Rating: 
Summary: If you didn't know now you know
Review: This book will give you a little firearms history, black history, and much more in a small easy to comprehend package. It's a great attention getter for any enthusiast's bookshelf, or those curious enough to open the cover. By the end of the book expect to be thinking wow I didn't know that. Don't let the title scare you this book does tell the truth, and if you desire some good reading to add o your library do consider this book.
Rating:
Summary: Short, sweet, and hard hitting!
Review: This is one of those rare books that distills its message into a simple, easy to swallow morsel, yet retains all the power to transform you. Long tomes full of statistics have their place to support Second Amendment rights, but getting a doubter to actually read them is another matter. "Black Man With a Gun" on the other hand, is tailor made for today's attention-span challenged youth or busy adult.The hook of course, is the title, or rather the image conjured up in your mind by it. You almost would think you're about to read why we should increase gun control for all the armed black men (read: criminals) out there. But one quickly realizes that the term is a stereotype, and that Mr. Blanchard's mission is to make the term "black man with a gun" bring to mind instead the law abiding citizen who happens to be black, and is armed not to victimize, but to protect himself and others from being victimized. I'm not sure the hardcore anti-gun nut will be convinced by this or any book, but I was something of a fence-sitter, with no real interest in guns (indeed feared them) until I read it, and it knocked me firmly onto the side of personal gun ownership. I am a white female. Though his book primarily addresses blacks - because many blacks carry the legacy from history that they should not arm themselves, and because an armed citizenry is so critical to freedom - everything Blanchard says is applicable to people of all races. It is more important, not less, for the weak and the underdogs of society to be armed. It is more important, not less, for those in communities of high crime, to be able to defend themselves and their homes, yet it is the righteous in these very communities who are likely to reject firearm ownership. This leaves them at the mercy of the criminal. Blanchard makes it crystal clear that he is addressing the law-abiding, not criminals, how important it is to be armed against the threat from those among us who would do us harm. It is a message the black community needs to hear, and a message anyone who through goodness shuns violence needs to hear, to counter those who prey on their very goodness. This book made me confront the fact that as a woman, I am defacto weaker than any presumed assailant, and that only a firearm will give me the chance I need to defend myself. If Blanchard convincingly argues that gun ownership is necessary for minorities to hedge against oppression, it was a no-brainer for me to conclude that the entire female gender is at a physical disadvantage and must carry weapons to remain safe. Mr. Blanchard happens to be a Christian preacher, and his motives are clear: The protection of the innocent. He acknowledges the unfortunate need to use violence toward that end, and provides in this book an excellent starting point for those new to firearms, as well as a thoughtful new perspective for those already familiar with guns. He'll not only give you the emotional, historical and philosophical rationale for gun ownership, he also gives you solid basic information on how to get started if you've never owned a gun before. For me, this was the starting point that led to my purchasing several firearms, acquiring training, and even entering shooting competitions. Now, guns are not only my protection, they are a fun hobby. I wish more good people of all races would exercise their Second Amendment right more fully in this way. I once feared guns. Now, knowing that good people all around me legally own and carry, I realize that it was never really the guns I feared, but rather the bad guys. I highly recommend this book for anyone.
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