Hunters and gatherers: US Marshals nab their quarry and let others ask the questions

“If something kicks in, there’s no round in the chamber,” says US Deputy Marshal Tom Smith bluntly, thumbing at the Colt AR-15 automatic rifle stashed behind his car seat.

It takes a few seconds to digest what he exactly means before it becomes clear: If this stakeout gets ugly and I end up the only one on this side of…