Book excerpt: This book is written for anyone who understands that the lives of people we love can be irretrievably broken by a home invasion or other deadly force encounter. While many law abiding citizens insure their property, the protection of life against deadly force encounters is often ignored. The probability of becoming the victim of a home invasion or personal assault far outweighs the chances of becoming the victim of a fire. Yet, many people understand their options for protecting against fire better than they comprehend their alternatives for protecting life. As a professional who spends nearly every waking hour focused on protecting life or training others to protect life, I have written this book to present the modern shotgun as a viable defense option for personal safety. This book helps crack the code around the mystery, mystique and often miscommunication about the modern shotgun. It presents tactical applications written so the average citizen or trained operator can understand how to maximize the effectiveness of this incredible tool. The protection of one's life or the life of a loved one is a mindset. The mindset begins with awareness of how quickly one can become a victim of a deadly encounter, and how readily you can prepare to guard against the most dire outcome once awareness becomes part of your daily reality. The modern shotgun is a tool to help you accomplish your personal, team or agency's safety mission. After reading this book and practicing the recommended tactics, you will improve your situational awareness and, with training, you will significantly enhance your ability to protect life in the event of a deadly encounter. Please enjoy the reading and make time to master the techniques at the range. Stay aware, stay focused and stay safe; and may God continue to bless and watch over you and your families.