Anyone who is serious abut prepping has considered their options for armed defense. They have tried to examine the pros and cons of both lethal and non-lethal weapons and have tried to come up with the best solution for their own situation. More often than not, they have come away with misguided decisions due to not fully understanding what their weapon of choice could or could not do and legal ramifications thereof.
It is for those reasons that I am proud to introduce you to Jim Cobb’s latest book, Preppers Armed Defense. Those of you that have been around for awhile know that I am a huge fan of Jim and his books, mostly because they are concise and to the point. They are also well written and highly readable. Prepper’s Armed Defense is no exception and, in my opinion, is his most important work to date.
I say this from the point of view of someone who selected a personal weapon that was totally wrong for me. It was only after training that I realized I had approached armed defense and self defense ass-backwards (if you will pardon my French). I wish I had read Jim’s book first.
The options covered in Preppers Armed Defense include everything from firearms, to knives, projectile weapons, martial arts, homemade weapons, non-lethal weapons and more. In addition to going through these options, Jim clearly and succinctly points out that everything is his book is geared toward hurting another human being. Take that seriously, comes to terms with it, and accept it. If not, you need to move on.
Now that we have that out of the way, I want to let you know that Jim and his publisher are making three copes of his book available in a giveaway. In addition, Jim is back for his eighth interview! Enjoy what Jim has to say then check in below for details about the giveaway/
An Interview with Jim Cobb, Author of Prepper’s Home Defense
In your own words, tell me what this book is about and who you perceive as the target audience.
PREPPER’S ARMED DEFENSE is intended to be a guide for those seeking advice and input as to their options when it comes to taking up weapons against those who would do them harm.
The book isn’t going to turn anyone into an expert marksman or any sort of martial arts warrior. Instead, it is a down to earth, practical reference explaining the pros and cons of dozens of different weapons, from firearms to blades, pepper spray to stun guns.
While firearms are often the most effective weapon in most scenarios, there are many people for whom guns just aren’t an option, for one reason or another. PREPPER’S ARMED DEFENSE seeks to help all those who wish to be better able to defend themselves.
Many preppers have reached a point where, on most days, they feel ready for whatever the world may throw at them. Then, the next day they feel they have not done enough to prepare and start frantically searching for the next skill to learn, book to read, or piece of equipment to buy. What advice do you have for these mid-stage preppers?
I’ve found the best approach, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been at it for decades, is to commit to doing one thing each and every day to improve your emergency preparedness. You can never know everything, there are always new skills to learn or old skills to practice. Even if your one thing is just to sit down for 15 minutes and read your favorite news sites so you stay informed on world events, you’re still staying ahead of the game.
Many if not most people who stick with prepping for a while begin to look beyond the bug out bag and food storage. They start becoming interested in actual self-reliance, such as gardening, home canning, renewable energy, and such. When you reach that stage, you’re never lacking for something to do.
I apologize if I have asked you this before, but if you could choose only four tools to have on hand for emergencies, what would they be and why?
A good quality knife – a sharp blade is used for so many different functions. Carving, food prep, opening boxes, making tools, the list goes on and on.
Cordage – I like to have a variety of cordage on hand, such as tarred bank line as well as the ever popular paracord. I keep some in every survival kit as well as at home. I suppose if one stretched the definition a bit, you could include duct tape in this category as well. Either way, cordage is very useful, from replacing broken shoelace to temporarily securing a door.
Framing hammer – a decent hammer is far better than a rock. I prefer a framing hammer due to the longer handle as well as the straight claw. They work great for demo work as well as, well, hammering nails.
Cash – outside of a true end of the world scenario, cash is and will likely always be king. Like it or not, many problems can be solved with an adequate application of portraits of dead presidents.
Since this is your eighth book festival, you have been writing for quite some time. What changes have you seen over this period of time and what changes do you see coming down the line relative to books in the preparedness niche?
One thing I’ve noticed, and I’m far from the only one who’s seen this, is the continuing proliferation of those who are seeking to just cash in on the prepper/survivalist niche. These are people who have little or no practical knowledge on the topics but know how to take dazzling photos and combine them with SEO marketing tricks so they can appear to be reputable sources of information. There is just so much bad information out there that gets passed around and repeated over and over until it is treated like gospel. Unfortunately, there’s little to be done about it. Just be sure you double and triple check your sources for information when you’re doing research.
As for the future, I see more and more people gravitating toward the self-reliance arena. People are waking up and realizing it is important to know where their food comes from, what’s in the water they drink, and how to do things for themselves. This is a great thing and I hope it continues.
And finally, where do YOU go to learn about prepping and survival?
One of my favorite sources is John D. McCann over at SurvivalResources.com. He has a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience. Of course, Backdoor Survival is another great resource.
I like to check YouTube for product reviews as well as “how to” sorts of things. While I obviously recommend investing in hard copy books as a way to preserve knowledge, videos can often provide a quick answer. I don’t really follow any particular video channels, though. I just bounce around a few until I get the info I’m seeking. Instructables.com is also very handy.
Honestly, when you get right down to it, there’s very little that is truly new in the prepper/survival world. Often, it just comes down to who can explain the topic or theory in a way that you understand best.
The Giveaway
Jim has reserved three copies of his book in this newest Book Festival Giveaway. The deadline is 6:00 PM Pacific Tuesday with the winners notified by email and announced on the Rafflecopter in the article. Please note that the winners must claim their book within 48 hours or an alternate will be selected.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Note: Due to customs requirements, this giveaway is only open to individuals with a mailing address in the United States.
The Final Word
As I mentioned above, as someone who selected a personal weapon that was totally wrong for me, I can appreciate Jim’s advice more than he will ever know. I leave you with these words from Jim:
“It is preferable to know how to defend yourself and never need to do so than to be in a bad situation and not have a clue what to do about it.”
For more information about the books in this latest book festival, visit Prepper Book Festival #12: The Best Books to Help You Prepare, Stay Healthy and Be Happy.
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye
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Spotlight: Preppers Armed Defense
A comprehensive guide to gun options as well as non-lethal and homemade alternatives needed for neutralizing attackers after a catastrophic collapse
A massive disaster strikes. Civilization breaks down and with it goes the thin blue line of police protection. Days or even weeks pass before the National Guard arrives to protect law-abiding citizens. In the mean time, it’s every man, woman, and family for themselves. Having self-sufficient means for protecting your family at this critical moment is essential. Thankfully, Prepper’s Armed Defense details exactly how to achieve this high level of life-saving readiness.
Far more than a gun guide, Prepper’s Armed Defense is the most comprehensive, no-holds-barred guide to all type of weapons, including knives and other edged weapons; non-lethal weapons like pepper spray, tasers and stun guns; plus last-minute improvised weapons made from common household items.
Among the weapons covered:
Firearms
Knives
Brass knuckles
Bows
Blackjack and sap
Monkey fist slingshots
Clubs and batons
Tonka and other martial arts weapons
The legalities of self-defense are also discussed as not all encounters will take place after a societal collapse. From the proper way to relate the information to a police dispatcher to when you should call an attorney, the focus is on ensuring you don’t end up behind bars for protecting your loved ones.
Prepper’s Armed Defense is your guide to inflicting the maximum amount of damage to those who would harm you and your family.
Bargain Bin: For your convenience, here is a complete list of all of the books in BDS Prepper Book Festival 12.
Survival Fiction
The Borrowed World: A Novel of Post-Apocalyptic Collapse
The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb
Non-Fiction
5 Gallon Bucket Book: DIY Projects, Hacks, and Upcycles
Be Your Own Herbalist: Essential Herbs for Health, Beauty, and Cooking
DIY Solar Projects: How to Put the Sun to Work in Your Home
Mason Jar Nation: The Jars that Changed America and 50 Clever Ways to Use Them Today
Mother Earth News Almanac: A Guide Through the Seasons
A Prepper’s Cookbook: Twenty Years of Cooking in the Woods
The Complete Guide to US Junk Silver Coins (2nd edition)
When There Is No FEMA: Survival for Normal People in Very Abnormal Times
Coloring Flower Mandalas: 30 Hand-drawn Designs for Mindful Relaxation
The Zika Virus Handbook
The Survival Doctor’s Complete Handbook
Book 8: Alcohol Mantle Lamps (The Non-Electric Lighting Series)
Preppers Armed Defense
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Third Edition: The SURVIVAL MEDICINE Handbook
A frequent question I get on Backdoor Survival has to do with healthcare matters when there is no doctor around. This is the definite source of survival medical information for all Prepper’s and is my go-to bible for survival medicine.
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