So they went into battle with non-lethal riot control gear? And one of them used this non-lethal riot control gear in the middle of a chaotic battle to call out and fight a dude with a lightsaber?
I really disliked that scene. Now it makes even less sense.
This page from the visual dictionary has also resurrected my confusion about who exactly the first order are. They have territory? So they are actually the ruling power in some regions? I was under the impression they were imperial remnants trying to regain the glory days mixed with young fanatics trying to emulate the empire?