I watched the remake of The Magnificent Seven the other night. Good entertainment but lousy history. The townsfolk are portrayed to a man – well except for one woman – as bumbling, defenseless victims who can neither shoot nor gather the courage to fight.

It does not surprise me that Hollywood portrays people of frontier towns in this fashion, for they paint a self-portrait. Writers and directors cannot conceive of common folk who would actually rise to their own defense and have the skills necessary for the endeavor.

The truth is that even towns far from the frontier inhabited by dangerous men as the James-Younger Gang learned when they attempted to rob the bank in Northfield, Minnesota. The citizens quickly armed themselves and shot the fleeing – and shooting – criminals to “rag dolls” as Louis L’Amour would say. Several outlaws were wounded. Two were killed outright and photographed in the flattering poses nearby as a warning to others.

Northfield was not alone. Ranchers near modern day New Plymouth, Idaho are reputed to have held an impromptu recall of Boise’s sheriff when they discovered him rustling their cattle. There was an electoral vacancy in Boise at the end of the proceedings.

These episodes demonstrate the regrettable but, in some ways, understandable change in attitudes that has occurred in our society. People have embraced the idea that law enforcement will protect them and, too often, that they are incapable of protecting themselves. Simple common sense and recent events display the folly of these attitudes.

From a logical standpoint, when would you attack your victims if you were a criminal, when the police were close at hand or absent? From the experiential perspective, is it reasonable to entrust your life to other humans who share your flaws – fear, battles against cowardice – and who have the added burden of bureaucratic regulations restraining their actions? Probably not.

You and your loved ones will be safer if you accept the fact that your safety and theirs is first and foremost your responsibility.