Stephen justified this by saying that "every man has a duty to defend his fatherland"; according to Polish chronicler Jan Długosz, if someone was found without carrying a weapon, he was sentenced to death.
Ștefan a justificat acest lucru spunând că „fiecare om are datoria de a-și apăra patria”, în conformitate cu Jan Długosz, dacă cineva era găsit fără a purta o armă, el era condamnat la moarte.