PBS reality show on Historic Ranch Life

[Knuckles]

I saw this on the SASS Wire and thought it was interesting....

This is a post from the S&W Forum:

"I stumbled across this while looking for something on PBS's website. It seems they are getting ready to film another version of their reality show. This one is called Texas Ranch House.

The following is from the FAQs on http://www.pbs.org.

"Will we have guns and live ammunition?"
"No. Our participants will not be permitted to use guns. It is something of a myth that all cowboys carried guns, and in fact guns were banned from most early ranches because they terrified cattle and could cause stampedes. Our show is about living the life of real 1867 cowboys and ranchers, not movie gunslingers."



This just seems completely off the mark considering all the evidence to the contrary (i.e. existing photographs showing cowboys with their sidearms, etc).  Seems like more political correctness gone out of control!   

[Knuckles]

Further evidence:

If sidearms were not prevelant as part of a cowpokes kit, why would so many cowtowns have bans on the carrying of firearms in city limits or on certain premises by said cowboys?

[Doctor Bill]

Historical accuracy aside, based on my experience in theatre and film work it is probably a good thing NOT to let the participants have access to firearms with live ammunition.  No insurance company in their right mind would write the liability policy.

Doctor Bill

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Still, it would be nice if they actually consulted some local historians before making that kind of pronuncement..

Sure, I doubt most folks had a full CAS arsenal, but just about every sodbuster had a shotgun and just about every rancher had at least a rifle.  I can relate a few things from my family history that involved the use of guns and defense. 

[Griff]

Their comment might not be that far off the mark.  While certainly MOST cowboys had at least a sidearm (they were cheaper than long arms), when working within the confines of their ranch (i.e. not on the trail) they would generally carry their sidearm in their saddlebags along with their days' kit, supplies, medicines, etc..  Anyone who has worked a rope, knows that if it involves a horse and a rope, anything that hangs off your person or saddle, that rope will, sooner rather than later, get tangled up in it.  Difference story on cattle drives, etc.  Just as today, policies regarding arms varied widely from ranch to ranch.
SASS/CMSA#93
LSFSC Life
NRA Life

[Ivory Jack]

Hmmm, 1867 Texas eh?  Let's see, there were Civil War holdouts: which probably had something to do with this report: http://freedmensbureau.com/texas/marshall.htm

And then there were the Indians: Apaches, Comanches, Kiowas, Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho for starters (all peace-loving folks).  Just for fun, here's the official list of persons killed or wounded in Parker County, (North Central)Texas, dated June 9th, 1867, covering the previous 18 months.
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/exhibits/indian/showdown/parkercounty-killed-june1867-1.html

The Salt Creek Massacre was in 1871, the Battle of Adobe Walls didn't take place until 1874 and the Red River War didn't end until 1875.  Have I mentioned Mexican bandits crossing the Rio Grande?  Yeah PBS really did their research.  They must have used Dan Rather's sources.  Please excuse my cynicism.

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Their comment might not be that far off the mark.  While certainly MOST cowboys had at least a sidearm (they were cheaper than long arms), when working within the confines of their ranch (i.e. not on the trail) they would generally carry their sidearm in their saddlebags along with their days' kit, supplies, medicines, etc..  Anyone who has worked a rope, knows that if it involves a horse and a rope, anything that hangs off your person or saddle, that rope will, sooner rather than later, get tangled up in it.  Difference story on cattle drives, etc. Just as today, policies regarding arms varied widely from ranch to ranch.
SASS/CMSA#93
LSFSC Life
NRA Life

To a degree, you're right.  Cowhands did not automatically carry a gun.  It would depend on the work at hand and the circumstances.  And as the ranches gained control, they did affect more and more of the cowboy population. 
But, the title suggests a family settling on the range, not a working cowcamp.. in that case, the presence of a gun, expecially a long gun is an essential.  There is a clear bias showing.. that a gun automatically creates a "gunslinger."

Adios,

[Delmonico]

With them using 1867 as their base, most Texans were still trying to put things back together after the war.  Some of the returning soldiers would have brought back revolvers, few would have had the money to buy them.  If on the frontier most likely would have had some sort of firearm, most likely a muzzleloading rifle.  If not on the frontier any pistol would most likely not been carried in the open.

As for PBS and any Biased slant, what would you expect from them?   I seriously doubt I'll waste any time watching, don't see where there's gonna be much learnin' in watchin' it fer me.

[Knuckles]

There is a clear bias showing.. that a gun automatically creates a "gunslinger."

WELL SAID!