Secrets Of TV’s The Rifleman: More Than Just Guns And Good Times

A Theme of Forgiveness

The Rifleman included life lessons, and one of the reoccurring themes was forgiveness. In the episode “The Marshall” Lucas McCain employees a former convict on his ranch, showing that everyone deserves a second chance. In the episode “The Sheridan Story” a soldier who had his arm shot off during the Civil War encounters the General who did the damage while on the ranch. General Philip Sheridan then offers to take care of the former Confederate States of America solider’s medical expenses as a showing of apology and to ask for forgiveness.