Book Review: Thank God I Had A Gun

Captain Crunch · December 22nd, 2006, 12:05 AM

Thank God I Had A Gun. True Accounts of Self Defense. By Chris Bird. Privateer Publications. 2006. 307 pages. Softcover. $19.95. Sold by Borders & Amazon, or from the publisher at 1-888-700-4333.

Chris Bird is the author of the classic book The Concealed Handgun Manual, arguably the best book in print on the subject. In this book he has collected 14 true-life accounts of ordinary citizens who used firearms in defense of themselves or others.

Not all of the stories tell of an actual shooting. In chapters 1, 2, 3, 10 and 11, just the presence of a firearm saved the day. Chapter 1 recounts the rather remarkable conversion of an anti-gun person into a staunch NRA card carrying pro-gun advocate during and after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Chapters 3, 8, 10, 12 and 14 are accounts of women protecting themselves or their families with a gun.

One account, sadly, is not a success story for the good guys. Mark Wilson confronted a shooter armed with a semi-auto AK clone and wearing body armor in Tyler, Texas. Although Mark's actions were tactically sound, he was still shot to death. Read this tragic story in chapter 7.

Be prepared for a surprise ending to chapter 13. This is the story of an Indianapolis pizza delivery guy who fired 16 rounds at an armed robber, hitting him at least 10 times, who then left the scene of the shooting with the robber's gun and drove back to his Pizza Hut before calling police.

Robert Lawrence, of Tempe, Arizona, believed his life was in danger when he displayed, but did not fire, his pistol. His subsequent treatment by the justice system for exercising his rights was disgraceful. Robert's story is in chapter 11.

Arlington, Texas, resident Susan Buxton, in chapter 14, shot and wounded a burglar in her home. Her gun was seized by police and she was forced to hire an attorney to get it back, in a classic case of bureaucratic "pass the buck".

Other chapters detail incidents of grocery store hold-ups, a hotel room invasion, and an armed citizen who shot and captured a drug dealer, after the dealer shot & killed a Phoenix police officer.

This book is a must read, and well deserves a place on your book shelf. If you have a friend or relative who doesn't believe in owning a gun, ask them to read this book. If it doesn't change their mind, nothing will. Highly recommended.

5

tnoisaw · December 22nd, 2006, 10:03 AM

Did you buy that in our area CC? It looks good.

Captain Crunch · December 23rd, 2006, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnoisaw

Did you buy that in our area CC? It looks good.

Yes, I bought it at Borders Books.

XD forever · December 23rd, 2006, 01:40 AM

Yep, I finished this book a couple of weeks ago and it was a good read. The best story, I thought, was the New Orleans/Katrina opening chapter story.

Joe

elance · April 5th, 2007, 04:58 PM

so now chris has the number 1 & 2 must read book !

this one read a whole lot easier ,not so much a 'how to book' , yet it's a 'how to book' in disguise .

like i said a must read !

elance

retsupt99 · April 5th, 2007, 09:08 PM

along with a dozen others...now I'll have to move it closer to the top of the pile...

ret

AirMech74 · May 12th, 2007, 10:15 PM

I'm reading that book now..I had to skim over the original post so that I wouldn't ruin the book..

So far, very good book, and great stories.

TN_Mike · May 13th, 2007, 11:56 AM

I will be picking this one up very soon. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Frogman · June 10th, 2007, 02:07 PM

Got it! It's excellent!!

vanilla_gorilla · June 12th, 2007, 06:48 PM

A note about the pizza delivery guy: You would probably be surprised just how often delivery drivers simply go back to the store after being robbed, even if it's 10-15 minutes away. I've only once had a delivery driver pull a gun, and he was smart enough to stay put, but most of them aren't delivering pizzas to pay for the Mensa membership.

December 22nd, 2006, 10:03 AM	#2
tnoisaw Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 205	Did you buy that in our area CC? It looks good. __________________ Don't be a fool and die for your country. Let the other sonofabitch die for his. George S. Patton

April 5th, 2007, 09:08 PM	#6
retsupt99 VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 12,571	Just Bought It... along with a dozen others...now I'll have to move it closer to the top of the pile... ret __________________ ‘‘Four out of five politicians surveyed prefered unarmed, ignorant peasants.’’ — Unknown Liberals are as American as 'dog dodo' pie...

May 13th, 2007, 11:56 AM	#8
TN_Mike VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Arlington, TN Posts: 4,679	I will be picking this one up very soon. I'm looking forward to reading it. __________________ A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. —Barry Goldwater 1968 Tennessee Firearms Association

June 12th, 2007, 06:48 PM	#10
vanilla_gorilla Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 111	A note about the pizza delivery guy: You would probably be surprised just how often delivery drivers simply go back to the store after being robbed, even if it's 10-15 minutes away. I've only once had a delivery driver pull a gun, and he was smart enough to stay put, but most of them aren't delivering pizzas to pay for the Mensa membership. __________________ I'll take a .45 and a large side of JHPs, please.

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December 23rd, 2006, 01:40 AM	#4
XD forever Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mesquite, TX Posts: 16	Yep, I finished this book a couple of weeks ago and it was a good read. The best story, I thought, was the New Orleans/Katrina opening chapter story. Joe

April 5th, 2007, 04:58 PM	#5
elance Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: tulsa ok Posts: 185	so now chris has the number 1 & 2 must read book ! this one read a whole lot easier ,not so much a 'how to book' , yet it's a 'how to book' in disguise . like i said a must read ! elance

May 12th, 2007, 10:15 PM	#7
AirMech74 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 340	I'm reading that book now..I had to skim over the original post so that I wouldn't ruin the book.. So far, very good book, and great stories.

June 10th, 2007, 02:07 PM	#9
Frogman Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: WV Posts: 78	Got it! It's excellent!!