Product Details
Thank God I Had a Gun: True Accounts of Self-Defense

Thank God I Had a Gun: True Accounts of Self-Defense
By Chris Bird

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Product Description

This collection of true stories examines incidents involving the use of firearms by ordinary citizens for personal protection against criminals. Three basic types of events are discussed: armed defense at home, at work, and in a public place. Each episode is explored in detail, with a look at the citizen involved as well as how their defensive actions aided them or could be improved. From convenience-store robberies to police arrests gone awry, these stories provide memorable reminders of firearm self-defense dos and don'ts.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #30718 in Books
  • Published on: 2006-07-01
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 250 pages

Editorial Reviews

Review

"There is much to be learned from Chris' painstaking, detailed research. I recommend this book highly."  —Massad Ayoob, director, Lethal Force Institute


"Wow! 'Riveting' may be an overused word...but it is perfectly descriptive of the stories that Chris has compiled."  —Suzanna Hupp, Texas state representative


"Great true stories that spark a self-analytical What would I have done?"  —Jerry Patterson, Texas land commissioner


"If you don't own a firearm for personal protection, you need to read this book."  —Combat Handguns magazine


"The humanity of Bird's subjects . . . left me with a warm feeling toward these survivors, and regrets for the one who did not make it."  —Women & Guns magazine


"I am deeply impressed with the book by Chris Bird."  —GunNews


"Like I said, ya gotta read the book. It's a purchase I don't think you'll regret."  —American Handgunner magazine

About the Author

Chris Bird is the author of The Concealed Handgun Manual, a former police reporter for the San Antonio Express-News, a certified concealed-handgun instructor, and a director of the Texas Concealed Handgun Association. He lives in San Antonio, Texas.

Customer Reviews

Embracing Our Inner Frightened Bunnies5
"Thank God I Had a Gun" is the kind of book every patriot should keep on a shelf between his "Red Dawn" DVD and his emergency pants. It's a great collection of stories about how very terrified real-Americans overcame their inbred fear of their swarthy neighbors by shooting them. Some of the tales are heartwarming, like that of pizza deliveryman Ron Honeycutt who stopped a potential mugger with 15 well placed shots to the torso, pausing only to reload once. Others are empowering, like that told by Barbara Thompson who ended after-hour burglaries at her plant nursery by ambushing the burglar and blowing his head clean off.

But, unfortunately, by focusing only on killing potential criminals, this book completely ignores a more common way firearms are used for defense: the impromptu administration of justice against those who've wronged you.

You've heard about these cases. A wife cheats on a fine NRA-supporting gun show enthusiast or he loses his job for engaging in so-called "hate speech" and the patriot attempts to regain his honor by shooting everyone who has even the slightest connection to the source of his shame. There have been at least a dozen incidents of this nature in the last two months alone--more if you look at those resulting in three or less deaths. That's twelve more chapters for the book, and at least two more if you add talk radio/cable news junkies who ambush cops because they are afraid they'll take their guns.

Another piece this book lacks is a how-to section. I mean, hey, there are a lot of us who haven't bagged us a perp yet. Most of our friends have shot at least one person, some, two or three, and we're still waiting for a chance to exercise our Second Amendment rights to the fullest extent. It's embarrassing. We're called "cherry boys" and are the objects of jokes about the hitting power of our loads. We want to be NRA heroes too, but we need a little help getting there. A short, last chapter would have provided that.

Again, although it was a great book, it was also deeply flawed. I'll give it five stars but only because I fear my masculinity would be questioned if i gave it fewer.

Highly Recommended5
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 Power of Critical Knowledge is Freedom5
This is a well written book. It reveals much about the criminal attitude, self defense preparedness, the psychological impact of shooting incidents, the aftermath of the incidents, and critical examination of
these incidents. Your mind and body must be prepared if you want to protect yourself from violent
crime. Certain decisions need to be made before you are attacked. You won't have time to engage in
philosophy when only seconds remain for you to act. The incidents reported here are varied enough
to give you some important things to think about. If you are on a search to obtain critical knowledge
about protecting yourself and/or your loved ones and also being a responsible citizen, then this book
is for you. Thanks Chris Bird. Job well done !