Person-of-Interest is a series to promote and discuss those individuals and organizations that are promoting, fighting for, and defending the values of the Second Amendment. In today’s world, media—in all its forms—is littering our nation with counter-narratives and counter-culture ideology. The idea of a God-fearing, nuclear family is being eroded. We are being taught to accept the changes and to not challenge them. Those that speak out are quickly “cancelled.” Those that question is suffocated under the intense pressure of social media. But there is hope. While the intensifying pressure scripted by a political and social elite have gone to extremes to push their agenda, they are the minority. For example, California has some of the strictest gun control in the nation, but they are reportedly the most armed state, with the largest concentration of gun owners in this country. That is hope. Through all this negativity, some people rise to a level that the media and political machine cannot control. This is their story.

The Origin

Jack Carr is an author, veteran, but more importantly, one helluva human being. His military background includes 20 years at the tip of the United States Military as a Navy SEAL. From enlistment in the days prior to 9/11, to countless tours around the globe, to ascension as a SEAL sniper, and to completion of officer candidacy, and eventual retirement as a Lieutenant Commander, Jack Carr brings a unique background to the pages of his novels. His present standing is largely attributed to his upbringing. In countless interviews and podcast episodes, Jack speaks to the influence of his parents, his grandfather who died in the Pacific Theater of World War II, and to the iconic action thrillers of the 1970s and 1980s. His mother, a librarian, fostered a passion of reading and learning. His Grandfather, a Marine Aviator who flew the iconic F4U Corsair, died as a hero during World War II and left behind a legacy of patriotism and duty. And those thrillers, both print and on the big screen, instilled passion into Jack, who dreamed of one day writing on similar themes.

Today, those passions have turned into success. The acclaimed author has transformed the political-thriller genre, pushing it forward. His past profession gives Jack, and his titular character, James Reece, unique insight into the mind of a SEAL operator. Unique to Jack’s writing style is defining the theme of each book. A defined theme, much like a thesis, guides the story. A theme prevents deviation, which hurts authors, and prevents spirals into unneeded content. Carr’s themes range from “Revenge Without Constraint,” that fulfilled the pages of his debut novel, Terminal List, to “Truth and Consequences” that urges the reader on in his latest James Reece story Only the Dead.

The Impact

Jack’s meteoric rise is astonishing. His books have landed on the New York Times bestseller list, while Terminal List was optioned for a TV show starring Chris Pratt that premiered this past summer on Amazon Prime. The show was widely successful—save for critics—and a second season based on True Believer has been ordered along with a spin-off series focusing on Ben Edwards portrayed by Taylor Kitsch (Texas Forever—iykyk). Jack also started a podcast titled Danger Close after seeing the widely acclaimed success of fellow SEAL Any Stumpf’s podcast Cleared Hot (tongue-in-cheek). Danger Close brings on colorful guests that discuss everything from current events, historical moments, writing processes, book production, veteran businesses, and much more. Now that Jack’s foundation has been established, he along with historian James Scott are writing a nonfiction series titled Targeted that focuses on seminal terrorist events that shaped history. The first in the series will discuss the 1983 Beirut Barrack’s Bombing.

With all this success, Jack has remained humbled. He is truly thankful for people to take time out of their schedule to read his books, listen to his podcast, or watch the adaptation of his novels. But one thing remains constant, and that is his commentary on current events and how the distribution of power is slowly eroding away the rights of the individual. Jack is pro-gun. His political philosophies lean conservative. His books reflect that. Jack does not shy away to make his books more approachable to a wider base. Instead, he challenges the thinking of individuals. He uses the art of storytelling to educate and to sprinkle in a dose of reality. For example, Jack will use dialogue between characters to discuss how one may be breaking a dozen state laws by carrying a concealed handgun, but in the state they were just in, it was perfectly legal (the ludicrously). Jack also uses items, such as firearms, knives, watches, clothing, and footwear to develop characters. Something that gear junkies adore.

Jack also implements the ideals of America, or rather, what those values once were into his pages. The United States is at a crossroads. Division is rampant. Social Media isn’t the sole cause, but maybe it has accelerated current rhetoric. Cancel culture is widespread, and “wokeness” is here. Amongst this chaos it is rare that somebody who boldly talks about guns, strong women, the negative effects of cancel culture and wokeness on society, patriotism, and more importantly, how the enemies of the United States see us, has reached such high acclaim. Jack gives hope to our future and to our understanding.

In an excerpt from Only the Dead:

“What do you believe in James? God? Country? Freedom? Or do you believe in the lofty ideals of some nonsense like truth? Let me tell you. There is not truth. There is only power. That power crosses borders and ideologies. It’s not about an allegiance to dying countries. It is an allegiance to broader governance, control, and safety. You made the world less stable today. Is that what you believe in?”

Reece paused.

“I believe in accountability. And I believe in consequences.”

We need to live in a world where actions have consequence. Jack Carr is helping us understand that. His rise and status mean that people are reading, people are following. They will not be silenced. Thank you, Jack, for your dedicated service both in uniform and beyond.