Gunslingers: From Outlaw To Lawman?

Gunslingers are often portrayed as outlaws, vigilantes, or hired guns in popular media, but can a gunslinger be part of the law? The term gunslinger typically refers to someone with exceptional skill and reflexes when it comes to firearms, and while they are often associated with outlaw behaviour, there are instances in history and fiction where gunslingers have taken on the role of upholding the law. In the Wild West, for example, gunmen were sometimes hired by towns as marshals to restore order, and figures like Wyatt Earp and Pat Garrett are known for being lawmen as well as gunfighters. In fiction, gunslingers are often portrayed as local law enforcement officers or marshals, and even in modern times, the term gunslinger is used to describe highly skilled individuals in law enforcement or the military who train rigorously to prepare for confrontations. So, while the term gunslinger may evoke images of outlaws and bandits, there are certainly instances where gunslingers can be seen as upholding the law.

Gunslingers as law enforcement

Gunslingers have traditionally been viewed as figures of the Wild West, often associated with contract killings, ranch work, or outlaw activities. However, in popular culture, they are also portrayed as local law enforcement officers or marshals, maintaining order in frontier towns. These gunslingers for law and order are usually depicted as masculine figures of integrity and principle, characterised by their courage, morality, toughness, and self-sufficiency. They are often loners, wandering from place to place, facing enemies and protecting individuals or communities.

In the past, towns would hire gunmen as marshals to restore order, and these figures would receive the support of the townspeople. However, once order was established, towns would often replace these gunslingers with less dangerous lawmen who relied more on respect than fear to enforce the law. An example of this transition is the story of Town Marshal Dallas Stoudenmire of El Paso, Texas, who was asked to resign when the town council decided it was time for a change.

In modern times, the term "gunslinger" has evolved, and these figures are more likely to be found in law enforcement or the military, where the usage of firearms is commonplace and highly regulated. The modern-day gunslinger is defined not by their participation in Wild West shootouts, but by their dedication to training and preparation. They must possess a unique combination of speed, accuracy, and mindset to make split-second decisions in dangerous situations. This training involves not only target practice but also the quick drawing of weapons and engaging with targets in a variety of scenarios.

While the romanticised image of the Wild West gunslinger may persist, the reality of today's gunslinger is one of discipline, training, and the responsible use of firearms within the boundaries of the law.

Gunslinger's skill set

Gunslingers are often portrayed as local law enforcement officers, ranchers, army officers, cowboys, territorial marshals, or nomadic loners. They are usually depicted as masculine persons of integrity and principle, exhibiting courage, morality, toughness, and self-sufficiency. Their physical skills typically include roping, gun-play, horse-handling, and pioneering abilities.

In terms of skill set, a gunslinger's primary ability is their proficiency with firearms. They are known for their quick draw and shooting accuracy. In popular culture, gunslingers are often depicted as having a unique set of skills that set them apart from other characters. For example, in the video game "Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!", the character Nisha the Lawbringer is a gun-slinging cowgirl with skills that allow her to automatically aim at enemies, ricochet shots, and dual-wield pistols. In the game Lost Ark, the Gunslinger class is known for their speed, mobility, and ability to deal high damage with their weapons, which include dual pistols, a shotgun, and a rifle.

In terms of character creation and development, a gunslinger's most important attribute is typically their dexterity, which dictates their shooting accuracy and ability to dodge. Other important attributes include wisdom, which enhances their special abilities, and constitution, which increases their health.

In some cases, gunslingers may also possess additional skills beyond their proficiency with firearms. For example, in various media, gunslingers may be skilled in hand-to-hand combat, horseback riding, or other forms of weapon use. They may also have strategic thinking, survival skills, or knowledge of explosives.

Gunslingers in popular culture

Gunslingers, also known as gunfighters, are a staple of Western movies and novels, often appearing alongside cowboys. The term "gunslinger" was used in the 1920 Western film Drag Harlan. In popular culture, a gunslinger is often portrayed as a local lawman or enforcement officer, rancher, army officer, cowboy, territorial marshal, nomadic loner, or skilled fast-draw artist. They are typically depicted as masculine persons of integrity and principle, courageous, moral, tough, and self-sufficient, often with trusty sidekicks. The Western hero usually stands alone and faces danger on his own, relying on his physical skills such as roping, gunplay, horse-handling, and pioneering abilities.

The image of the gunslinger has also been used outside of the Western genre, in modern times, to describe someone who is fast and accurate with pistols, in real life or in other fictional action genres. For example, Han Solo in Star Wars exhibits gunslinger-like skills when he kills his opponent with a subtle, under-the-table draw. Additionally, guns and gunplay tropes are prevalent in various media, such as the character Menelaus in "Count to the Eschaton," who is a skilled Trick Shot and Vaporizer, using a smart gun to great effect.

In popular culture, the term "gunslinger" is often associated with various tropes and archetypes. In Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), for example, the gunslinger archetype has been popularized by Matt Mercer of Critical Role fame, even though it is considered homebrew content and not officially part of the game. In D&D, the gunslinger is a martial archetype option for the fighter class, emphasizing the importance of high Dexterity and Wisdom scores.

In real life, gunslingers or gunfighters were individuals in the American Old West known for their dangerous and deadly skills with firearms. They could be outlaws, bandits, lawmen, cowboys, or mercenaries, often hired for contract killings or to settle range wars. Some famous historical figures associated with the gunslinger archetype include Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, and Wyatt Earp.

Gunslingers in history

The Wild West was a time of lawlessness and violence, where gunslingers ruled the land. Gunslingers were often involved in shootouts in saloons and showdowns on dusty streets. Their stories are woven with history and grandeur, and they have become iconic figures in American culture.

One of the most famous gunslingers was Wyatt Earp, who was involved in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. Earp was known for travelling from each western boomtown, always looking for a way to make some quick money. He was also one of the most feared gunslingers in the West and a renowned lawman. He followed the boom to Alaska, where he made a fortune running a saloon.

Another renowned gunslinger was Billy the Kid, a notorious outlaw who became famous for his exploits in New Mexico in the late 1800s. He is said to have killed at least 21 men, although the number could be much higher. Billy the Kid was eventually caught and sentenced to death, but he escaped from jail and went on the run for several months before being gunned down by a sheriff.

Wild Bill Hickok was another legendary gunslinger and lawman, famous for his exploits in the Wild West. He worked as a stagecoach driver on the lawless frontiers of Kansas and Nebraska until the American Civil War, when he became a spy for the Union Army. Hickok was also an expert marksman and is said to have killed dozens of men. He grew to be a well-known figure in America's Wild West, and his reputation was enhanced by self-promotion.

Other notable gunslingers include Bass Reeves, one of the first deputized African-American U.S. Marshals after the Civil War, and a ruthless and relentless fighter who killed 14 outlaws and apprehended more than 3,000; Annie Oakley, a sharp shooter and the subject of several films and stage productions; and Thomas Horn Jr., a hired gun who worked as a cowboy, soldier, and lawman, and was eventually executed for the murder of a 14-year-old boy.

Gunslinger's moral alignment

Gunslingers, as they appear in Western movies and novels, are often depicted as local lawmen or enforcement officers, ranchers, army officers, cowboys, territorial marshals, nomadic loners, or skilled fast-draw artists. They are usually portrayed as masculine persons of integrity and principle – courageous, moral, tough, solid, and self-sufficient, maverick characters (often with trusty sidekicks). They are similar to knight-errants, wandering from place to place with no particular direction, often facing curious and hostile enemies, while saving individuals or communities from those enemies in terms of chivalry.

The Western hero usually stands alone and faces danger on his own, commonly against lawlessness, with an expert display of physical skills (roping, gun-play, horse-handling, pioneering abilities, etc.). Gunslingers can also be outlaws—robbers or murderers who take advantage of the wilderness of the frontier to hide from genteel society and make periodic raids on it. They can also be agents of the state, typically sheriffs, whose duty is to face the outlaw and bring them to justice.

In the context of the Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) role-playing game, a gunslinger is a martial archetype option for the fighter class. This means that most of the advice for playing a fighter also applies to playing a gunslinger. Gunslingers in D&D have certain abilities, such as the ability to reload firearms at an amazing speed, and to use the environment to strike targets that others would find impossible to hit.

In terms of moral alignment, a gunslinger in D&D could be considered Lawful Neutral. Lawful Neutral individuals commonly accept moral ideas like honour, request, rules, and custom, and generally hold fast to an individual code that they follow. They value customs and authentic points of reference and would rather that laws are firmly authorised. This does not mean that Lawful Neutral people are unethical; it just means that, to them, moral considerations come second to what their code, custom, or law directs.

For example, a gunslinger in D&D who is a pacifist and only attacks in self-defence or to protect their friends and loved ones could be considered Lawful Neutral. They follow a strict moral code of non-violence, but when their friends are in danger, they will break this code to protect them.

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