So that's troublin' you? I reckon it needn't. You see it…
““So that's troublin' you? I reckon it needn't. You see it was this way. I come round the house an' seen that fat party an' heard him talkin' loud. Then he seen me, an' very impolite goes straight for his gun. He oughtn't have tried to throw a gun on me - whatever his reason was. For that's meetin' me on my own grounds. I've seen runnin' molasses that was quicker'n him. Now I didn't know who he was, visitor or friend or relation of yours, though I seen he was a Mormon all over, an' I couldn't get serious about shootin'. So I winged him - put a bullet through his arm as he was pullin' at his gun. An' he droppped the gun there, an' a little blood. I told him he'd introduced himself sufficient, an' to please move out of my vicinity. An' went" - Lassiter””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A speaker confronts an armed intruder, justifying a defensive shot and demanding the intruder leave his property.
In simple terms: Defensive confrontation over territory.
Key Takeaway
Self‑defense and territorial rights.
Themes
defense
territory
violence
justice
masculinity
Mood
tense
assertive
Type
narrative
dialogue
When to use this quote
- protecting home
- facing an armed threat
- asserting dominance
Key Concepts
personal sovereignty
use of force
social order
Practical Applications
- self‑defense training
- conflict de‑escalation guidelines
Questions to Reflect On
- When is force justified?
- How does personal space shape conflict?