It was justified.
– Raylan Givens, Justified #1.1 (2010)
Justified (2010-2015) is a television series inspired by the Leonard Elmore character Raylan Givens, who appeared in his novels Pronto (1993) and Riding the Rap (1995), and most importantly in the novella Fire in the Hole (2001). Givens (Timothy Olyphant) is a Deputy US Marshal who has a tendency to get into gunfights. As a former shooting instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia, he is uniquely skilled for that. Justified is a fun show, with interesting storylines and quirky characters. Remarkably for a telly series, the shootouts are also fairly well done.
Givens would be a fine example for someone with the Modern Pistol shooting style (GURPS Tactical Shooting, pp. 48-49). The scene from Justified #1.13 (2010) that I want to discuss here in GURPS terms is only a brief moment in a longer shootout. It does not actually showcase much shooting, but rather disarming. Watch just the scene here (the action starts at 1:57).
Stop reading if you want to avoid SPOILERS.
Round per Round
Prelude: Givens, a shooter (GURPS Action 1: Heroes, p. 14), has just been relieved of his Glock 21 pistol in .45 ACP (GURPS High-Tech, p. 101) and Glock 26 backup pistol in 9×19mm Parabellum (High-Tech, p. 101) by Rufus, henchman of crime lord Bo Croyder. [The prop used for the Glock 21 is actually a Glock 17 in 9×19mm Parabellum.] Bo Crowder is walking in front of Givens, holding a S&W Model 67 Combat Masterpiece revolver in .38 Special. Rufus is walking behind Givens; Rufus has his H&K P2000 pistol in 9×19mm Parabellum trained on Givens, and has Givens’ Glock 21 stuck into his waistband. Givens and Rufus are in close combat range (p. B391), while Bo Crowder is a step away. In that moment a shot rings out; unseen to all three men, Boyd Crowder, allied with Givens, has just shot Hestler Jones, another of Bo Crowder’s henchmen. Both Bo Crowder and Rufus are surprised and mentally stunned (p. B420).
1st Second: Givens takes an All-Out Attack (Determined) manoeuvre, turning to his left to Rufus and grabbing the P2000 from Rufus with his right hand; +4 (All-Out Attack) -4 (hand hit location) (p. B370) = +0 to DX. He succeeds and Rufus fails his defence; -4 (stunned) (p. B420) to Dodge. Givens grabs the pistol, blocking the slide to prevent Rufus from firing (Tactical Shooting, p. 25). At their turns, Bo Crowder and Rufus are stunned and forced to take Do Nothing manoeuvres. They fail their IQ rolls (p. B420) and remain stunned on their next turns as well.
2nd Second: At his turn, Givens takes an Attack manoeuvre to wrest the pistol from Rufus. This is a Regular Contest of Givens’ ST vs. Rufus’ ST or ST-based Retain Weapon technique (Tactical Shooting, p. 25). Givens wins, takes control of the P2000, and turns it into Rufus’ stomach. At their turns, Bo Crowder and Rufus are stunned and forced to take Do Nothing manoeuvres. They fail their IQ rolls and remain stunned on their next turns as well.
3rd Second: At his turn, Givens takes an All-Out Attack (Determined) manoeuvre and fires three one-handed unsighted shots from the P2000 into Rufus; +4 (All-Out Attack) (Tactical Shooting, p. 25) +4 (close-contact shot) (Tactical Shooting, p. 25) = +8 to Guns (Pistol). Rufus fails his defence; +2 (close-contact shot) (Tactical Shooting, p. 25) -4 (stunned) = -2 to Dodge. Rufus takes three hits in the torso for three times 2d+2 pi (average 27 points) damage. Rufus is at -1×HP or less but makes his HT roll to avoid immediate death (p. B419). He is shocked (p. B419). Rufus has taken at least one major wound, but makes his HT roll and remains standing (p. B420). At his turn, Rufus takes a Do Nothing man manoeuvre, being shocked and mentally stunned. At his turn, Bo Crowder takes a Do Nothing manoeuvre, being mentally stunned. He fails his IQ roll and remains stunned on his next turn as well.
4th Second: Givens takes an All-Out Attack (Determined) manoeuvre, kicking the Model 67 from Bo Crowder’s hand with his right cowboy boot; +4 (All-Out Attack) -2 (knocking a weapon away (p. B401) -2 (Kicking) = +0 to DX. He succeeds and Bo Crowder fails his defence; -4 (stunned) (p. B420) to Dodge. Givens wins the Quick Contest of his DX or ST vs Bo Crowder’s DX; Crowder clearly lacks the Retain Weapon technique. The revolver flies from his hand. Rufus takes a Do Nothing manoeuvre, being shocked and mentally stunned. Bo Crowder takes a Do Nothing manoeuvre, being mentally stunned. He fails his IQ roll and remains stunned on his next turn as well.
5th Second: Givens takes an All-Out Attack (Determined) manoeuvre, grabbing the Glock 21 from Rufus’ waistband with his left hand; +4 (All-Out Attack) -4 (off-hand) -5 (Fast-Draw Opponent’s Weapon) (GURPS Gun Fu, p. 27) = -5 to Fast-Draw (Pistol). Rufus is in no condition to dodge or parry; Givens makes this roll and now holds two pistols. Rufus fails his HT-1 roll (p. B419) and drops unconscious. Bo Crowder is stunned and forced to take a Do Nothing manoeuvre. He fails his IQ roll and remains stunned on his next turn as well.
Results
This short segment out of a much longer scene shows two types of disarms, three if you count relieving Rufus of the pistol in his waistband. It also shows the mechanics of shooting in a melee.
The kick to disarm seems to be a bit out of the marshal’s comfort zone, who is clearly no martial artist, but it is necessary to cover the distance. Kicking attacks always give you a little extra edge in that department, hence Reach C, 1 (p. B271).
Shooting Dice 