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Why do you carry a handgun? Why do you keep a
handgun by your bedside at night? Ask yourself these very
legitimate questions. While more and more Americans are
choosing to go armed than ever before, many never really
consider carefully ever having to use that weapon for the fight
of their life. Should the need ever arise that you have to use
your handgun to defend your life or the lives of those whom you
hold dear and are obligated to protect, it will happen quickly
and with a vengeance. A rifle or shotgun will almost always be a
better choice. The handgun is a compromise between power,
concealment, and handiness. Most of us cannot efficiently
perform our daily duties while carrying an AR-15 in one hand.
Also, being realistic, most of us never truly believe that we
will have to clear leather on any given day. If we did, prudence
would have us avoid the situation altogether. The handgun is a
compromise. It is not the best tool to bring to a fight, but it
is the one that you are most likely to have available when the
fight comes to you.
The preceding paragraph asked the question,
without providing any answers. It was written to get you to
thinking about the defensive handgun. Most importantly, to
thinking about your defensive handgun. The answers, as best as
they can be answered, are found in a book written by Bob
Campbell titled The Handgun in Personal Defense.
Robert K. Campbell has a background of over
twenty years in law enforcement as a trainer, weapons tester,
and a street cop. He is one of the most prolific writers today
on the subject of fighting weapons. He has been published in
most of the better publications dealing with fighting firearms
and edged weapons. He is also a very welcome contributing writer
for Gunblast.com, adding experience and wisdom to our online
magazine.
Mr. Campbell just recently sent this book to me.
I opened the package thinking to initially give it a quick
thumb-through, then to set it aside to carefully read later. It
did not work out that way. I began with the introduction, and
finished it a few hours later, reading it through in one
prolonged sitting. Then I read it again. It is not a huge book,
having just 121 pages, but those pages are filled with some of
the most essential and useful information available to anyone
who owns a handgun for social purposes. The book is very
well-written, and has numerous black and white photos to help
illustrate the writer's intention.
Mr. Campbell covers the topics of handgun
choice, training, cartridge effectiveness, holsters,
reliability, and one of my favorites; night shooting. He
also covers many other topics in a clear and concise manner. He
covers cartridge choices from the .22 Long Rifle up through the
.45 ACP, including the most popular magnums. He thoroughly
covers the two basic types of defensive handguns; the semi-auto
and the revolver. Mr. Campbell also touches on the subject of
having a good knife as a backup to the handgun. He covers
malfunction clearance, and most importantly, malfunction
prevention. A gun that does not work can be embarrassing at the
range. It can get you killed on the street. I am often
asked to recommend a handgun for personal defense. In Chapter
15, Mr. Campbell lists fifty handguns that he personally
recommends for defense, with a description of each, along with
photos and the reasons that it is a good fighting handgun.
He suggests various fighting techniques and stances, along with
suggestions for the best use of cover. Many of us spend a great
deal of time in a vehicle, and he also covers that situation as
well. Mr. Campbell does not neglect the subject of the fighting
mindset. Your most important asset in a defensive situation is
your brain.
Many books are available to shooters dealing
with the topic of handgun fighting. Most are filled from cover
to cover with a heavy dose of the author's ego, spouting the
reasons of why he is the new grand guru on the subject covered.
In The Handgun in Personal Defense, none of that
foolishness is to be found. Mr. Campbell explains what works and
why it works, and backs up his advice and opinions with real
facts, not propaganda.
The Handgun in Personal Defense can be
purchased directly from the author for just fifteen bucks, plus
$3.50 for shipping, for a grand total of only $18.50. That is
less than the price of a box of decent ammo, or a cold pizza
delivered to your house. Mr. Campbell will include a personal
note and signature for Gunblast readers. You can order it by
sending a personal check or money order to:
R.K. Campbell
P.O. Box 698
Una, SC 29378
For large quantities, contact the Second
Amendment Foundation by telephone at: 425-454-7009.
Regardless of your level of experience, I
strongly recommend this book to any and all who are
contemplating a handgun for personal defense. I have been
packing for many years, and found the book to be useful and
informative.
Jeff Quinn
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Click pictures for a larger version.
What you need for personal defense: a gun, a knife, and
the knowledge to make them work!
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