This short book details the Point Shooting method of armed self-defense and is based, primarily, on the experience and teachings of Col. Rex Applegate who, himself, trained under William E. Fairbairn and E.A. Sykes, English police officers in Shanghai from 1900 to 1940. Fairbairn and Sykes were returned to England to instruct British commandos and intellligence personnel. In 1942, Fairbairn was sent to the U.S. to assist the newly-formed OSS. It was during this duty that he and Col. Applegate became aquainted.

Point Shooting is, in fact, UNSIGHTED defensive fire. This system is scorned by many in the defensive combat community, Jeff Cooper being one of the most influential. That may be why this short book devotes just half its pages to how the technique is practiced and performed. The remaining pages attempt to explain why this style is more effective than what is taught in the majority of defensive handgun schools. However, one should not confuse quantity with quality. There is only so much a book can be expected to do. The reader is instructed, through words and photographs, the proper stance, grip and point techniques. The necessity for adherence to the specifics is also made clear. A video might make the technique more clear but only personal instruction (as with most training involving physical activity) could offer materially more benefit than this short text.

The authors make a fine case for the use of Point Shooting in typical armed-combat scenarios. One wonders why the technique, while fervently taught and convincingly practiced fifty years ago, has fallen by the wayside. The fact that another technique/style has replaced it does NOT mean the current way is better. At the modest cost of this book ($20 list; $16 from Amazon.com), it is a worth-while read. This permits you to make the decision and, after all, it's your life on the line if you ever "see the elephant."

Gabe Suarez was awarded the Medal of Honor as a police officer, has studied under Jeff Cooper and is an accomplished instructor in his own right. Better still, for us —the shooter trying to better himself— Gabe is a good author. This book is information from beginning to end. You will have difficulty finding another book that graphically illustrates the methods used by professionals when "clearing" a home or apartment. This book does just that and that information, alone, would make it a best buy. Also covered are the proper use of cover and concealment and operating in reduced light among other topics. Gabe Suarez, however, goes further and explains various methods of controlling your firearm in a struggle and its effective use in close-quarter defense. This book is one of the few that describes how to handle those situations where you do not have to shoot, which make up a majority of home encounters. The individual who carries a firearm as a part of his profession or for personal defense will find enough of value in this book to warrant its purchase. In addition, Gabe explains and illustrates proper tactics for teams that, even if you do not use them in your profession, will be informative — and entertaining when you see it done so poorly in the movies and on TV. I whole-heartedly recommend this book to The Gun Guy readers.

Dear Sirs:

I am writing you today on behalf of the family of a police officer, Russell J. Reiker, who was police officer for twenty-one years. Two months before his scheduled retirement he was tragically injured on duty. His injury was so severe he should not have survived, but did. Although handicapped now with only partial use of one side of his body, he and his family have moved on with their lives.
Mrs. Reiker, now a care giver for her husband, wrote a manuscript about her husband's career, which was recently published by a small publishing company. Entitled "999 OFFICER DOWN: The Russ Reiker Story," those who have read it are calling it simply inspirational.
Highlights include Officer Reiker's career from the time he entered the police academy, to the day he was injured and his career ended. The story line coincides with the death of his closest friend, also a police officer, who was brutally murdered four years earlier, in the worst shoot out in the history of the Phoenix Police Department. We are told this is the first and only book ever published about the career of a Phoenix Police Officer.
Because the publisher is a small company, most of the retailers are reluctant to stock the book in their stores. We know that there is a huge interest in the lives of our public servants by the community as a whole, but it now seems unlikely this moving story will ever receive the attention it deserves.
The lives of two police officers deserve more than that. They were prepared to give their lives to the citizens of their community each day they worked. One did and the other lost the ability to enjoy the wonderful life he once had.
For details please visit our web site.

Sincerely yours,
Chris Jordan