New Jersey

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New Jersey

This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to New Jersey. It supports research on the state’s firearms history, technology, law, policy, and culture from the colonial period through statehood to the present.

Legal sources: statutes and session laws, administrative code, attorney general opinions, appellate decisions, and select municipal ordinances.
Historical materials: newspapers, photographs, maps, catalogs, manufacturing, maritime, and law-enforcement records, and oral histories tied to New Jersey people and places.
Research outputs: technical reports, academic studies, training manuals, and curated datasets relevant to the state.

Cite the Firearms Research Center and the item’s handle/DOI when using materials. Rights and licensing vary by item.

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Now showing 1 - 40 of 106

3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 307 (1980)
(1755)
Set the minimum age at twenty-one for enlistment for out-of-colony service without consent of a parent, guardian, or master.
1792 N.J. Laws 850
(1792)
Raised the minimum age to 18, and lowered the maximum age to 45. Further, "every non-commissioned Officer and Private of the Infantry (including Grenadiers, Light Infantry and Artillery) until supplied with Ordinance and Field Artillery, shall have a good Musket or Firelock, a sufficient Bayonet and Belt, two spare Flints and a Knapsack, a Pouch with a Box not less than twenty-four Cartridges suited to the Bore of his Musket or Firelock, each Cartridge containing a proper Quantity of Powder and Ball; or with a good Rifle, Knapsack, Pouch and Powder-Horn, twenty Balls suited to the Bore of his Rifle, and a Quarter of a Pound of Powder; and shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided, when called out to exercise or into Service.
1776-77 N.J. Laws 26
(1777)
[A]ll able-bodied Men, not being Slaves … between the Ages of sixteen and fifty Years … and [] capable of bearing Arms" constituted the militia.
1780 N.J. Laws 42-43
(1780)
And Be It Enacted, That the Captain or Commanding Officer of each Company shall keep a true and perfect List or Roll of all effective Men between the Ages of sixteen and fifty Years, residing within the District of such Company ... And Be It Enacted, That every Person enrolled as aforesaid shall constantly keep himself furnished with a good Musket, well fitted with a Bayonet, a Worm, a Cartridge-Box, twenty-three Rounds of Cartridges sized to his Musket, a Priming Wire, Brush, six Flints, a Knapsack and Canteen, under the Forfeiture of Seven Shillings and Sixpence for Want of a Musket, and One Shilling for Want of any other of the aforesaid Articles, whenever called out to Training or Service ... Provided always, That if any Person be furnished as aforesaid with a good Rifle-Gun, the Apparatus necessary for the same, and a Tomahawk, it shall be accepted in Lieu of the Musket and the Bayonet and other Articles belonging thereto. Further required that "each Person enrolled…also keep at his Place of Abode one Pound of good merchantable Gunpowder and three Pounds of Ball sized to his Musket or Rifle
1797 N.J. Laws 219-20
(1797)
Required the assessor of each town to compare the list of 18-to-45-year-olds in the community to the list of persons enrolled for military duty, and to ensure that everyone 18 and older who was not exempted was keeping the proper arms and fulfilling his militia duties.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 502 (1980)
(1757)
Kept the age for militia between the Age of Sixteen and Fifty Years.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 385, 425 (1980)
(1756)
Set the minimum age at twenty-one for enlistment for out-of-colony service without consent of a parent, guardian, or master.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 15 (1980)
(1746)
Sought to raise 500 troops for a state army expedition against Canada. This act also made it unlawful for an officer "to inlist any young Men under the Age of Twenty One Years, or any Slaves who are so for Term of Life, bought Servants, or Apprentices, without the Express Leave in Writing of their Parents or Guardians, Masters or Mistresses."
1799 N.J. Laws 609
(1799)
Eliminated non-whites from the militia. Persons who were granted militia exemptions (e.g., physicians, clergy) had to pay a three-dollar annual fee. In case the militia were "called into actual service," exempted persons too would be liable to serve.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 5 (1980); see also 1753 N.J. Laws ch. 257; 1766 N.J. Laws ch. 422; 1770 N.J. Laws ch. 520; 1771 N.J. Laws ch. 539
(1746)
Each militiaman between the Age of Sixteen and Fifty Years" must "be sufficiently armed with one good sufficient Musket or Fuzee well fixed, a Sword or Bayonet, a Cartouch-Box or Powder-Horn," plus bullets and powder.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 5 (1980)
(1746)
Required most men aged 16 to 50 to enroll in the colonial militia, provide their own weapons and ammunition, attend regular training musters, and obey military officers. Violators faced fines and, if unpaid, up to three days' imprisonment.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 502-11 (1980)
(1757)
Required most men aged 16 to 50 to enroll in the colony's militia, maintain specified arms and ammunition, and attend three annual training musters. Absences, appearing unarmed, or failing to keep required equipment resulted in fines, enforceable through seizure and sale of property. Captains were required to inspect arms regularly. Selling alcohol to militia members during musters was prohibited and punishable by fine. During invasions, rebellions, or alarms, militia members were subject to court-martial discipline for disobedience or nonappearance, though punishments could not include death or mutilation.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 425-36 (1980)
(1756)
Established a colonel to command New Jersey's frontier forces and required him to oversee discipline, training, and military readiness. He was obligated to conduct regular inspections of forts and posts, maintain at least eighty men on patrol, keep detailed records of enlistments, discharges, deaths, and military activities, and submit periodic reports to the governor and legislature. The colonel was also required to take loyalty oaths and swear to maintain accurate muster rolls and payroll records to prevent fraud and ensure proper compensation of soldiers.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 385-90 (1980)
(1756)
Authorized New Jersey to raise 250 volunteer freemen to defend the Sussex County frontier against Native American attacks. The volunteers were organized into three companies, received pay and limited protection from civil debt collection, and could be supplied with colony-owned muskets if necessary. The law prohibited enlisting minors, slaves, servants, or apprentices without permission and imposed substantial penalties on officers who violated those restrictions. It also appropriated funds for soldiers' wages, provisions, ammunition, and other military supplies, and established procedures for managing and disposing of unused stores.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 307-19 (1980)
(1755)
Authorized New Jersey to raise 500 free men and allied Native Americans for a military expedition against French encroachments. Volunteers received enlistment bonuses, military pay, and temporary protection from most civil debt collection, while safeguards prevented them from using enlistment to defraud creditors. Further, prohibited enlisting men under 21, slaves, servants, or apprentices without written permission from their parents, guardians, or masters. Justices could order their release, and officers who unlawfully enlisted or detained them faced substantial fines: £500 for minors, £100 for slaves, and £20 for servants or apprentices.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 15-20 (1980)
(1746)
Encouraged 500 freemen and allied Native Americans to enlist for a campaign against French Canada by offering a £6 bonus, temporary protection from most civil debt collection, and military pay. It prohibited enlisting minors, slaves, servants, or apprentices without permission and imposed substantial penalties for unlawful enlistment.
1885 N.J. Laws 52
(1885)
Ch. 44, 2: That it shall not be lawful to sell, hire or loan to any person under the age of fifteen years any gun, pistol, toy pistol, or other fire-arms; or for any person under the age of fifteen years to purchase, barter or exchange any gun, pistol, toy pistol or other fire-arms; nor for any person under the age of fifteen years to carry, fire or use any gun, pistol, toy pistol or other fire-arms, except in the presence of his father or guardian, or for the purpose of military drill in accordance with the rules of a school.
Ordinances of the Borough of Vineland 5 (1883)
(1883)
An Ordinance for the Protection of Persons and Property, 3 of Ordinance No. 3: And be it ordained and enacted, That if any person shall unnecessarily fire or cause to be fired, any gun, pistol or other fire-arms or cannon, in any of the street, lanes, alleys or parks of said Borough [i.e., the Borough of Vineland]; or if any person under the age of fifteen years shall carry or use any gun, pistol or other fire-arms, or if any merchant or trader shall sell or offer to sell any gun, pistol or other fire-arms to any such person, he or they so offending shall be liable to a fine of not less than one nor more than ten dollars for every such offence."
1912 N.J. Laws 365-66
(1912)
Ch. 225, 3: A person who attempts to use against another, or who carries, or possesses any instrument or weapon of the kind commonly known as a blackjack, slung-shot, billy, sand-club, sand-bag, metal knuckles, bludgeon, dagger, dirk, dangerous knife, razor, stiletto, revolver, bomb or other high explosive, or any other dangerous or deadly instrument or weapon, with the intent to use the same unlawfully against another is guilty of a high misdemeanor
1903 N.J. Laws 337-38
(1903)
Ch. 169, 1: It shall not be lawful to sell, barter, exchange, hire or loan to any person under the age of fifteen years, any gun, pistol, toy pistol, or other firearms, or for any person under the age of fifteen years to purchase, barter or exchange any gun, pistol, toy pistol or other firearms, nor for any person under the age of fifteen years to carry, fire or use a gun, pistol toy pistol or other firearms, except in the presence of his father or guardian, or for the purpose of military drill in accordance with the rules of a school; it shall be the duty of all persons selling, hiring, bartering or exchanging pistols, revolvers, guns or other firearms, to keep and maintain a book of registry of the same
The Charter and Ordinances of the City of Paterson 81-82 (1851)
(1851)
An Ordinance concerning Police, 8 For keeping gunpowder: It shall not be lawful for any person to have or keep any quantity of Gunpowder, exceeding twenty-eight pounds, in any house, store, building, or other place within the limits of the City. And all Gunpowder which shall be kept in the City, shall be kept in tin canisters, which shall not contain more than seven pounds each, under a penalty of Five Dollars for each offence."
1797 N.J. Laws 219-20
(1797)
Required the assessor of each town to compare the list of 18-to-45-year-olds in the community to the list of persons enrolled for military duty, and to ensure that everyone 18 and older who was not exempted was keeping the proper arms and fulfilling his militia duties.
1913 N.J. Laws 339
(1913)
Ch. 186, 1-2: It shall not be lawful for any person or persons, corporation or corporations, to manufacture, sell, barter, exchange, hire, loan, give, buy or have in possession or use or shoot any air gun, spring gun or pistol, or other weapon of a similar nature in which the propelling force is a spring or air and ejecting a bullet or missile smaller than three eighths of an inch in diameter, with sufficient force to injure the person.
1903 N.J. Laws 671
(1903)
Ch. 257, 49: No person shall be entitled to carry or require any company to carry on any railroad any aqua fortis, oil or vitriol, gunpowder, nitro-glycerine, matches, or other goods of a dangerous nature and if any person sends by the railway any such goods without distinctly marking their nature on the outside of the package containing the same, or otherwise giving notice in writing to the agent of the company with whom the same are left at the time of so sending, he shall forfeit to the company twenty dollars for every such offense, and be besides liable to all damage that may occur therefrom, and the company may refuse to take any parcel that they may suspect to contain goods of a dangerous nature or may require the same to be opened to ascertain the fact.
1916 N.J. Laws 275-76
(1916)
Ch. 130, 1-2: Prohibited any individuals from going into the woods or fields with a firearm while intoxicated or under influence of drugs or alcohol. Punishable by revocation of hunting and fishing license.
The Grants, Concessions, and Original Constitutions of the Province of New-Jersey 103 (1752)
(1675)
Be il enacfed by this Asiiemh\y, that no person or persons oi what state or degree soever within this Province, shall under any preetence sell, give or any other ways supply any Indian or Indians, with any guns or ammunituion whatsoever instrumental for war, or what quantity or worth soever, be it never so small...
1780 N.J. Laws 42-43
(1780)
And Be It Enacted, That the Captain or Commanding Officer of each Company shall keep a true and perfect List or Roll of all effective Men between the Ages of sixteen and fifty Years, residing within the District of such Company . . . And Be It Enacted, That every Person enrolled as aforesaid shall constantly keep himself furnished with a good Musket, well fitted with a Bayonet, a Worm, a Cartridge-Box, twenty-three Rounds of Cartridges sized to his Musket, a Priming Wire, Brush, six Flints, a Knapsack and Canteen, under the Forfeiture of Seven Shillings and Sixpence for Want of a Musket, and One Shilling for Want of any other of the aforesaid Articles, whenever called out to Training or Service . . . Provided always, That if any Person be furnished as aforesaid with a good Rifle-Gun, the Apparatus necessary for the same, and a Tomahawk, it shall be accepted in Lieu of the Musket and the Bayonet and other Articles belonging thereto. Further required that "each Person enrolled?also keep at his Place of Abode one Pound of good merchantable Gunpowder and three Pounds of Ball sized to his Musket or Rifle
The Laws and Acts of the General Assembly of His Majesties Province of Nova Caesarea or New-Jersey 139 (1717)
(1703)
required all men 16 to 150 "to be sufficiently armed with one good sufficient Musquet or Fuzee, well fixed, a Sword or Bagonet"
1912 N.J. Laws 366
(1912)
Ch. 225, 4: Every person selling a pistol, revolver or other firearm of a size which may be concealed upon the person whether such seller is a retail dealer, pawnbroker or otherwise, shall keep a register in which shall be entered at the time of sale the date of sale, name, age, occupation and residence of every purchaser of such a pistol, revolver or other firearm, together with the calibre, make, model, manufacturer's number or other mark of identification on such pistol, revolver or other firearm
An Ordinance to Prevent the Use of Fire Arms, § 2, in Charter of the City of Hudson 109 (1868)
(1855)
No person shall within this city fire or discharge any gun, pistol, cannon or fowling-piece or other fire-arms, unless in defence of his or her property or person, nor let off any squibs, crackers or other fireworks, unless by permission of the city authorities.
1639 N.J. Laws 18-19
(1639)
Ordinance of the Director and Council of New Netherland, Prohibiting the Sale of Firearms . . . to Indians: Prohibited the sale of firearms, and ammunition to "Indians" punishable by death. Informants of violations eligible for monetary reward.
Ordinances of the City of Bayonne, From 1869 to 1894, at 338-40 (1894)
(1877)
An Ordinance To Regulate the Sale, Storage, and Keeping of Gunpowder and Other Explosive and Dangerous Materials Within the Limits of the City of Bayonne, 1-5: Regulated the storage and sale of gunpowder in the city of Bayonne
1752 N.J. Laws 444
(1750)
Ch. 112, 4: Prohibited "any Negro or Mulatto Slave" from being off their master's property with a gun on the Lord's Day after nine in the evening.
1900 N J. Laws 395-96
(1900)
Ch. 158, 1: Any person or persons who shall cast or throw any stick, stone, pebble, or other substance, or who shall shoot from any air gun, pistol or rifle any shot or ball at, against or into any trolley car, street railway car or steam railroad car . . . shall be deemed a disorderly person, and upon conviction shall be punished as such, before any justice of the peace, police justice, or city recorder in this state.
Ordinances of the Borough of Asbury Park, New Jersey 6-7 (1878)
(1878)
Ordinance No. 3, 1: No person shall discharge any cannon or other piece of artillery or small arms, guns or pistols, rockets, squibs or powder crackers, within the limits of this Borough, without the permission of the President of this Board first obtained in writing
Charter of the City of Newark and Laws of New Jersey Relating to Said City: Ordinances of the Common Council of the City of Newark 29 (1850)
(1836)
An Ordinance Supplementary to a Law entitled "A Law for the appointment of a Street Commissioner and prescribing his duties," and for other purposes, 41 Discharging guns, &c.: No person shall, within the Lamp and Watch District, fire or discharge any gun, pistol, cannon, or fowling piece, or other fire arms, (unless in defence of his person or property,) nor let off any squibs, crackers, or other fireworks, in the city of Newark, unless by permission of the city authorities, under the penalty of five dollars for every offence."
1892 N.J. Laws 353
(1892)
Ch. 217, 1-2: That if any person shall be apprehended in any city of this state, having concealed upon his or her person any offensive weapon, then he or she shall be deemed and adjudged to be a disorderly person; provided, that this act shall not apply to sheriffs, under sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables, policemen or other peace officers, nor to any person having a written permit from the police authorities of such city to carry such weapon.
Ordinances of Jersey City 59 (1874)
(1871)
An Ordinance Declaring Nuisances and Providing for their Abatement, 7-8 : If any person shall, without permission of the Board of Alderman, store or keep, or permit to be stored or kept in any building or on any lot in Jersey City, any rosin oil, coal oil, kerosene oil, or other explosive or combustible liquid in a greater quantity than five barrels; or any gunpowder in a greater quantity than twelve and one-half pounds, or any quantity of gunpowder in any vessel which is not wholly of stone or metal, such person shall, on conviction, forfeit and pay a fine of fifty dollars for each offense
1776 N.J. Laws 344
(1771)
Ch. 539, 1, 3: Be it Enacted by the Governor, Council and General Assembly of this colony of New Jersey, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That if any person or persons shall presume, at any time after the publication hereof, to carry any gun on any lands not his own, and for which the owner pays taxes, or is in his lawful possession, unless he hath license or permission in writing from the owner or owners, or legal possessor, every such person so offending, and convicted thereof, either upon the view of any justice of the peace within this colony, or by the oath or affirmation of one or more witnesses, before any justice of the peace of either of the counties, cities, or towns corporate of this colony, in which the offender or offenders may be taken or reside, he or she, or they, shall for every offence, forfeit and pay to the owner of the soil, or his tenant in possession, the sum of forty shillings, with costs of sit; which forfeiture shall and may be sued for and recovered by the owner of the soil, or tenant in possession before any justice of the peace in this colony, for the use of such owner or tenant in possession. Also provided that if the offender is not a resident of the colony, they shall pay a sum of five dollars and forfeit their arms.
An Ordinance to Regulate the Carrying of Concealed Weapons and to Prohibit the Carrying of the Same Except as Herein Provided, in Montclair Times, May 15, 1897, at 8
(1897)
No person shall carry any deadly weapon concealed on his person within the Town of Montclair except members of the police force of the Town of Montclair, public officers either of the United States or of this State or any sub-division thereof who are duly authorized by law to carry such weapons and persons to whom permits shall have been issued as hereinafter provided.

New Jersey

New Jersey

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