By Kim Hiss

     This isn't a hunting story, but it certainly speaks to the importance of knowing how to handle a firearm safely.
     An 85-year-old Pennsylvania woman named Leda Smith was returning home from church last Sunday when she noticed a door was broken and realized that a burglar who had been hitting her neighborhood was inside. According to this Herald Standard story, Smith passed the burglar on her way to the bedroom to get her revolver. She then found the teenaged intruder, confronted him with the gun, and made him call 911. She had the boy lay facedown on the floor until authorities arrived.
     It's hard not to be impressed with Ms. Smith's cool headedness and decision to defend her home (not to mention her neighborhood). I'm just glad the intruder was so "compliant," and that her confrontation ended up paying off. -K.H

Comments (1)

from Laura Bell wrote 3 years 23 weeks ago

Awesome!! I'd say that intruder was lucky that she didn't have to use that gun.I remember an article a year or two ago in MT. 2 guys broke into a home where they knew a young girl was home alone. They planned to rape her. Little did they know that she knew how to handle a gun and, as I recall, she shot and killed them both.

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from Dr. Ralph wrote 3 years 24 weeks ago

Leda Smith is now my own personal hero. 85 and she enters her broken into home unarmed? Even I wouldn't have done that unless my children or wife were inside... neighbor? Maybe. You go granny!

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from NorCal Cazadora wrote 3 years 24 weeks ago

Love it! Just goes to show ya: Don't eff with old ladies - they'll kick your butt!

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from Jan wrote 3 years 24 weeks ago

Great story! Mrs. Smith showed more courage than I would have. I probably would have ran to a neighbor's and called 911.... she's a very brave lady! What a testimony for 2nd amendent rights. I emailed a friend and editor at American Hunter (the NRA magazine)with this story. Maybe they'll use it in one of their magazine's regular features, "the Armed Citizen." Hat's Off To Mrs. Smith!!I'm glad the thief was a 17yr. old and not an older, "hardened" criminal who may have also had a gun....if so, this could have turned into a real tragedy!

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from Laura Bell wrote 3 years 23 weeks ago

Awesome!! I'd say that intruder was lucky that she didn't have to use that gun.I remember an article a year or two ago in MT. 2 guys broke into a home where they knew a young girl was home alone. They planned to rape her. Little did they know that she knew how to handle a gun and, as I recall, she shot and killed them both.

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from Dr. Ralph wrote 3 years 24 weeks ago

Leda Smith is now my own personal hero. 85 and she enters her broken into home unarmed? Even I wouldn't have done that unless my children or wife were inside... neighbor? Maybe. You go granny!

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from NorCal Cazadora wrote 3 years 24 weeks ago

Love it! Just goes to show ya: Don't eff with old ladies - they'll kick your butt!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Jan wrote 3 years 24 weeks ago

Great story! Mrs. Smith showed more courage than I would have. I probably would have ran to a neighbor's and called 911.... she's a very brave lady! What a testimony for 2nd amendent rights. I emailed a friend and editor at American Hunter (the NRA magazine)with this story. Maybe they'll use it in one of their magazine's regular features, "the Armed Citizen." Hat's Off To Mrs. Smith!!I'm glad the thief was a 17yr. old and not an older, "hardened" criminal who may have also had a gun....if so, this could have turned into a real tragedy!

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All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.