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Issue 078 • July 2026

ARRESTED &

A 15-year-old male, armed with a handgun, attempted to rob an Atlanta home shortly after dark. The homeowner was also armed and shot the teen, causing him to collapse and die on the scene. The homeowner called police and reported the robbery attempt while neighbors called 911 and reported shots fired in the area. Police arrived to find the teen still holding his firearm.

IN REVIEW

While much is not known about the sequence of events, here is my analysis:

LEGAL

Georgia has strong self-defense laws, but the man defending himself from the robbery was still arrested. Police later found a handgun on the deceased teen. The actions of the homeowner would seem to fall within the protection of Georgia statutes on self-defense against an armed threat. Media reported that no charges had been filed.

TACTICAL

The homeowner used good judgment in having his firearm on him in his home. It isn’t clear if his door was locked or how the teen entered his building, nor is it clear how many times the defender fired. 

TRAINING

The victim of the robbery apparently did not wait once he saw the teen’s firearm and shot before the assailant could discharge his weapon. That likely indicates some level of training in situational awareness.

Would the age of an armed attacker change your response? Why or why not?

WHAT NOT TO DO

A stranger is pounding on your door in the middle of the night. Do you answer? Call 911? Grab your firearm? This video walks you through some practical considerations for handling a late-night disturbance, including positioning and why having a plan before an emergency matters. The goal is to avoid panicking and to make better decisions under stress.

RESPONSIBLY

“Stop! I have a gun! Leave us alone!”

The command rang out inside an Indianapolis home on a December night in 2023. 

The sound of Truman Smith racking a 12-gauge shotgun was unmistakable. But Matt Kelley kept coming.

Matt Kelley was married to Smith's mother, and the men had once gone recreational shooting together. But Kelley had a violent past and, according to Smith, had recently been abusing substances, acting erratically and making threats.

Smith had returned to his mother’s home for the holidays. Earlier that day, an argument between Smith’s mother and Kelley escalated. Objects were thrown, Smith’s mother was bruised, and Kelley punched a hole in a wall before Smith helped him gather his belongings and leave.

The sound of Truman Smith racking a 12-gauge shotgun was unmistakable…

That night, Kelley was ejected from a local bar after becoming heavily intoxicated. Police were called and suggested he be brought back to the house to sober up in his vehicle. He was warned not to enter.

Smith and his mother locked the doors, but a temporary roommate later opened the garage, unaware that Kelley was outside. Kelley followed the roommate in.

THE THREAT IS INSIDE

“He’s in the garage!” she shouted. “Get off me!”

Smith retrieved his shotgun. After Kelley rushed the door into the house, ignoring Smith’s warning, he overpowered Smith’s mother and the roommate, hurling both women against a wall.

Aiming clear of the women, Smith fired at Kelley, secured the shotgun and attempted first aid. He told police, “My only chance of stopping [Kelley’s] attack was to use my gun.”

Smith was detained, questioned as part of a homicide investigation and released after his attorney arrived.

Nearly a year later, prosecutors declined charges, concluding that Smith appeared to have acted in defense of his mother, who later commented, “He saved me that night and will forever be my hero.”

A locked door didn’t stop the danger Truman Smith faced. When the threat moved from the driveway into the house, he had to protect his mother and face the legal aftermath that followed. Join more than 860,000 responsibly armed Americans who have the education, training and protection that help you prepare for the moment you hope never comes and the scrutiny that can follow.

AMERICA AT 250: 

Two hundred and fifty years sounds pretty old… until you remember a few important facts.

When our nation was born, Oxford University had already been teaching for nearly seven centuries and the Egyptian pyramids had been standing for more than 4,000 years.

That perspective is both eye-opening and humbling.

America is, in many ways, still young. Still learning. Still striving toward the bold promise set in motion in 1776. Maybe that’s part of what makes this nation so remarkable. We weren’t founded on the idea that we had already perfected freedom but rather on the conviction that freedom was worth pursuing and protecting, generation after generation.  

America is, in many ways, still young…

Of course, no nation’s story is flawless. But America’s heritage is extraordinary because it’s built on some significant beliefs: that rights do not come from government, that ordinary citizens matter, and that liberty requires both courage and responsibility.  

WHAT LIBERTY DEMANDS OF US

Responsibly armed Americans understand that freedom is not passive. It asks something of us: to prepare before we’re needed, to protect what matters, and to carry a firearm with discipline and a deep respect for life.

At 250 years young, America is not a museum piece but rather a living promise. She continues to grow through the simple and the sublime. A front porch flag. A neighbor helping after a storm. A parent teaching a child to stand up for what’s right. A citizen willing to accept the serious responsibility that liberty requires.

So this month, as Fourth of July fireworks brighten the night sky, may we feel more than celebration. May we feel gratitude and humility. And may we remember that 250 years is not the culmination of America’s story. There are many more chapters to come, and each of us has an important role in what’s written next.

STAYING SAFE AT SUMMER EVENTS

Summer crowds can make it easy to relax your awareness. Before heading to a fair, concert or festival, review these practical safety tips for planning ahead and carrying responsibly in crowded public spaces.

RETAINING CONTROL OF YOUR FIREARM

Learn why weapon retention matters, how quickly a gun-grab can turn deadly, and what concealed carriers should know about mindset, gear and practice before someone tries to take control.

FOUR RULES OF FIREARMS SAFETY

The basic rules of gun safety aren’t just for beginners. Take a practical look at muzzle discipline, trigger control, target awareness and treating every firearm with the respect needed to prevent life-changing mistakes.

SIG SAUER P365 .380 REVIEW

The SIG P365 .380 keeps the familiar size and capacity of the 9mm model but offers lighter recoil and easier slide operation. For shooters who want a softer-shooting option, this review explains where the .380 version shines.