Just curious. What do RKBA gun enthusiasts say about Wyatt Earp and his gun ban in tombstone?

[gejohnston]

9. Earp didn't ban anything

Last edited Fri Jun 21, 2013, 07:11 PM - Edit history (1)

He was the town cop, not the town dictator. He was actually the deputy of the county sheriff in Tucson, which was the county seat. And it wasn't a gun ban. It was a carry ban.
The city ordnance was passed by the city council on 19 April 1881.

Ordinance No. 9
"To Provide against Carrying of Deadly Weapons" (effective April 19, 1881).
Section 1: "It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person to carry deadly weapons, concealed or otherwise [except the same be carried openly in sight, and in the hand] within the limits of the City of Tombstone.
Section 2: This prohibition does not extend to persons immediately leaving or entering the city, who, with good faith, and within reasonable time are proceeding to deposit, or take from the place of deposit such deadly weapon.
Section 3: All fire-arms of every description, and bowie knives and dirks, are included within the prohibition of this ordinance."

Notice it didn't say anything about ownership. I'm guessing "in the hand" exemption meant taking your hunting rifle to the buckboard or horse. Non residents were supposed leave them at the livery, where you would park your horse, for safe keeping.
No excuses, no traitor to any cause, or anything else. There are probably a fair number of good history books on the subject.

Tombstone wasn't the only one. There were a couple of towns in Wyoming that did as well. Not that it really mattered, because unlike the old TV westerns, people generally didn't carry around town anyway.
It was actually rare. Even when I was a kid in Wyoming, the non LE open carry was a guy who rode his motorcycle to the range. It was the only legal way for him to carry it since, at that time, putting his revolver in a saddle bag would have been the same as putting it in a glove box or under a car seat, which was illegal.

Edit to add
it was amended in 1977 to:

5-5-1: CARRYING OF DEADLY WEAPONS PROHIBITED: link

It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person other than a peace officer in the course of his official duties, to carry any deadly weapon concealed or otherwise within the limits of the city.

This prohibition does not extend to persons immediately leaving or entering the city, who, with good faith and within reasonable time are proceeding to deposit, or to take from the place of deposit, such deadly weapons, provided that such weapon be carried openly, in sight and in hand.

Performances under conditions of a permit issued by the city shall be exempt from this prohibition.

All firearms of every description, Bowie knives, hunting knives, dirks, and all knives with over three inch (3&quot blade measured from hilt to tip of blade, are included within the prohibition of this chapter. (Ord. 77-78-02, 10-10-1977)

I'm guessing Arizona passed a preemption law since then.