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Book Review:
“The Man Who Hated Work and Loved Labor — The Life and Times of Tony Mazzocchi” This is a fascinating book about a labor leader who has had tremendous influence on our lives, but whose name is not even known by millions of Americans. Please read my review.

From:
The American Rifleman
July, 1995

Studies indicate that firearms are used over two 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 Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030

Three young hoodlums thought their plan was fail-safe as they smashed through the front door of Leo Wilburd's Little Rock, Arkansas, home identifying themselves as police. Wilburd didn't fall for the ruse, and instead traded shots with one of the masked intruders as his wife and three young sons cowered in a bedroom. As four errant shots struck the walls around the defiant family man, at least one of the shots from his .38 found its mark. The three intruders fled the home and were later arrested after the wounded suspect appeared at a local hospital for treatment and confessed to the crime, identifying his accomplices. (Democrat Gazette, Little Rock, AR, 3/22/95)

An 82-year-old East Dallas, Texas, man one-upped an assailant one-fourth his age during an attempted robbery, giving the crook much more than he bargained for. Approached from behind by the bandit while walking up the driveway to his home, Jack Topletz whirled around and fired several shots, fatally wounding the man. (The Morning News, Dallas, TX, 4/5/95)

Already wanted by police for an earlier break-in, a Tulsa, Oklahoma, criminal found his way into custody via the hospital after a homeowner's bullet cut another burglary attempt short. Sam Horey was talking to his mother on the phone when the sound of breaking glass alerted him to trouble. Grabbing a 9 mm, Horey confronted the intruder in his living room, wounding him with a single shot. (The World, Tulsa, OK, 3/29/95)

Awakened at the sound of breaking glass, Oktaha, Oklahoma, storekeeper John Wyatt grabbed his .22 semi-auto rifle and ran from the back room of his convenience mart. Discovering two intruders, Wyatt exchanged gunfire with the men, striking one of them. Both fled, with the injured crook making it just a short distance from the store before passing out. It was the third time Wyatt has been forced to use a firearm to defend himself at his business. (Daily Phoenix, Muskogee, OK, 3/18/95)

Gastonia, North Carolina, resident Randy Watson confronted the teenaged thief breaking into his vehicle and told him to sit down until police arrived. Instead of complying with Watson's request, the indignant juvenile charged Watson, striking him in the head with a car stereo, knocking him to the ground. An injured Watson returned the favor with three slugs from his .380. Gastonia Police Capt. Mike Quilliams said the action probably saved Watson's life. (The Gaston Gazette, Gastonia, NC, 4/12/95)

Describing his city as being fed up with crime, a Winston-Salem, North Carolina, assistant district attorney refused to bring charges against 52-year-old James Junior Lucas for defending himself against two thugs. After a "parking tax" was demanded from him as he sat waiting to pick up his wife from work, Lucas saw one of his attackers reach behind his back as if grabbing for a weapon. Concerned for his safety, Lucas fired several shots through the window of his car, killing his assailant. A knife was found near the criminal's body. (The Citizen, Asheville, NC, 4/10/95)

It was like a case of deja vu when two Poughkeepsie, New York, senior citizens found themselves being attacked in their home by the same strongarm robber who had mauled them in 1987. Struck in the head and bleeding, John Brennan managed to reach his handgun, the sight of which caused the parolee, armed with a stick, to flee the home. The criminal was later arrested and returned to prison as part of a plea agreement that would keep him there for 10 to 20 years. He had only served 6 1/2 years for the earlier attack before being released. (The Journal, Poughkeepsie, NY, 3/18/95)

Buckling his three-year-old daughter into a child restraint seat, Dothan, Alabama, resident William Kenneth Long was approached by three masked thugs demanding money. With the barrel of a .38 jabbed into his back, the young father turned around, and instead of handing over his wallet, delivered a single shot into the head of the armed bandit, killing him. The other punks fled the scene and were later arrested. (The Eagle, Dothan, AL, 4/19/95)

Despite being struck in the side by a robber's bullet, Hartford, Connecticut, jewelry store employee Alex Keylin managed to return fire with his .25 cal., protecting a fellow employee and keeping the two bandits before him from taking any jewelry. Keylin fatally wounded one of the criminals, who, with his accomplice, fled in a vehicle that crashed just blocks away. The dead man had a long criminal record dating back to 1982. (The Courant, Hartford, CT, 4/14/95)

A Phoenix, Arizona, gang member thought he had the upper hand as he trained a shotgun on his quarry. But the scattergun was snatched from his hands by his intended victim. Despite aid from another gangster, the first gangbanger was beaten senseless and struck by gunshots, both from his own shotgun and from his mark's .44 Mag. The attack cost the criminal both arms. (The Republic, Phoenix, AZ, 4/2/95)

Awakened to the sounds of gunfire, Miami, Florida, resident Manuel Lopez grabbed his own gun and ran into his living room to discover four armed men herding family members into the house from the front lawn. One of the intruders made the fatal mistake of pointing a gun in Lopez's face. The householder shot him, killing the robber instantly. The other men fled the scene at the sight of their fallen accomplice. (The Herald, Miami, FL, 4/9/95)

If you have had a firsthand “Armed Citizen” experience,
call NRA-ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-8683.

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Last Updated — June 20, 2008