Every day, sure as the sun rises, I receive a series of emails from Stephen Wenger with the latest news about guns. Much of what makes headlines is about the use of firearms for self-defense. Wenger’s site, Defensive Use of Firearms, is a treasure-trove of information on the topic, and I suggest you go there to sign up for his daily updates.

These incidents show that if, God forbid, you have to use a gun for self-defense, the trauma from that life-changing event is just the beginning. You’ll interact with witnesses, police and attorneys, and where the whole thing goes from there is only a guess. In a perfect world, the good guy is recognized as such.

But this isn’t a perfect world. Recognizing that fact, Marty Hayes, his wife (and Gun Digest book author) Gila Hayes, and J. Vincent Schuck, started the Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network (ACLDN).

The ACLDN is a for-profit membership organization that provides support following a self-defense incident. Its advisory board reads like a who’s-who of self-defense experts. The Network’s legal support means someone has your back when you need it most. A few of its services include up to $10,000 deposit against attorney fees to ensure you have legal counsel during questioning, to interact with the media, and to handle other initial defense needs. The ACLDN helps find you a competent attorney, provides case review and trial strategy assistance, and funds expert witnesses to explain your self-defense actions to a jury.

The member education package, which includes eight lectures on DVD plus a copy of Massad Ayoob’s excellent book, “Deadly Force,” alone is worth the $125 annual membership fee.

Gun Digest is proud to announce our partnership with ACLDN. You can now purchase a membership here at the Gun Digest store. When you sign up through Gun Digest, you’ll also get a free copy of a fantastic e-book, “Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry Holsters,” authored by our online editor, Corey Graff.

I hope you don’t ever have to be in the headlines for defending yourself, but if you do, joining the ACLDN could turn out to be the best decision you’ve ever made.

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