I’d imagine the muzzle flash of a .40 is as bright as the sun when it’s at point blank range and pointed in your direction.
Oddly, it's not. Equilibrium flame temp of powder emits at about 2800k, Sun's about 5300k. Of course that probably wouldn't be what would cross their minds at a time like that...But keeping to the Light of the Son would have been a brighter future. Not that I'm particularly religious or anything, just sayin'...there was a choice made.