Well written stories in the style of "The Armed Citizen" excerpts in NRA publications. Instead of just focusing on the incident, the author also gives background information on the victim and the aftermath.

Especially interesting were the stories from recent events in the news such as New Orleans during Katrina and Mark Wilson in Tyler.

For those who believe in the right to self-defense, these stories highlight the consequences of using deadly force to defend yourself. Not everyone is going to pat you on the back for saving your own life. For those who believe individuals should rely on some government official for protection, these stories may cause you to reconsider that notion.

Bottom line...a good book that provides much food for thought.

These stories are about people that had a gun when they needed one. You don't hear about these in the paper. You only hear about the ones (Usually DEAD) that didn't have one. Good read!

"Thank God I Had a Gun" by Chris Bird

This is a book of stunning accounts wherein ordinary people protected themselves from assault, for the simple reason that they had a firearm on hand with which to defend themsevles.

Stories such as these, wherein ordinary people defend themselves against criminal violence do not receive much attention in the media. Their stories do not always appear in print or in news accounts. Nonetheless, many Americans do protect themselves and their loved ones on a regular basis. Ordinary people, in their homes and places of business, subjected to criminal attacks, do not always suffer injury and death, if they have the will to survive, and a firearm in their grasp. The unarmed however, are not so fortunate. They become statistics, and end up in the morgue or the hospital on many occasions.

The author is very experienced in the use of handguns and makes his living as a shooting instructor.

Most people, with no criminal background, can purchase a firearm for self defense. The background check takes between 20 minutes to 1 hour generally. After which time, you can leave the store with the means to protect yourself. That, and some affordable self-defense classes in firearms saftey and uses, can make the difference between living and dying, or going through life with nightmares for memories.

A very good and informative read for those who desire to educate themselves regarding the facts of firearms possession. Whether renter, housewife and mother, businessman, or just plain folks, this book is very useful.

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Of course you will not be able to put down the book because you are on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next in each story. Chris Bird doesn't just focus on the story itself like a cheap Hollywood film. Details of each victims personality, what led to the incident, how the police responded and the aftermath (how people who defend themselves feel afterward) gives you a lot of food for thought. There is probably someone who was involved in defending themselves that you can relate to. I bought this and the The Best Defense by Waters, read them in a few days each, and passed them among girlfriends. They make great conversation; we consider the possibility of an earthquake putting us in a situation like the Katrina chapter. Or what gun control means to an older woman who lives alone. Also, knowing what really happens when gunfire is exchanged, you will never look at an action adventure movie or police drama the same again!

I was very pleased that I learned so much from this book. I am an advocate of personal responsibility and self defense is a part of that. I try to think of ways to keep myself from ever having a confrontation and ways to remove myself from one if it were to happen. This book gives accurate descriptions of how people behaved in these times of stress, and while reading them I automatically inserted myself into the situation and noted how I "think" I would behaved differently were it me. At the conclusion of each story, I was able to compare what actually happened to what may have happened had it been me and I found some of my decisions to be in error. Hopefully I'll never have to be in one of those stories, but if I am, hopefully I'll be able to apply the knowledge gained from this book.

this book needs to be read by people that are not total anti-gun but think the police can "save" them. Learn that the gun is just a tool with a job to do,learn to use it like you would any other tool.

Apparently only God fearing, white Republicans own and value guns (with one exception). And only black men ("thugs") or Hispanic men commit crimes (with one exception).... While I enjoyed some of the stories, which I thought were well written and informative, I could have done without the cheap Republican talking points inserted into these tragedies. For example, we learn that whenever anyone says we need a waiting period to purchase guns to allow for a proper background check, we should remind them of what happened to unarmed citizens in New Orleans after Katrina. Huh? What does that have to do with a waiting period? As a Virginia Tech alumnus, I think background checks should be strengthened, not eliminated.

It's a pity the author couldn't just give us more stories in place of his right wing propaganda. After all, not all gun owners are rabid Republicans (although, to the author's credit, most of his audience no doubt is, so I suppose it's good business for him to preach to the choir). And many people believe there can be healthy limitations on gun ownership, e.g. the previously mentioned waiting period, or banning assault weapons, and these limitations are consistent with the right to bear arms (just like the right to free speech doesn't mean you can scream "fire" in a crowded theater).

In any case, if its stories you want, buy the book. There are good lessons to be learned here, and the author should be commended for his work in compiling them in one handy reference.

Everyone is out to get you! The guy next door is probably a serial cannibal! Your son's elementary school teacher is a communist revolutionary who must be stopped! The government is coming to rape you and make you learn French!

UNLESS you have guns! LOTS OF THEM!

HOORAY FOR AMERICA!

A must read by all anti Gun individuals and Thoes that understand what a Gun is for.

I would recommend this book for anyone thinking about taking a concealed hand gun class or is concerned about their safety & the safety of their family. It really makes you think about what can happen to 'every day' people. It has interesting stories of 'real people'. I found it very interesting to read the story about the court house shooting in Tyler, Texas, as I live in Texas. This book filled in details that I did not find in the local papers.

This book presents many different real life self defense scenarios. Each one is different and it shows what ordinary people do in in different life threatening situations and it also talks about what happens afterwards. Very informative book.

This is a must read for any concealed handgun carrier! The stories are real and the analysis and reflections are great. A great book for all women who carry a firearm and even better for those who don't. A very good story about and tribute to Mark Wilson, the hero of the Tyler Co. Courthouse shotout and a high school running buddy of mine. RIP Mark Wilson

This book should be in everyone's library. I am an NRA certified pistol & rifle instructor. We have spent considerable time providing especially women with free basic pistol. We saw wonderful transformations of these women as they became empowered with self confidence, now knowing that they could defend themselves aaannnd their loved ones around them, now that they not only had that rightfully named EQUALIZER, but they knew how to use it!

"The difference between a liberal and a conservative is one armed robbery."

That says it all and so does this book. Thank you Chris Bird!

After dealing with the half-truths in the media on any incidents involving firearms in the U.S., I was pleased to read this collection of no-nonsense, factual summaries of ordinary citizens defending themselves and others with their personal weapons. Many of the cited statistics and law enforcement reactions are sobering, and a reminder that, as citizens, we need to be vigilant in protecting our civil liberties. A must read for any gun owner and a book to be passed along to the non-gun owner.

Very good reading on true life stories the "liberal press" does not wish to report.

Very good reading on true life stories the "liberal press" does not wish to report.

In the spring of 2006, I was tripping all over Chris Bird's trail while doing interviews on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. We were interviewing a number of the same people.

Bird's first chapter in his book is the story of Vinnie Pervel and the Algier's Point Militia, a group of citizens that banded together to fight off looters and bandits in the anarchy after the hurricane. Unfortunately, they also had to suffer the harassment and fear of the police who were methodically trying to disarm every law-abiding citizen.

We also included Pervel's story in our book, but were more focused on the survival aspect and the Gestapo-like tactics of the police in New Orleans. Law enforcement agents tried to run every citizen out of the city after Katrina by taking their guns and leaving them defenseless. In many documented cases, they forcibly confiscated guns and physically evacuated people, violating the 2nd, 4th, and 14th Amendments.

But Bird, a Texas resident, former British military officer, crime reporter, and concealed handgun instructor has created an amazing book--fourteen chapters detailing stories of armed citizens who stopped crimes from occuring through the use of a gun. In most cases, these people saved their lives or the lives of others, and frequently ended a criminal career permanently.

In some cases, as that of Mark Alan Wilson of Tyler, Texas, the citizen died heroically while trying to stop an armed gunman from slaughtering dozens of innocent victims. Wilson was killed on the streets of Tyler after shooting a rifle-wielding madman twice in the torso--and hitting the killer's bullet-resistant vest.

Each of these well-written, well-documented cases is told in a strong, spare journalistic style, and I particularly like the way he breaks each chapter into several parts--first giving the background of the civilian subject and the criminals, then telling the incident, the aftermath, and reflections by the citizen/subject.

In every chapter he describes the type of guns used by both the heroic civilians, the criminals, and the ammunition used. As a concealed carry instructor in Louisiana, I found this interesting and enlightening--frequently the cessation of hostilities can be directly tied into the caliber and ammunition used. It is refreshing to have a crime writer report the facts and speak knowingly in each story about the firearms and ammunition utilized. Bird knows guns and ammunition, unlike many writers of true crime.

If you have a concealed carry permit, this book will convince you to carry more frequently, and carry enough ammunition. If you do not have a concealed carry permit, this book will make you give such training very serious consideration.

Chris Bird has written a classic book on firearms use and self-defense. Thousands of such cases occur each year, but due to the anti-gun bias of the national media too few are brought to the attention of the public. The media does not want to offer examples of the right of the citizenry to arm and defend themselves against thugs and crime. Stories such as these prove concealed carry laws work, and the armed citizen is the most likely person to end a criminal's killing spree--more often than the police.

Anyone interested in self-defense and concealed carry rights should own this book. It speaks strongly to the founding tradition of this country of a man's right to arm and defend himself, and is a great way to educate your less knowledgable friends--I've given several copies as gifts.


Gordon Hutchinson is the author (with Todd Masson) of "The Great New Orleans Gun Grab," and of "The Quest and the Quarry."

Every American, no matter political leanings, should be required to read this book, then make up their own mind concerning personal protection issues.

Chris Bird gives some excellent examples of why every adult American should give serious consideration to their need to have a means of protection in the present state of society.

I had just finished reading Bird's book when the young man attacked the store in the Mall in Omaha. It sure brought the content of the book home.

Chapter One alone is worth the price of the book. Chris Bird tells the story of a man, his mother, and some neighbors who set up their own defensive "fort" in their home in Algiers Point, New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The ramifications of what you read there are scary. This is a book that will help you think through what you might do in similar situations.

This is an excellent book for all who plan to get a concealed carry license. It is well written and has good interesting information.

READ this book! You can't read this book and remain unaffected. You will be forced to come to some educated conclusion as it is really hard to argue with actual events and personal accounts.

The author brings out case examples of civilians who came to an event what would either leave them dead or severely harmed, they defended themselves or their fellow citizen with a firearm, and we're shown the outcomes both good and bad. Excellent follow up with the the major players.

I re-read the chapter on Katrina over and over again - that one chapter by itself is worth than the cost of this book 7 fold.

Read this book! And vote to allow carry concealed permits in every state of the union.

If you believe your government should assist deranged criminals in carrying out rape, robbery, and homicide against law-abiding citizens, then this book isn't for you. If you believe your government should not force innocent people to become helpless victims of such terrible things, then read on.

Some people believe that criminals should be protected from law-abiding citizens, instead of the other way around. These 14 case histories, as good as they are, probably won't pull such people back from the dark side. If you aren't one of those people, you will find these 14 case histories well worth reading. If you agree that rendering potential victims helpless is a bad idea, this book has valuable information for you.

Thank God I Had a Gun provides 14 gripping accounts of how ordinary people stopped dangerous criminals. For example, 72-year old Zelda Hunt confronted an intruder who surely would have killed her. She held him at gunpoint until the police arrived in response to her 911 call. Ms. Hunt successfully defended her life and property without discharging her firearm or killing anybody.

It's hard to imagine that a 72-year old widow would safely stop a large, strong, young male attacker by using her bare hands. Assuming she's an accomplished martial artist and a fitness fanatic, one could argue this is possible. But do you know any 72-year old widows with rippling muscles and a black belt?

Unfortunately, this "she beat him up" scenario is one of the two possible outcomes that the citizen disarmament nuts ("gun control advocates") would leave us with. The other, far more likely, outcome is this: the unarmed woman is raped, killed, and robbed before the police arrive. People who value life obviously prefer the outcome Ms. Hunt experienced. It happened only because, thank God, she had a gun.

Reviewer's note: In the vast majority of such confrontations, the armed citizen never fires the weapon. The mere presence of an armed citizen induces most criminals to suddenly change their minds. That's why thousands of aborted crimes go unreported each year. Those crimes simply never happen, because armed citizens prevent them.

How do we know this number is thousands and not merely dozens? We can compare "criminal protection zones" such as the UK to citizen protection places such as Florida and note the difference. The UK is suffering from a huge increase in violent crime, while Florida saw violent crime drop 90% in the first year of RTC (Right To Carry). Or we can look at "before" and "after" the passing of citizen disarmament laws in Australia. "Before" was much safer for law-abiding citizens. "After" is much safer for criminals..

More than hardware
This book describes true accounts in vivid detail, and provides an expert analysis of each account. The accounts and their analyses show there's much more to responsible and effective self-defense than merely buying a piece of hardware. For example, in one analysis, the author discussed what was wrong with the bullets used. That led into a discussion of understanding what's behind the target.

Review's note: Self-defense expert John Deshotel says to use hollow point bullets in your self-defense pistols. Police have intense training in this very aspect of weapons use, to reduce the chances of hitting an innocent bystander or other unintended target. A couple of the accounts provide especially good cases for teaching how to use firearms more safely. Mr. Deshotel also says a pistol is a puny weapon. This book mentions an adage many instructors are fond of--use your pistol to shoot your way to your shotgun or rifle.

On any shooting range, the concept of safety permeates the air. People wear safety glasses. People wear hearing protection. People observe many rules of safety. A person who is trained in firearm use and who practices with the weapon is immersed in safety so much that the concept is "front of mind." The accounts in this book show how people used firearms for their personal safety. In the case of Mark Wilson, he made the ultimate sacrifice so that others could be safe. This book talks about safely using firearms in real-life situations, rather than just on the range.

Just as guns don't kill people, guns don't protect people. Well-trained people protect people. We do that by using guns we have been trained to use, when and where the situation requires. Guns are tools, and have no will of their own. If you visit an automotive garage, you'll see many tools. But the tools don't solve any problems by themselves (they don't cause any problems by themselves, either). The mechanic's training and experience make all the difference. It is the same for the armed citizen.

Reviewer viewpoint
Some people believe it's debatable whether government should respect the basic human right of self-defense. In fact, they use language to the effect that government gives that right and can take it away. These people continually tout victim helplessness as a necessary solution to crime. They have not demonstrated how making crime easier to commit will reduce the number (or severity) of crimes committed. Logic dictates otherwise, which is why such policies have always caused violent crime to skyrocket.

It's worth noting that the most outspoken proponents of pro-criminal, anti-victim laws exempt themselves from the consequences. Ted Kennedy has armed guards, and so does Rosie O'Donnell. Nobody has ever proven that disarming citizens somehow protects them from violent criminals. Logic dictates otherwise, which is why the survival rates are so much better for armed citizens than unarmed ones.

I think this book will motivate people to stay current with their firearms training and other aspects of crime prevention and self-defense. These 14 accounts clearly show that ordinary people can, with the right tools and training, face death down and defeat it.

Thank you, Chris Bird, for doing the nation a great service with the research and thoughtfulness that went into this excellent book.

If you believe your government should assist deranged criminals in carrying out rape, robbery, and homicide against law-abiding citizens, then this book isn't for you. If you believe your government should not force innocent people to become helpless victims of such terrible things, then read on.

Some people believe that criminals should be protected from law-abiding citizens, instead of the other way around. These 14 case histories, as good as they are, probably won't pull such people back from the dark side. If you aren't one of those people, you will find these 14 case histories well worth reading. If you agree that rendering potential victims helpless is a bad idea, this book has valuable information for you.

Thank God I Had a Gun provides 14 gripping accounts of how ordinary people stopped dangerous criminals. For example, 72-year old Zelda Hunt confronted an intruder who surely would have killed her. She held him at gunpoint until the police arrived in response to her 911 call. Ms. Hunt successfully defended her life and property without discharging her firearm or killing anybody.

It's hard to imagine that a 72-year old widow would safely stop a large, strong, young male attacker by using her bare hands. Assuming she's an accomplished martial artist and a fitness fanatic, one could argue this is possible. But do you know any 72-year old widows with rippling muscles and a black belt?

Unfortunately, this "she beat him up" scenario is one of the two possible outcomes that the citizen disarmament nuts ("gun control advocates") would leave us with. The other, far more likely, outcome is this: the unarmed woman is raped, killed, and robbed before the police arrive. People who value life obviously prefer the outcome Ms. Hunt experienced. It happened only because, thank God, she had a gun.

Reviewer's note: In the vast majority of such confrontations, the armed citizen never fires the weapon. The mere presence of an armed citizen induces most criminals to suddenly change their minds. That's why thousands of aborted crimes go unreported each year. Those crimes simply never happen, because armed citizens prevent them.

How do we know this number is thousands and not merely dozens? We can compare "criminal protection zones" such as the UK to citizen protection places such as Florida and note the difference. The UK is suffering from a huge increase in violent crime, while Florida saw violent crime drop 90% in the first year of RTC (Right To Carry). Or we can look at "before" and "after" the passing of citizen disarmament laws in Australia. "Before" was much safer for law-abiding citizens. "After" is much safer for criminals..

More than hardware
This book describes true accounts in vivid detail, and provides an expert analysis of each account. The accounts and their analyses show there's much more to responsible and effective self-defense than merely buying a piece of hardware. For example, in one analysis, the author discussed what was wrong with the bullets used. That led into a discussion of understanding what's behind the target.

Review's note: Self-defense expert John Deshotel says to use hollow point bullets in your self-defense pistols. Police have intense training in this very aspect of weapons use, to reduce the chances of hitting an innocent bystander or other unintended target. A couple of the accounts provide especially good cases for teaching how to use firearms more safely. Mr. Deshotel also says a pistol is a puny weapon. This book mentions an adage many instructors are fond of--use your pistol to shoot your way to your shotgun or rifle.

On any shooting range, the concept of safety permeates the air. People wear safety glasses. People wear hearing protection. People observe many rules of safety. A person who is trained in firearm use and who practices with the weapon is immersed in safety so much that the concept is "front of mind." The accounts in this book show how people used firearms for their personal safety. In the case of Mark Wilson, he made the ultimate sacrifice so that others could be safe. This book talks about safely using firearms in real-life situations, rather than just on the range.

Just as guns don't kill people, guns don't protect people. Well-trained people protect people. We do that by using guns we have been trained to use, when and where the situation requires. Guns are tools, and have no will of their own. If you visit an automotive garage, you'll see many tools. But the tools don't solve any problems by themselves (they don't cause any problems by themselves, either). The mechanic's training and experience make all the difference. It is the same for the armed citizen.

Reviewer viewpoint
Some people believe it's debatable whether government should respect the basic human right of self-defense. In fact, they use language to the effect that government gives that right and can take it away. These people continually tout victim helplessness as a necessary solution to crime. They have not demonstrated how making crime easier to commit will reduce the number (or severity) of crimes committed. Logic dictates otherwise, which is why such policies have always caused violent crime to skyrocket.

It's worth noting that the most outspoken proponents of pro-criminal, anti-victim laws exempt themselves from the consequences. Ted Kennedy has armed guards, and so does Rosie O'Donnell. Nobody has ever proven that disarming citizens somehow protects them from violent criminals. Logic dictates otherwise, which is why the survival rates are so much better for armed citizens than unarmed ones.

I think this book will motivate people to stay current with their firearms training and other aspects of crime prevention and self-defense. These 14 accounts clearly show that ordinary people can, with the right tools and training, face death down and defeat it.

Thank you, Chris Bird, for doing the nation a great service with the research and thoughtfulness that went into this excellent book.

This is an excellent book. It gets you thinking. Chris Bird is an excellent author

This book should be required reading for anyone who owns a firearm for self defense. You will learn from each individuals story of what to do and what not to do during an encounter. The chapter on New Orleans is reason enough to buy the book.

Each of these stories clearly shows why we cannot rely on police to protect us from violent crime. The need for this book is all the greater because these are the kinds of stories which are NOT reported in the media. The book begins with a story from New Orleans, where someone who didn't like guns ended up finding out, in the chaos that ensued after Katrina, that the most dangerous thing that can happen to a city is not a hurricane, "It's the thugs in the neighborhood who would do more damage." The stories are well-written, the book is engaging. I couldn't put it down. The book is a great antidote to the depression one feels when reading the daily newspaper and taking in yet another story of a violent crime and a psychologically damaged if not deceased victim. The people in these stories took up their arms and refused to be victims, and that brightens my day.

This book was recommended by a shooting instructor and it was exactly as he described. This books tells of people that showed/used a gun to diffuse different situations and had very different outcomes. Like most books it has ordinary citizens getting through situations just by brandishing a gun. Unlike other books it also shows some of the places where bad things happen to good people. This book was a real eye opener.

The true accounts presented in "THANK GOD I HAD A GUN" give the reader a keen awareness of the need for self-reliance in a violent confrontation. This type of threat can come so quickly that one has no time to call 911 or wait for a policeman to show up. An attacker can deliver a fatal wound in the time it takes you to grab your cell phone.
Also, read what happens when law enforcement authorities loose control in a city during a natural disaster. What would you do if your home was about to be overrun by thieves while you were still in it? One man tells his story.

Should you own a gun and know how to use it?
Should you get a permit to carry a concealed gun?
This book may help you answer these questions.

The book emphasizes the importance of responsibility of ones own security.
With proper tools to protect family & self including membership in NRA.

Chris Bird has done an excellent! I could not put this book down, very informative, as a female who carry's for protection I was made aware of a few things I had not considered. I would suggest anyone considering having a firearm for protection to read this book, any doubts they may have will be quashed after this read. Overall this book is a definate learning experience, very well researched, excellent!

This book is well worth the read but about one third of it requires you to search long and hard for what the author is actually saying.

Some portions are crisp and easy to understand while in others the author seems to be paid by word count.

I really enjoyed this book and have had several people at my office borrow it and give it rave reviews as well. Chris Bird has done a great job in presenting each of the 14 case studies of real life people whose lives depended on their ability to defend themselves or others in immediate peril.

I like the way Chris presents each case study. You get background on the individual, the community and the area where the incident takes place. As you read this, you get a real sense of what it would have been like to be there. This is helpful to me in thinking through how I might have chosen to respond in a similar situation.

While there is a brief follow-up after each chapter highlighting the legal outcome and evaluating the incident, I would have liked a little more analysis / education.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book. Easy to pick up - hard to put down.

This book should be required reading for anyone who uses, or is thinking about using, a firearm for self defense. It really illustrates the awesome responsibility that comes along with being prepared to defend your family, yourself or others. There are many lessons to be learned from each of the 14 stories. The stories include what was done right, what was done wrong and what could have been done better given the benefit of hindsight. I highly recommend this title.

If you have ever thought about purchasing a handgun for self-defense, this book may help you make your decision. This is a collection of true stories in which a gun saved someone's life.