Annotated 34-7
After Flo’s and my back-and-forth about this page, I was extremely gratified to see it go up and get mostly positive responses, with some speculation on whether that leg shot would prove to be lethal or debilitating, and extensive commentary from one reader who knew more about guns than I ever have or will.
There are legal, tactical, and responsible-gun-owner angles through which to analyze this moment, but I think the psychology behind Shanna’s action is its centerpiece. Even someone who doesn’t trust a lot of escapist fare has absorbed the popular-culture idea that guns are easy: just point and fire. Clearly, that seems to be about all it takes for any number of mass shooters, practiced or otherwise. But the more wired you are for compassion, the harder overcoming that instinctive resistance to killing generally is.
She thought she’d be ready.
He deserved that. Because he lied about having pen and paper. The motherhumping feth!
It’s JJ season!
Considering the training she doesn’t have, Shanna is doing remarkably well to have actually hit J.J., massive target that he is.
I don’t think I’d get much further than trying to look threatening and telling him to put his hands up or something or else!
Or maybe fire off a “warning shot” and drop the gun in the process.
Aaand: although the law of US crime movies clearly says that the bad guys must be shot and you’re still good if you do it, JJ has so far only used a knife, so … I’d try and keep him at gunpoint, call the police and have them arrest him because that’s how law in civilized countries work: You arrest the suspects, then try them and if they turn out to be criminals, you sentence them. Unless of course they’re rich criminals and their crimes were more on the financial side of things, in which case you let them go because that’s better for the economy.