literary words historically refer men american old west gained reputation dangerous gun participated common term individuals 19th century today term denote quick draw pistol refer shotgun popular characters western genre appeared associated films video games literature range different including outlaw cowboy commonly synonymous hired gun living weapons origin term term gun western film drag word soon adopted western writers common usage introduction author says modern terms authentic terms period bad man written correct term existed newspapers 1870s term existed 19th century term newspaper articles wrote known noted term preferred term discussing individuals notorious new_mexico texas originated term usage term applied men hire contract killings ranch embroiled range war earn fighting wages like notorious like outlaw murderer took advantage wilderness frontier hide society periodic raids agent state lone sheriff duty face outlaw bring justice personally administer historical actual outlaw cowboy gang participated bloody depiction culture frequently appear stock characters western movies novels hero western meets opposite double mirror evil destroy western heroes portrayed local enforcement officers army officers territorial nomadic skilled fast draw artists normally masculine persons integrity principle courageous moral tough solid self sufficient characters possessing independent honorable attitude characterized slow talking depicted similar knight wandering place place particular direction facing curious hostile enemies saving individuals communities enemies terms western hero usually stands faces danger commonly expert display physical skills gun play horse handling pioneering abilities etc films possesses nearly speed skill revolver pistols lightning draws trick shots standard fare gunmen big screen real world gunmen relied tricks died quickly took practical approach weapons real shoot impress kill classic bit cinema largely myth showdown high noon matched agree meet climactic formal duel occasionally happen case luke short duel typically spontaneous fight turned deadly reached weapon knew actually won fight minutes air finally cleared smoke won simple distraction pistols emptied gunmen fought cover injury square rarely usually gave wide berth uncommon known face reputation valuable skills possessed western films books young challenge experienced gunmen hopes building reputation rarely happened real life strong reputation civil spare conflict likely avoid unnecessary confrontation days tales tended grow repeated telling single fight grow career making reputation instance legends gang relatively minor figures conflict actively engaged self promotion built reputation taking killing unarmed civilians fact fiction portrayed films books having men square waiting rarely case spur moment drawing pistol reacting develop shootout men cover popular folklore men held noteworthy eager match reputation contrary cases men held similar reputation avoid confrontation possible rarely took risks usually weighed options confronting known respect famous rarely known gunmen matched notable lesser known opponent opponents fights usually close personal number shots pistols resulting innocent hit bullets gone wild time difficult tell won minutes black powder smoke pistols cleared air famous died varied man known feared public reputation killed died result ambush going blaze glory died deaths old age illness mythology folklore skills famous historical figures known capable trick shooting necessarily reputation precision frequently seen include shooting center coin stylistic pistol shots intentionally opponent bullet hat example shooting opponent belt dropping pants bullet cutting rope shooting guns opponents hands typically alternative killing bullets tend fragments hurt kill myth pistol shooting tight groups revolver western movies characters gun belts worn low hip outer thigh cut away pistol trigger grip smooth fast draw type hollywood fast draw artists distinguished movie guns tied thigh long steel lined soft comfortable day wear use tie downs pistol catching drawing time hide pistols pockets popularized butt forward type worked better horseback use gave faster easier draw popular weapon horsemen effectiveness horseback winchester rifle popular weapon dubbed gun won west widely settlement american frontier popular weapon express guards especially trains charge overseeing guarding valuable private shipment quick draw hip shooting important skill west handful historically known known fast shooting pistol hand normally associated standard era carry guns fire carried iconic carried half dozen king fisher died result ambush killed men feared reputation gunmen dallas killed raging gun battles portrayed films era usually opponent executed famed died wagon accident commodore died natural causes living lives reputation avoiding conflict retirement known pistol pete lived old age gained fame death age mascot rare like light died accidentally hand famous image wild west filled countless myth generated primarily novel authors late 19th century estimate men american west killed gunshot total casualties american indian wars notable known took place states territories arizona new_mexico kansas oklahoma texas actual rare far occur cause varied simply result heat moment longstanding feuds violence range wars like clashes indians cause famous faded history accounts surviving prevent happening cities american frontier dodge city local ordinance prohibit firearms area famous example real life western shootout gang lasted seconds contrary movie adaptations actually happen vacant lot outside shooting started pistols parties simultaneously drew guns added confusion fired known fired shot bullet hit tearing belly sending shot wild fired shot went hit morgan shot ran soon shots fired sight panicked ran pleading life fighting away watched desert brother billy run instantly killed tom shotgun frank running challenged killing brother dropped shotgun drew pistol shot frank right temple wounded dying fired gun smoke striking leg responded sending rounds billy april dallas participated texas dubbed dead seconds killed fatalities twin caliber killed innocent mexican year incidents kill men line duty documented resulted kills person single event shot single december unknown davis companions band lying wait canyon brush near trail typically diverse group americans captain davis companions foot gang charged brush pistols died instantly time draw revolver react way managed shooter fire twice dropped badly wounded captain davis later described fever excitement time stood ground pulling pistols firing barrage charging shot bullets tore davis clothing caused slight flesh wounds moments seven dead dying ground davis pistols remaining closed captain finish davis knife quickly stabbed death disarmed knocking knife grasp nose finger right hand attackers men wounded previous raid despite weakened condition approached davis drawn knives captain reacted instant heavy killed december town sheriff named came face face gunmen known shootout battle started arrested cowboy shot turn cowboy called associates murder took refuge house course hour siege gunmen bullet holes house accounts total shots touching turn killed wounded shooting attackers finally ran house unscathed went distinguished career lawyer legislator died bed age january commodore took office arizona sent deputies arrest instigated charged later ambush shooting searched found north continue cattle killing deputies killed arrested gang members killed gang sheriff turned attention family gang county june old man disappeared presumably killed faction sons searched father august killed aka cooper ambushed killed revenge returned heard killings sheriff inherited warrant cooper arrest horse theft rode september sheriff hunted buffalo railroad shoot winchester hip great accuracy winchester rifle arm knocked door answered pistol hand told come warrant arrest refused tried close door shot rifle hip door hitting stomach andy half brother pushed pistol door right fired sheriff missed shot arm putting fight saw window moving shoot shot wall striking andy right hip died night boarding family jumped window pistol sheriff shot chest killing year old ran door brother revolver mother ran shot sam fell backward dying mother arms shootout took minute legend months sheriff rid notorious gangs killers early western films literature native americans portrayed having conflicts battles white settlements according estimate white men women children killed indians killed numbered casualties american indian wars history fight native americans civilian longest recorded sniper kills shooting indian horse mile away rifle second battle walls general young second lieutenant chasing northern mexico enlisted men sent look villa recently raided city columbus new_mexico positioned men south gate making way north gate trio villa men came ranch horseback drew obsolete single action revolver shot men man fatally wounded exchange tried draw pistol killed single shot troops took remaining outlaw tied dead men hood touring car drove bodies commanding officer real life wild west image violent reputation street duel draws pistol tries kill hollywood invention wild west occur real life rarely entirely myth recorded south brought crude form code highly means solving disputes gentlemen swords guns origins european second half 19th century americans fought solve problems thing past united_states start 20th century writer book southern honor ethics behavior described american frontier custom primarily teenage disputes rise ranking status famous recorded duel occurred july springfield missouri cards decided arranged walk wild bill armed presence caused crowd immediately safety nearby buildings leaving northwestern corner square yards apart men drew guns fired time shot hit heart shot missed recorded example men taking quick draw duel following month acquitted pleading self defense story shootout detailed article staple legend famous gave account having participated duel south pass found outlaw named indian charlie account says party recognized chased ensued party manage capture confessed taken morgan murder identified morgan killers time allowed revolver chance fight like man confession told draw challenging duel counted duel occurred july gunmen duel saloon las_vegas new_mexico women worked boyfriend named discharged army gordon wanted stop working told leave angry went outside saloon started shooting windows pistol bullets went saloon revolver walked outside gordon started shooting missed drew pistol shot gordon long range shot went saloon gordon died day fled credited wounding shooting pistol saloon owner hand tried known duel american west happened texas known luke short jim duel running agency provided protection gambling return portion profits time friend running white elephant saloon jim trying short utilize services told hell necessary care business february short short street drew pistols close range short fired blowing thumb attempted border shift switches gun hand slow short shot chest killing saloon shootout involving buffalo hunter professional happened april richardson developed affection loving wife began argue saloon frank sat long table richardson turned took seat table heard speaking low voices conversation richardson drew pistol loving drew response saloon filled smoke saloon heard shots came running men standing richardson fired shots gun loving deputy threw richardson chair took gun richardson got started table fell floor fatal gunshot chest shot right arm slight scratch hand immediately taken jail days later ruled killing self defense loving immediately released march argued game cards saloon met alley following argument card game harrison shot missed levy aimed carefully hit harrison died week later known today famous time derby wearing train despite swell appearance deadly killer fastest guns wild wild west sought capture gang years noted outlaw pistol drawn revolver infamous assassin said participated duel second lieutenant dispute prostitute years old infamous participating quick draw living reputation old west men labeled kill nearly men given credit labeled particular instance developed rumors having involved events actually reputation self promotion case brothers morgan killed outlaw said involved lifetime cites incidents expressed dismay controversy followed entire life wrote letter notoriety life brother ambush morgan assassinated hidden men suspected involvement provided fellow released trial brother warren set ride locate kill felt responsible portrayed number film books fearless western hero viewed central character hero wounded killed fact brother deputy considerably experience weapons combat union soldier civil war law enforcement sheriff constable marshal city marshal decision requested assistance creative biography frontier marshal published years death famous subject movies television shows biographies works fiction records support reputation developed documented instances killed men unarmed evidence support participation single deserved reputation associated dallas killed men civilians deserved time gunmen like unknown actually led life reflective consider cases certain possibly confused time similar known wild bunch gang kid reality known shootout lifetime historians stated possible time confused wild bunch member doubt dangerous member gang having killed civilians lifetime killed kid better known outlaw difficult separate cases term applied despite portrayals television movies history books claim law enforcement role source employment unlike contemporary peace officers generally pursued earning money business owners case referred outlaw served deputy sheriff sheriff involving caused disputes arising alternative attempts enforce law historically cited assassin served deputy sheriff job shot people killer hire best known successful chief police austin texas king fisher great success county sheriff texas wore big served deputy marshal wyoming entire time committing murders forced theft land deeds town substantial violent crime rate turn known town marshal chief sheriff hopes stem violence bring order known gunmen generally effective time violence usually involved shooting incidents eventually leading substantial earned fear kept line times hired prominent figures serve cattle wars sanctioned law enforcement officials gunmen actually things official case point service evans gang outlaw agents murphy faction technically working little hired guns usually hired town town marshal received support townspeople order restored point town indicate time change dangerous relied respect fear enforce law good example decision texas town council dismiss dallas entered council hall try guns job point immediately changed mind saying job resigned couple days later legacy modern people wild west historically popular culture participating cowboy action shooting events adopts look representing character western life late 1800s character chooses alias sport originated southern_california usa early 1980s practiced places organizations including single action shooting society usa countries different categories shooters compete classic cowboy specifications alongside iconic cowboy cultural image american people abroad image violence frontier justice adventure outside western genre term modern times describe fast accurate pistols real life fictional action genre quick draw help important skill american military popular culture featured media outside western genre combined elements genres mainly science fiction contemporary setting abilities clothing attitude associated seen genres example han shot han solo like protagonist star wars kills opponent subtle table draw wore low tied thigh trigger fantasy series dark tower pitted fantasy themed monsters enemies inspired man western characters detached reacting angry signs self pity possesses strong sense heroism attempting help need morality seen ruthless bounty hunter bound personal code honor protect avenge innocent ign ranked greatest comic book hero time universe occasions transported contemporary setting unfamiliar territory time period managed enemies advanced weaponry gun kid comic book skilled aided super heroes future notably hulk japanese manga anime adopted western genre known creating space western story protagonist wandering dark past unlike violence themed carries shane like attitude avoids killing men dangerous enemies gun priest named carries heavy machine gun rocket shaped like cross nicholas violent argue killing opponents western genre themed manga anime include journey incorporate knight themes modern day western appeared recent television series justified shares ambiguous moral code sheriff fast draw dispatch enemies shares elements hunted outlaw additionally comic book character self proclaimed born 1940s featured video games traditional contemporary future settings protagonist best selling western video game gun known video game western protagonist nominated spike video game awards new_york_times stated creators convincing cohesive imagination real world sets new standard ambition electronic gaming main character video games blood chosen group video game medal honor appear mission named player act captain 1st aviation regiment professional american football quarterback nicknamed rural southern wild risky quick throwing play style led great success national_football_league
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