Tess takes the gun with gusto, yanking it from Kate's grip none-too-kindly, and with the expertise of someone very used to handling guns she flips it in her hand so she's holding it by the barrel. Her pistol, like most, has a barrel too short to use as an effective makeshift club, so using the butt is easier to strike with, and at this point, she's feeling like she needs to.

"I don't want to fuckin' shoot you, Kate, I want to be able to defend myself from whatever wild animal comes out of the bushes next!"