Googling Crime

“How do you explain this search history?” snarled the short one with an old scar down his cheek.

“What do you mean?” I asked, trembling internally while hoping I looked innocent.

“On October 23, you searched You Tube for how to load a handgun, then looked for human silhouette targets on Amazon. On October 26 you Googled portable tree blinds and night vision goggles. On November 1, you spent 47 minutes combined on the Sig Sauer, Smith and Wesson, and Baretta sites, then you watched two more videos on loading magazines. It’s all quite suspicious,” the surly tall one spit out through broken teeth.

“I didn’t know I needed permission …” I offered meekly.

“On November 3, your search history shows you asked where to shoot to maim, what kind of internal damage would be done by a GSW to the thigh and shoulder, and how would that feel. Then you Googled whether a gunshot in the dark produced a muzzle light. We see you had to ask that in several ways as Google didn’t understand what you meant,” the snarly one said, his scar reddening.

“Just who do you intend to shoot? We need to check if they are on the approved list,” the tall one leaned forward, towering over me.

“No one,” I insisted, glaring back at them.

“Your account has been flagged. It’s clear you have violated the law,” the short one said, sounding like that was a threat issued with glee.

“So it’s a crime now to be ignorant about guns?” I challenged.

But I’m a just writer, I thought, knowing that was no excuse.