Those don't really have any bearing on the threat level though, that's you compensating (as a good GM should) but not the game as written, which is how you have to review it. Those gun-wielding goons would be level 2 or 3, max. Page 48-49 show something kinda like this in examples, but they're buried and don't work the way you've spelled out.
RE: Over the Edge RPG - New Edition Review