A 14-year-old Las Vegas boy armed with a .22-caliber rifle protected his 6-year-old siblings during a brazen daytime home invasion.

Andrew Mason was watching over his brother and sister when he heard a “thud” at the door. He didn’t answer, but the knocking got louder, until ultimately the suspects broke down the door.

“It’s pretty intense,” said Andrew. “Once I heard that thud on the door, my heart was just racing.”

But Andrew’s parents had walked their son through this scenario on more than one occasion, instructing him to never answer the door, and how to defend himself and the family if necessary.

Andrew followed his parents’ lessons to the letter. He ordered his young siblings to hide in a closet while he grabbed a .22-caliber rifle and a cell phone.

Armed with his rifle and his wits, Andrew joined his siblings in the darkened closet.

Andrew and his siblings waited quietly while the thugs rummaged through the house. The crooks eventually found their to the closet, but when they opened the door and stared down at the rifle, they decided it was time to leave.

No shots were fired during the home invasion and no one was injured. Mason said he was proud of his son for protecting the family while he was away, and even called him a hero.

The proud father is an ardent Second Amendment advocate who believes in the right to keep and bear arms, and even takes his children to the firing range to keep their skills sharp.

The dad was happy Andrew and his kids were okay, but furious that they were put in that position in the first place.

“It truly angers you,” said Mason. “My wife and I work very hard. We don’t bother anyone, and for someone to come violate our family, our household, it really is upsetting.”

A recently installed surveillance system captured some images of the suspects as they entered and exited the house. Hopefully the authorities can use these to bring the thieves to justice.

(This article was a submission from freelance writer Brent Rogers; H/T Guns.com)