The definitive collection of rules regarding Challenges for Shotgun Control.

Documented by Gregory L. Cox from days past.
Put in HTML form by Marcus A. Cox

SECTION I: Invoking the Challenge for Shotgun Control

Any time a group of people are preparing to leave a place by means of an automobile (hereafter referred to as the "group"), there is a potential that there may be a Challenge for Shotgun Control (hereafter referred to as a "Challenge").

Article 1: Preparing to invoke the Challenge

In order to begin a Challenge, one member of the group must call "Shotgun". Being the first to call "Shotgun" earns him/her the title "Challenger of Record" for the duration of the Challenge.

A) Cool points are awarded if the Challenger of Record produces a story, even if only one sentence, which incorporates the word "Shotgun", trather than justcalling it. There is no loss of cool points for just calling it, however.

B) Thee Challenger of Record musthave a line of sight to the vehicle when ths call is issued.

i) Line of sight implies that the vehicle has been seen, and there is a direct path such that there is only air blocking this path. (i.e. You may not call just because you can see the vehicle through glass.)
ii) Calling early is considered a foul, and will be resolved according to the rules in [III.1.C] below.

Article 2: Responding to the Challenge

Now that the Challenger of Record has been established, the other challengers must be determined. This is a speed test, generally. It requires that the challenger call "I challenge ." where is an already verified challenger.

A) Only one person may challenge the Challenger of Record, and only one person may challenge this person, and so on, down to the last person participating in the Challenge.

B) In the event of a "tie", the person closest to the challenged shall be the challenger. Disputes regarding distance here will be resolved according to the rules in [III.1.C] below. Once the tie has been settled, or, if there is no tie, the person becomes a verified challenger.

C) It is up to each challenger to remember who they challenged, and to claim their right to participate in the Challenge when appropriate.

SECTION II: Resolving the Challenge for Shotgun Control

By now there should be a group of challengers, ranked, in descending order: Challenger of Record, first challenger, second challenger, etc., on down to the final challenger.

Article 1: Preparing to Resolve the Challenge

Each part of the Challenge involves a lower-seeded player and the higher-seeded player who they individually challenged. The dispute between the players shall be resolved by use of the time-honored method of Paper-Rock-Scissors (hereafter referred to as the "Game").

A) The final challenger will be the lower-seeded player in the first game, and the person challenged by this person will be the higher-seeded player.

B) After resolving their Game, the winner of the match will become the lower-seeded player for the next highest challenger. Games will continue until the Challenger of Record has faced their challenger, at which point the winner will have earned the Right of Shotgun.

Article 2: Resolving the Challenge with the Game

The Game will involve 2 people. Each must make a symbol with their hand: a rock (closed fist) defeats scissors (2 fingers extended in a V), which defeats paper (open palm, face down), which, in turn, defeats rock. Ties count for nothing.

A) Game symbols must be displayed at the same time, most appropriately following a One,Two,Show-on-Three pattern.

i) The One,Two,Show-on-Three pattern may be altered to fit local customs.
ii) Mistakes in timing are forgiven once per person per Challenge, at which point the timing is explained. Subsequent mistimings, or any overt attempts change symbols (as determined under the rules in [III.1.C]), are grounds for loss of cool points and revocation of challenger status.

B) In reward of speedy reactions, the higher-seeded player must only win one Game to defeat their opponent. The lower-seeded player must win two Games.

SECTION III: Outstanding Ground Rules for Challenges for Shotgun Control.

Article 1: Rights of the Driver of the Vehicle

Given that the Driver shall be in control of the vehicle, they shall retain full power to act as both dictator and arbitrator of Challenges.

A) The Driver has the sole power to suspend the Challenge system, given sufficient reason. This would include, but not necessarily be limited to: inclement weather, or being in a justifiable hurry.

B) The Driver shall have the power to bestow the Right of Shotgun on anyone necessary. This would include, but not necessarily be limited to: Significant Other is a passenger, or some passenger is needed for directions.

C) The Driver shall have the power to manage Dispute Negotiation. Each party in the dispute shall have at most thirty (30) seconds to plead their case. Disputes must be resolved by the Driver. The burden of proof lies with the accuser, but the Driver may use any means necessary (including polling the group) to reach a decision.

Article 2: Rights of the Passengers

The passengers truly have few rights, and this is only for clarification.

A) Passengers have the right to decline to participate in the Challenge. They suffer no loss of cool points, but, they exercise no claim to the Right of Shotgun.

B) Refusing a Challenge consists of a major loss of cool points:

i) Challengers below the Challenger of Record have no claim to the Right of Shotgun yet, and as such, have nothing to lose by playing.
ii) The Challenger of Record, by history, possesses the Right of Shotgun, and has the right to refuse to defend it. However, since the requirement for successful defense consists of winning only one Game against the most worthy challenger, a defense is expected if a Challenge is issued.

C) A Challenger of Record who refuses a Challenge shall, at the discretion of the Driver, lose the Right of Shotgun for their refusal to defend.

SECTION IV: Final Overview of the Challenge for Shotgun Control

These Rules are designed to provide a formal overview of an honorable method of resolving what was once nothing more than a single speed test. It is designed for honorable people with too much time on their hands to have a silly way of resolving the Right of Shotgun among themselves, and should be treated as such.