There are now numerous documented events in which handgun-armed good guys have stopped rifle-armed active killers and terrorists. I have written extensively on this topic, and I have spoken about it on several shows and podcasts. I think this subject is of the utmost importance as we witness an increase in such events, so that is why I keep harping on it. While the uptick in mass killer and terrorism attacks has led many in the self-defense and firearms community to turn towards keeping “truck guns” in their vehicles, I am adamant in the opinion that dealing with such attacks remains the role of the defensive handgun. While that sounds like a terrifying dynamic, it has now been successfully accomplished many times.
The ballistic and accuracy advantage of a rifle is undeniable, but the deployment of a rifle when on scene of such an event by a civilian is extremely unlikely, and also extremely hazardous. First, the logistics of getting to a vehicle, grabbing a long gun, then re-entering the attack scene, is highly improbable. Second, as has been witnessed in the real world on several occasions, holding a long gun makes the civilian a target to responding law enforcement, and likely other armed citizens. Of the sixteen examples offered here, only two involved a good guy picking up a long gun, in both incidents taken from the killer, during the action. Both were shot, one fatally, by responding police. I would suggest that holding a long gun during an active killer attack is perilous. Compare that to the other examples here, in which either civilians or law enforcement officers used their handgun, never touching a long gun, and all survived.
The handgun is the weapon you will realistically, and hopefully, be armed with, and it is the gun you will likely fight such a threat with. While the prospects of going up against rifle-armed bad guys with only a handgun is frightening, there is a very good track record of success. Note several trends in the following examples:
- First, several of these incidents required shooting at extended distances, and these further than usual engagement distances range from 40 to 100 yards. Are you regularly practicing with your handgun at distance?
- Second, there are two examples of the handgun armed good guy neutralizing multiple attackers, not just a single killer.
- Third, there are several examples of good guys neutralizing terrorists wearing body armor.
- Fourth, in all incidents, even if the attackers were not immediately killed, their rampage of murder ended as soon as someone started shooting back. This consideration is of utmost importance.
So, rather than relying on a fantasy that you will make it to a rifle that is stashed in your vehicle, get good with your pistol. Here are sixteen examples of the handgun-armed good guy prevailing against killers armed with long guns:
2025 – Bondi Beach, Australia: After two rifle and shotgun armed terrorists killed 16 people during a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, a detective arrived and neutralized both with his duty pistol, killing one and critically wounding the other, making the shots at roughly 40 meters. Of note: a heroic unarmed citizen tackled and disarmed one of the killers who then fled and re-armed himself to continue the attack. This heroic civilian was then shot, but he survived. There are conflicting reports as to whether he was shot by police or by the other terrorist. Additionally, another civilian who approached one of the downed terrorists to kick away the long gun was shot at by police but raised his hands and was not hit.
2025 – Las Vegas: A fired construction worker returned to his location of employment and opened fire on his ex-coworkers with a rifle but was immediately stopped by a pistol-armed employee at the site before anyone was killed.
2025 – Michigan: A rifle-armed attacker opened fire on a church from the parking lot. A church decan used his truck to ram the attacker, temporarily halting the attack, at which point an armed member of the church security team closed in and killed the attacker with his handgun.
2023 – Las Vegas, Turnberry Towers: A rifle-wielding attacker in armor and a helmet shot out the front glass and entered the lobby of the facility but was killed by a front desk attendant concealed carrier, immediately.
2022 – Indiana: Eli Dickens stopped a rifle-armed mass killer in a crowded mall. He fired the first 4 rounds from 43 yards away, two of the four rounds hit the attacker. He then closed the distance to fire another 6 rounds, killing the assailant.
2022 – Charleston, West Virginia: A female concealed carrier killed a rifle-armed attacker at a graduation party with her concealed handgun, right after he began shooting, preventing any innocents from being hurt. Ironically, this happened only two days after the Uvalde School attack yet went almost entirely unreported.
2021 – Colorado: Heroic armed citizen Johnny Hurley killed an attacker with a rifle who was killing police officers, doing so with his carry pistol. He was, tragically, killed by a responding police officer when he picked up the rifle used by the attacker.
2019 – Texas: A killer with a shotgun attacked the Church of Christ Church, killing two people, then being stopped by 71-year-old Jack Wilson, who made a single shot to the killer’s head.
2015 – Garland, Texas: Officer Gregory Stevens naturalized two terrorists with rifles as they exited their vehicle to attack an art exhibition, doing so with only his handgun. Both terrorists were wearing body armor.
2015 – Austin, Texas: A man opened fire with a rifle at the Mexican Consulate, and a horse-mounted police officer named Adam Johnson fired a single shot from his pistol at over 100 yards distance, instantly killing the gunman. Incredibly, the officer made the shot single-handed, as he was holding the reigns of the horse with his other hand.
2015 – Paris, France: One of the first police officers to respond to the massacre at the Bataclan Theatre, in which three gunmen killed 90 people within, shot and neutralized the first of the three AK-47 armed terrorists, with his handgun. Upon falling, the terrorist detonated his bomb belt. The mass murder immediately stopped upon this action, with the other two terrorists retreating and taking hostages. The two remaining terrorists were later killed by a SWAT team.
2012 – Texas: Vic Stacy, a 66-year-old resident of a trailer park, with no military or police background, shot an active killer who was shooting at police with a rifle. Stacy made a 56 yard hit with his 357 Magnum revolver.
2009 – Cathage, North Carolina: A killer with a shotgun entered a nursing home and killed 8 residents before being wounded and arrested by a single officer with his duty pistol.
2007 – Colorado Springs: A killer with a rifle attacked New Life Church, killing two people before being shot dead by a female member of the church security team.
1994 – Fairchild Airforce Base: Andy Brown, a military police officer, killed a terrorist with a rifle on the base, making the shot at 70 yards with his Baretta 92 pistol.
1993 – Cape Town, South Africa: Four terrorists belonging to the Azanian People’s Liberation Army entered a church and opened fire with rifles, killing 11 victims, before Charl Van Wyk, a member of the congregation, returned fire with only a 38 Special snub revolver, wounding one of the attackers. Upon taking fire, the terrorists broke off the attack and fled.
Can it be done? It has been done, many times. There are even more such examples beyond this list. This is no longer a theoretical discussion; as has been proven many times, a skilled practitioner with a pistol can prevail against rifle armed killers. Focus on training with your handgun for dealing with this escalating threat.
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