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Young Guns is a post-Civil War western film based on the folklore of Henry McCarty,
widely known as “Billy The Kid”, and his involvement of events that took place during a
series of violent conflicts known as the Lincoln County war of 1878. (Fusco) Revived by
Hollywood the stories of gumption and mayhem recreated a legend around Billy and the
Regulators that would be used to appeal to modern advocates of youth empowerment
against injustice. Taking artistic license with historical events, Young Guns, simplifies
involved territorial competition in the Western frontier. In Hollywood the film inspired a
new demographic audience profiling in the entertainment industry which would attract
younger audiences’ interest in films about the Wild West, by using strategic casting and
altering storylines.
Set in the Territory of New Mexico, Young Guns follows a story about a group of seven
young outlaws engaging in impetuous acts of revenge against corrupt lawman, and
unscrupulous businessman. The young men served as regulators or bodyguards for John
Tunstall, a cattle rancher and merchant. Tunstall was murdered by order of a powerful and
wealthy competitor, Lawrence Murphy. To avenge the death of their employer the
Regulators would be deputized and with the help of sensationalized stories in the press,
would instigate the range war in Lincoln County.
William H. Bonney, also referred to as ‘Billy The Kid’, is the standout of the group also
the films main character and central focus. ‘The Kid’, as the character is referred to
throughout the movie, is an immature and impulsive delinquent who got his kicks out of
using his six-shooter to take down the bad guy in the name of battling corruption.
Regardless of the empowerment that came with being deputized and the issue of warrants,
The Kid considers himself and the Regulators justified in being self-appointed judge, jury
and executioners of rival factions. Forgoing arresting the perpetrators, The Kid opts to kill
them on site, as well as any bounty hunters sent to stop them. Emboldened by fantastical
newspaper reports Billy makes his revenge and outing of corruption as flashy as possible.
Billy chose to feed into the press reports in hopes of getting the attention of the President,
a person with real power and authority to put an end to crooked law enforcement,
politicians and unregulated business practices. (Fusco)
Young Guns is overly dramatic and disordered in interpreting historical events accurately.
Its historical inaccuracy stem from the film makers focus on glorifying the protagonists
