The Myth and Reality of Gun-Slinging Sheriffs: An Examination of Old West Towns and Law Enforcement

The Old West style towns run by gun-slinging sheriffs are often portrayed as a wild frontier where the man with the best guns and determination reigned supreme. However, the reality of these lawmen and their role in American history is far more complex and nuanced than the myths and legends that have been perpetuated over the years.

Myth vs Reality: The Gunfight at the OK Corral

The tale of the infamous Gunfight at the OK Corral is a perfect example of how Hollywood and popular culture have shaped our understanding of law enforcement in the Old West. My blog, Everybody Believes: Historical Facts Revisited, debunks many of the inaccuracies surrounding this event. The actual gunfight lasted only about 30 seconds, and the most deadly shooter was likely Doc Holliday, who used a sawed-off shotgun. The gunfight was the culmination of a long-standing feud between the Earps and a gang of criminals known as the Cowboys, not a random confrontation as commonly portrayed in media.

The Myth of the Gun-Slinging Sheriff

It's crucial to recognize that the notion of a gun-slinging sheriff or town marshal running a town is more a product of Hollywood fiction than historical reality. In real life, the lawman's role was largely administrative and political. They were appointed and removed at the discretion of local politicians who hired and fired them to maintain order and enforce the law.

Lawmen like James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok, the Earp brothers, Dallas Stoudenmire, and King Fisher were proficient with guns and were indeed involved in shooting affrays, but they were not the only lawmen of their era. These men were often fired or voted out of office, and their rise to prominence was often fueled by the sensationalist press and dime novels of the time. Their adventures were magnified to sell newspapers, and some lawmen even embellished their own stories to burnish their reputations.

The Evolution of Law Enforcement: Old West to Modern Times

While the idea of a gunman running a town is a romanticized fantasy, the armed lawman is a real and enduring figure in American history and culture. The town marshal, or county sheriff, did exist, and while they were not always the gun-slinging heroes of legend, they were still armed and responsible for maintaining order in their communities.

Today, the armed lawman still exists, although with a different title and role. In modern cities, the county sheriff or city police chief may carry a sidearm, and the title of marshal is not as common. However, many officers still view themselves in the tradition of the Old West lawman, embodying the spirit of courage and justice that defined that era of American law enforcement.

A Possible Last of the Gun-Slinging Sheriffs: Robert Vail Ennis

One of the last figures who embody the myth of the gun-slinging sheriff is Robert Vail Ennis, the sheriff of Bee County, Texas. Throughout his career, Ennis personally killed seven people, with some of his victims undoubtedly being dangerous criminals, but not all of his actions were justified. After one particularly dubious killing, Ennis lost his job to the voters in 1952. He died of prostate cancer in 1972. Interestingly, the protagonist of Glendon Swarthout's 1975 novel The Shootist is also dying from the same disease, adding a curious parallel to the real-life figure of Ennis.

The legacy of Robert Vail Ennis and other lawmen of the Old West serves as a reminder of the complex and often tragic nature of law enforcement during a time of great change and hardship. While the myth of the gun-slinging sheriff may be romanticized, the reality of their role in Old West towns provides a valuable historical perspective on American law enforcement.