Great book on the order of combat handgunnery almost a dead copy of Massad ayoob combat handgunnery even a forward by Ayoob its ok it reads like all the rest of these type of books do, can you shoot someone, then on to well you are gonna be arrested if you do even if you are in the right, then a few brief words about outdated handguns and ammo. Almost a ringer for Massad ayoobs combat handgunnery try col jeff cooper and wiley clapp

A good book for Self-Defense folks. I was hoping for something new but it pretty much reiterated what we already know (preaching to the choir). Not a bad evening read.

I ended up with the book by an Amazon accident. I had ordered the Ayoob files, a collection of columns written by Massad Ayoob, a frequent expert witness in self-defense cases. Ayoob contributed an introduction to this volume, which is possibly the reason I ended up with this book. I received this book several years ago, and I decided to just keep it. I did not actually read it until 2009, and I found the book very good. I should have read it earlier.

Armed Response is a sober, practical book that has lots of good things to think about for anyone who owns firearms. Lots of details about the workings of the law, how to properly use a firearm, and helpful suggestions. I wish I had read this book when I was actually a beginner, because the author explains a lot of common terms used by firearm owners that were mystifying to me once. I spent a number of years tracking down answers to questions that are contained in this book. That reinforces the answers I found, and makes me willing to recommend this book, because it matches my own experience and knowledge.

You can find information about different kinds of firearms, their pros and cons. Different holsters, different ammunition, different stances. There are even suggestions for training. One would do well to heed the many warnings contained in this book. This book is intended to help keep you out of trouble of any kind. The best way to win a gunfight is not to be in one.

Lots of good references, the websites and addresses of quality accesories manufacturers, and lots and lots of experience can be found in this book. Highly recommended. Just remember, IANAL. YANMC. TINLA.

I am not a lawyer, you are not my client, this is not legal advice, if you want legal advice then hire yourself a lawyer. (Thanks Tom)

After reading this excellent book, I want to suggest that you obtain the Personal Firearm Defense series with (ex-mil/PD) Rob Pincus, one of the most exhaustively thorough multiple dvd series ever made on the subject of armed self defense, available through NRA CS video. And finally, when you think state and federal government is responsible in any way for your safety, I ask that you observe that the state of California is releasing 30,000 criminals from prison after the voters refused to give more tax $$ to this bankrupt DNC run state.

I'm an avid reader on many subjects. Few books are as easy to read, and as important as this book. At times, I found myself questioning my willingness to carry a handgun while reading this book. And, I believe that is the author's intent. It is a serious matter, with serious repricussions. If you're going to carry, read this book.

The book calls itself a "comprehensive guide" and it is - it covers all the basics, from why you might want to carry, to licensing, when lethal force is and is not appropriate, concealed carry (where legal), types of holsters, and so on.

I recommend it very highly.

In short, if you are new to or considering concealed carry this should be required reading. Period.

While reading this book I could help but think this is the book Massad Ayoob would have wrote if he were writing "in the gravest extreme" today. This book covers many aspects and techniques. Worth the price.

While reading this book I could help but think this is the book Massad Ayoob would have wrote if he were writing "in the gravest extreme" today. This book covers many aspects and techniques. Worth the price.

This books clearly discusses the use of firearms for self defense without any agenda trying to convince you one way or another. It includes many aspects including types of handguns, clothing, legal responsibilities, and many more important things one might not consider at first.

You might pick of the information from this book by taking several defense classes, reading articles and forums online for hundreds of hours, and discussing it with many, many people. Read this book to learn things correctly the first time.

I didn't know what to expect when I opened this book, but was pleased to find it packed with non-nonsense advice and information on the responsibilities and consequences of owning and gun and using it for self-protection. Of all the books I have read on the subject, this one provided me with more information and food for thought that anything I have encountered to date. I highly recommend this book as a primer to anyone who has a gun in their home and believes they have a right to defend themselves and their family. Knowing the facts about legal, psychological, and tactical issues surrounding the use of firearms is absolutely essential if you hope to survive a shooting incident in your home, both during and after the event. A must read!

If your looking for a great book that addresses the use of lethal force than this is it. A great place to start be it a beginner or old timer this is a must read. David Kenik not only wrote well but put it in a format that is understandable. Well thought out! This is a must have book for anyone who wants to understand what is needed to justify an armed response. It does not replace personal training or what can be learned in a class (interaction). It does however build a great foundation for what is needed to to understand in responding with lethal force. If you own a firearm for personal protection than you need to own this book.

Well written, easy to understand great presentation of the depth and breadth of what you are into when you carry a gun. Should be a must read before you buy a gun and then re-read it after you make your purchase.

I found this to be a great book on SD and what it all can be to the new and old users of guns for self defense. Covers both mental and hardware issues needed if you want to carry for self defense. If you are considering carrying or issues for home defense, you should have this book in your collection. Well worth the cost for all the info that can keep you safe along with informed.

Overall I was pleased with the content of the book. It would have been nice though, if the editors would have taken the time to do a thorough proofread of the book before going to press with it. There are many typo's and misspelled words, which tend to detract from the credibility of the content. It's pretty sloppy and unprofessional to publish a book with a bunch of typo's in it.

For 36 years I have instructed a wide variety of novices, experts and "so-called" experts. This book will take you from nothing - to all you really need to know (unless you are into "one-upsmanship" or trying to prove something about your masculinity or lack of it). For those (who are using this forum to display their resumes) if you are insecure then you will take your stack of books and your ego and look for anything that might have been left out. You might even list all the books you have, but the truth is, if you are really good at real-life situations, whether actual military combat, law enforcement or the usual combat games, ....all the book-learning in the world is no replacement. This book is well worth what you pay for it, and that's the point of these reviews, not better-than-thou cynicism from would be intellectuals.

I bought this book hoping for what the title said: a comprehensive guide to using firearms for self-defense. Unfortunately, the book title is seriously misleading. I can only remember not finishing about 10 books in my life, and I read at least four or five a month - but this one is about to make the short list.

This book really glosses over just about everything it touches, and on top of that, it is so male-oriented as to be next to worthless for a female reader, particularly when it comes to concealment options. Women may want to see Effective Defense : The Woman, the Plan, the Gun.

The basic concepts of the book? Don't trust gun magazines; they have to please their advertisers, and both the magazine and the author are generally in it for the money. A person can cross 20 feet in 1.7 seconds. Know how to defend yourself unarmed because altercations may start or end up that way, and you won't always have time to get to your weapon. Buy a gun you shoot well. Shooting well means being able to pull from a conceled holster, not just at a range at a target. The stress of a real altercation has serious phsyiological and psychological effects that will have an impact on your shooting. Get training in combat-type situations. Know the law in your area regarding self-defense shootings. Keep track of your training.

I think you're probably better off reading In the Gravest Extreme: The Role of the Firearm in Personal Protection by Massad Ayoob if you're looking for a comprehensive look at self-defense shootings. Then read On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace by Grossman for a good look at what actually being shot at or attacked does to your body and mind, and how it affects fighting back. And then look in your area for training on shooting under stressful conditions, and unarmed self-defense training.

This book would be excellent if it were updated. It contains a lot of useful info but needs to be brought up to the 21st century.

This book unearths the common sense, ethical, and legal considerations you need to explore, in depth, if you are considering armed self-defense. It is concise, well written, and gives you a good starting point for your education in the mind set necessary to effectively protect yourself and others.

I ordered this on a recommendation from a coworker. He is a former Sheriff's Deputy and is thoughtful and level-headed. The information in the book is well reasoned and clearly explained and should be required reading for any new handgun owner or those considering a gun purchase for self-protection.

I came away with literally nothing new from this book. If you have read many web forums or other books- this is aimed at complete newbies.

I also didn't like the writing style or editing. If you know the very basics and don't want to be 'spoken' to like a 5yr old get Andy Stanford's excellent Surgical Speed Shooting.

I am just not the target audience for this material.

After all the hype about this book and the foreword and endorsement from Massad Ayoob, I really thought this book would teach me something new. It didn't. I expected a nice primer on tactics and exercises, instead I got a bunch of rudimentary safety lecturing and rehash of obvious and well-known ideas and rules for handling a firearm. If you have NEVER owned a firearm before, this book may teach you something. If you do own a firearm and have any proficiency with it - that is, you take it out of the drawer from time to time to practice at the range - then don't waste your money on this very basic and boring book. This book has nothing to do with helping you move towards the decision to go CCW or really even how to defend your own home, except for one short chapter - and all of it is all common sense stuff anyway. An average book with nothing new.

This is a great book on using a handgun in self-defense. It is easy to read with short chapters that get right to the point. This is not the first book I've read on handguns, see also The Concealed Handgun Manual: How to Choose, Carry, and Shoot a Gun in Self Defense (Concealed Handgun Manual: How to Choose, Carry, & Shoot a Gun in Self Defense) and The Farnam Method of Defensive Handgunning, Second Edition but it adds good information in an easy-to-read format.

My only complaint is all the spelling and typographical errors. It's as if no one proof read it at all! When it's time for the next revision, send me a manuscript. I'll proofread it for free! The typos and spelling errors are easy to spot, and you'll stll get the author's message.

In spite of these minor errors, I still recommend this book to everyone interested using a handgun for self-defense.

I don't care if you are an expert, you think you are an expert, or if you are a concerned citizen of ANY political persuasion. This gives you the inside scoop on the second amendment and goes all the way through firearms basics and some more detailed information on what to do in dangerous situations. That it does so in a conversational manner makes it much easier to absorb the material.

It is a good refresher that you can turn to in order to answer many questions about firearms, and some questions you may not even have thought to ask! Read it!!! NOW!

Mr. Kenik has put some time in on this one, and it shows. Solid advice, well-written, and includes a good spread of what you should carry, and why. This is another that should be read and re-read. Not all gun carry books are equal, but this one rises to the top.

This is an in-your-face, tell it like it is, discussion of the good and bad of carrying a concealed weapon. The snap decisions you might make under extreme pressure may have dire consequences unless you understand what you can and cannot do to defend yourself.

Very enlightening. A quick read on a very serious matter.

The problem with books of this type is authors assume someone just bought their first gun THAT DAY along with their book. "Armed Response" is for someone new to guns for defense purposes (as opposed to hunting and target shooting). Although the book starts with a bang, it squibs in the middle -- with previously well-covered material -- and picks up again toward the end. It is not comprehensive in terms of depth as it claims; it is an overview. Truly, books by Ayoob and Spaulding have covered this ground better.

The author's dislike of the "new" double action/single action trigger systems and unreliable 1911 single action triggers for defense is just plain odd. The author is at his best when he is "real-world" voice and speaking from the place where personal truth lives.

If you have been around guns for a while, you will find most of the middle of this book rudimentary. I give it three stars for being average and leaning a bit toward silly in some regards. However, if you bought your first gun today, it would a good companion to keep you from buying two better books: Ayoob's "In the Gravest Extreem" and Spaulding's "Handgun Combatives" among others.

A must read for beginners and experts alike. I will be handing this out at all of my CCW classes. I have had a CCW permit for years and David Kenik explains things like body reactions durring an emergancy, and how to practice. This will help people protect loved ones. - Clark.

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In "Armed Response" author David Kenik takes the reader through the steps of deciding whether the citizen even wants the awesome responsibility of being a firearm carrier. This is followed by a detailed explanation of what physically happens to a person's body when confronted with a shoot/no shoot situation and the considerations that must decided on in micro-seconds.

From here, the author lays out the different types of revolvers and pistols, carrying styles, holsters available and ammunition types that will help the new carrier understand the strengths and weaknesses of these important pieces of equipment. Armed with these choices, the informed carrier can decide for themselves what will work best for them.

He continues on with important narrative on confrontation techniques that will win in a gunfight but having done that, what the shooter will be faced with in the aftermath. Just as important these days are the self-protection steps that are suggested against attacks from lawyers.

Overall, an excellent read for the new or experienced concealed carrier.

Another good book to read and recommend, learning the ins and outs of defending yourself and your loved ones. I'm happy to add it to my self-defense training library!

There are many, many resources out there for those citizens that are considering carrying a weapon for personal or home defense. Many if not most of these have been written by current or former law enforcement officers and may contain tips and guidance that are not optimal for private citizens.

This book is written by a private citizen who has attended extensive and exhaustive training from some of the best in the business, and is now offering his insight from "the regular civilian" perspective.

I have read many books and periodicals on this subject over the past thirty years. I still learned quite a bit and had to rethink a number of ideas I had assimilated from other authors.

In my opinion, this book is a mandatory addition to the reference shelf of any armed citizen.