Q: Most people think Porter operated outside the law: shooting people as he saw fit. Is this correct?

No - he was the law! He was a deputy marshal for Utah. So, if you were an outlaw you feared him and if you were not and outlaw you would view him as we do officers of the law today. The "loose cannon" view of Porter comes only from the antimormon myths of his day that have been perpetuated up until now.

-John Rockwell