The Evolution of Frontier Justice: From Physical Realm to Digital Frontiers
Frontier justice emerged from the lawless edges of expanding territories, where formal legal systems were absent and survival depended on personal retribution and reward. In the American Old West, bounty systems allowed individuals or bounty hunters—often called trackers or outlaws—to capture or kill fugitives for monetary reward. These systems were not governed by courts but by personal honor, risk, and regional power. Bounty hunting was both necessity and livelihood, blurring the lines between lawman and vigilante. This raw, morally ambiguous landscape laid the foundation for a lasting archetype: justice enforced by those with the courage—and the guns.