The DVD was in the mailbox when I went by the PO this morning. It might have arrived a day ago, we didn't pick up mail yesterday. No matter what day it actually arrived, that's prompt delivery in my book.
Now then, for the DVD itself. One of the Personal Defense Network's series of personal firearm defense DVDs, this video is presented in a lecture format as indicated in the OP. There are no graphics, no photographs, no demonstrations, no security camera footage. If recorded by anyone who wasn't an experienced, dynamic presenter accustomed to holding the attention of a class, that format could be a snoozefest. In the hands of Tom Givens, it's a focused and attention-getting recount of ten stories from more or less typical Rangemaster students (basically, ordinary people who armed themselves legally and sought training) who felt themselves forced by circumstances to draw and fire their sidearms in self defense. There aren't always clear winners in this presentation... just like real life.
More than anything else, these stories drive home the necessity of mastering at a fundamental level the basic concepts we often try to emphasize here in S&T. Carry your defensive sidearm, or failing that keep it readily accessible, always - you can't schedule your emergencies. The criminal or criminals pick when, where and under what circumstances and odds you will have a gunfight, not you. No place is really safe from crime. Acting like bait will attract predators. Starting trouble won't really keep you out of trouble. You can't know what your gunfight will be like, and averages are no way to predict what your gunfight will be like - gunfights are like fingerprints, every one is unique in some way or ways. Training is important - "You won't rise to the occasion, you'll default to your level of training." As far as defensive firearms are concerned, where you hit might well be more important than what you hit with. And so on.
If you've never been able to get into a class taught by a world class professional trainer, this DVD is a great way to get your feet wet - Tom Givens is definitely among the ranks of world class professional firearms instructors. The price is certainly reasonable enough for a professionally produced DVD with full production values - my copy was $14.95 plus $2.00 shipping and handling. No matter if you're a rank beginner to the idea of concealed carry, owning a home protection firearm, and defensive shooting - or if you're a veteran of multiple training events, you'll find the hour or hours spent absorbing the lessons of this DVD well worth your while. It will be useful in explaining a lot of important lessons to others you care about as well. I watched it with my wife, who in many regards is a better trained shooter - and a better shooter - than I am, and both of us learned from it.
Highly recommended... if you want to draw important lessons regarding armed self defense from videos, this is definitely the kind of video you should use.
lpl
