demanded money from the clerk.  Apparently, they expected the shoppers in the store to behave as sheep and paid them little attention.  One of the suspects drew a gun, pointed it at the clerk and pulled the trigger - - it didn't fire..  A customer with a CC permit, drew his gun and shot the robber three times.  The wounded suspect was arrested at a nearby hospital when he sought medical help. ~ WFMY-TV,  10/12/10

Primos, PA
A gas station clerk was working the register when a man walked in and confronted him.  He slid a note to the clerk with the words "money now" inscribed on it and demanded the safe be opened.  The clerk ran from the store and attempted to phone police, but his assailant quickly caught up with him.  The suspect savagely beat the clerk, continuing even aftr his nose was broken.  That's when a man driving by witnessed the assault and ran to the clerk's aid.  "The Good Samaritan pulled out a gun to threaten the robber," said Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood.  "he is licensed to carry a concealed weapon.  I applaud the Good Samaritan for getting involved."  The robber fled, but was arrested because the witness wrote down his license plate number. The Delaware County Times,   08/19/10

Corning, NY
When an alleged intruder broke a window and began entering the home of 80-year-old Stephen Boyechko, he knew what to do.  He hastily retrieved his .32 cal. Walther PPK pistol.  "Why did you break my window?" Boyechko asked.  Instead of answering the question, the intruder climbed inside and ran at the homeowner, who shot him twice and held him for police.  The intruder is a suspect in a number of burglaries.  Apparently in his latest heist he did not know with whom he was dealing.  Boyechko is a veteran of WW II, but he did not fight for the United States.  "I was in the Ukrainian underground," he said.  "I was 14.  We fought the Germans and the Russians." The Leader,  8/22/10

Mt Vernon, Washington
His slumber disturbed by his barking dog and screaming wife, Larry Kunzler quickly realized that two men wearing masks and carrying guns had invaded their home. They'd confronted Kunzler's wife in the mud room, pulled her hair and told her "don't fight it"  Kunzler's unarmed son entered the fray and wrestled with the men while Kunsler obtained his Glock .45 cal pistol.  He fired one shot into the ceiling so his wife and son could move away from the suspects, then opened fire on the intruders.  He believed he hit both men, who fled the scene.  "I bought the gun because I worked in the big city, I never thought I would have to use it in my rural home", explained Kunzler, who works in Seattle Skagit Valley Herald,  07/31/10