I believe that in tombstone riders were to relinquish there guns at the city limits. Which is what led to the ok corral shoot out as earp and company went to go disarm the Cowboys.
I read "The Last Gunfight" by Jeff Guinn a couple of years ago. It explains the story behind Tombstone that Hollywood doesn't. There was a significant amount of political turmoil between the Earps and the town leaders (Republicans) and the Cowboys (Democrats). The lawmen of the time walked an impossible line between enforcing the law and not going too far. The town leaders wanted order, but not to the point that cattle drivers or "Cowboys" stopped coming to the town and spending their money. For some towns, not necessarily Tombstone as much, this would have destroyed the town. Many town leaders were not happy with what resulted in Tombstone and it may have caused Earp to lose a race for the Cochise County Sheriffs position.
The fact that some of the lawmen of the time were former outlaws (Earp himself walked a fine line) is important to know as well. They weren't necessarily educated in the law or the Constitution. These were the only men that would take the job though.
Interestingly, I think, the term "cowboy" was not a positive term at that time. It was considered a derogatory label by most. Another thing that Hollywood changed.[/QUOTE]
I think you are right. But I think it was based on the kind of damage many if them did in town... and Holywood did not change all of that sense. It did tell range wars story from a perpective more favorable yo free grazers than once would expect but that I think is due yo the role of eastern banks forclising on family farms in the 30.
That is anti money interests anti -railroad and anti -"the man".
In a sense clasic Hollywood popularism... or leftism if you insist.
I read "The Last Gunfight" by Jeff Guinn a couple of years ago. It explains the story behind Tombstone that Hollywood doesn't. There was a significant amount of political turmoil between the Earps and the town leaders (Republicans) and the Cowboys (Democrats). The lawmen of the time walked an impossible line between enforcing the law and not going too far. The town leaders wanted order, but not to the point that cattle drivers or "Cowboys" stopped coming to the town and spending their money. For some towns, not necessarily Tombstone as much, this would have destroyed the town. Many town leaders were not happy with what resulted in Tombstone and it may have caused Earp to lose a race for the Cochise County Sheriffs position.
The fact that some of the lawmen of the time were former outlaws (Earp himself walked a fine line) is important to know as well. They weren't necessarily educated in the law or the Constitution. These were the only men that would take the job though.
Interestingly, I think, the term "cowboy" was not a positive term at that time. It was considered a derogatory label by most. Another thing that Hollywood changed.[/QUOTE]
I think you are right. But I think it was based on the kind of damage many if them did in town... and Holywood did not change all of that sense. It did tell range wars story from a perpective more favorable yo free grazers than once would expect but that I think is due yo the role of eastern banks forclising on family farms in the 30.
That is anti money interests anti -railroad and anti -"the man".
In a sense clasic Hollywood popularism... or leftism if you insist.
Yep, no doubt. I've read some articles that suggest that gun violence in the frontier towns was not as prevalent as Hollywood has led us to believe. In fact, the idea of a "show down" was exceedingly rare, though there were cases of violent outbursts that were over within seconds. Some believe, correctly I think, that the presence of armed people in the towns helped keep a lid on much of it. The truth is, you're only going to survive so many "show downs"; I don't care who you are. Folks were thinking about self preservation, not being the fastest gun.
