In the Days of the "Old West", when were sidearms ( Six Shooter and Holster) outlawed?

Question

Curious.

In the 20th Century or 19th Century?

Answer 1

For the most part, they were not "outlawed."

There were individual towns that prohibited people from wearing weapons in town, mostly in response to a particular incident within that town. Dodge City was perfect example of this.

In fact, many people think Dodge City was the epitome of "lawlessness" and the "old west" but it was not particularly lawless, and most of the problems there occurred during a very short tumultuous time (a span of less than six months), leading to a ban of guns carried north of the "deadline," the train tracks that ran through the center of town.

As Robert Wright (a founder of the town) noted in his 1913 book, 'Dodge City, the cowboy Capital':
"Of course everyone has heard of wicked Dodge; but a great deal has been said and written about it that is not true. Its good side has never been told, and I cannot give it space here. Many reckless, bad men came to Dodge and many brave men. These had to be met by officers equally brave and reckless. As the old saying goes, "You must fight the devil with fire." The officers gave them the south side of the railroad-track, but the north side must be kept respectable, and it was. There never was any such thing as shooting at plug hats. On the contrary, every stranger that came to Dodge City and behaved himself was treated with politeness; but woe be unto the man who came seeking a fight. He was soon accommodated in any way, shape, or form that he wished."

Territories and western states didn't begin to pass laws banning the open carry of firearms until recently (the last 50-60 years in some cases).

Currently, in Texas, for example, it is illegal to carry a firearm in the open (hunting excepted with a valid hunting license). To carry a concealed firearm, one must obtain a TX Concealed Handgun License. In AZ, open carrying of a firearm is quite commonly seen.

Answer 2

Many towns had no carry laws within the city limits. This was in the late 1860's forward. One of the reasons given for the shootout at OK coral in Tombstone Arizona in about 1882 I think.

Also, a very similar form of Miranda has been around since that time also. The bad cow towns used these no carry laws to reduce shootings.As towns grew, they just kinda kept th laws in place.

Answer 3

Who said they were outlawed? I lived in Texas in the 1960s and there were still people wearing six-guns strapped to their waist. Now you may have to register your six-shooter but that does not make it illegal. In fact, there is a town in Texas where the law says that you MUST own a gun. Who said the old west is dead?

Answer 4

They were not outlawed in the old west days