Talk to me about what you'd like to experience in a class called "Self Defense & the Law - Practical Applications".
At least 3 hours of class following my usual outline:
How self defense is viewed by the legal system;
Defining "reasonable";
Reasonable as part of Self Defense;
What is reasonable when it comes to using force?;
The two standards for the use of force:
#1 Ability/Opportunity/Intent
#2 Subjective-objective standard
Post Incident Statements – Why they can help you;
Post Incident Statements – Why they can hurt you;
Criminal Procedure – Your arrest, bail and the court process;
Plea bargains – The what & why of the deal;
Modifying a weapon – does it matter, and if so, how?;
Training – Friend or Foe?
Then the rest of the day as experience/example learning in which students would have had the lessons in the lecture on rules of engagement, and the aftermath - then have one or two people (instuctors, maybe students) interact as role players, with students as witness.
Some students will get to see the whole thing from start to finish (but won't know what is supposed to occur), and others get introduced at various times as witnesses (who may or may not be allowed to intervene) who will, after the scenario ends, give a statement to the 'responding officer'.
Those student witnesses who are permitted to intervene will have to justify any actions, if they acted, and others will just have to recount what they saw happen.
(Will it match the cameras, other statements or the descriptions of the participants? )
Not force on force evolutions, but observation excercises to have people issue spot things discussed in 3-D, real-time, under a little bit of stress.
The goals of this would be to be able to relate the lecture to an observed example, not just a "what if" situation. You heard the lecture, you saw/participated in scenarios, now put it togther and apply it to any training you have...and if you don't have any (most didn't) you can see why training helps.
What should be part of it?
Police interrogation post incident?
Contrasting the statements of various witnesses, and the camera recordings done from various positions?
Listening to the incident audio only as if it was a 911 tape to see how the police/prosecution is going to hear it?
Issue spotting for the class regarding retreat/no retreat & appropriateness of force used?
Difference between a good light v. low light scenario regarding observation and reactions?
I don't want to create a force on force class, I want a practical application of lecture topics from 1st hand student participation and review that makes the issues more easily understood.
Discuss.