A surgical stapler for treating the tissue of a patient, comprising: a handle; a shaft extending from said handle; an end effector extending from said shaft, wherein said end effector is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration, and wherein said end effector comprises: a first jaw; a second jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable toward said first jaw to place said end effector in said closed configuration; a cartridge body including staple cavities; staples removably stored in said staple cavities; and an anvil configured to deform said staples; a closure system configured to move said second jaw toward said first jaw; a firing system, comprising: a staple driver, wherein said firing system is configured to push said staple driver toward said anvil during a firing stroke and retract said staple driver during a retraction stroke; and a cutting member configured to cut the tissue during a cutting stroke, wherein said cutting member comprises a cutting edge which is exposed from said cartridge body during said cutting stroke; a lockout configured to prevent the cutting member from being actuated prior to the partial or complete actuation of the staple driver; a lock configured to prevent said staple driver from being retracted during said firing stroke; and a bypass configured to overcome said lock such that the staple driver can be retracted during said firing stroke. a handle; a shaft extending from said handle; an end effector extending from said shaft, wherein said end effector is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration, and wherein said end effector comprises: a first jaw; a second jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable toward said first jaw to place said end effector in said closed configuration; a cartridge body including staple cavities; staples removably stored in said staple cavities; and an anvil configured to deform said staples; a first jaw; a second jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable toward said first jaw to place said end effector in said closed configuration; a cartridge body including staple cavities; staples removably stored in said staple cavities; and an anvil configured to deform said staples; a closure system configured to move said second jaw toward said first jaw; a firing system, comprising: a staple driver, wherein said firing system is configured to push said staple driver toward said anvil during a firing stroke and retract said staple driver during a retraction stroke; and a cutting member configured to cut the tissue during a cutting stroke, wherein said cutting member comprises a cutting edge which is exposed from said cartridge body during said cutting stroke; a staple driver, wherein said firing system is configured to push said staple driver toward said anvil during a firing stroke and retract said staple driver during a retraction stroke; and a cutting member configured to cut the tissue during a cutting stroke, wherein said cutting member comprises a cutting edge which is exposed from said cartridge body during said cutting stroke; a lockout configured to prevent the cutting member from being actuated prior to the partial or complete actuation of the staple driver; a lock configured to prevent said staple driver from being retracted during said firing stroke; and a bypass configured to overcome said lock such that the staple driver can be retracted during said firing stroke.