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.

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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.
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
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.
1911 N.J. Laws 185
(1911)
Ch. 128, 1: It shall be unlawful to use any silencer, when hunting for game or fowl, on any gun, rifle or firearm, under a penalty of twenty dollars for each offense.
1912 N.J. Laws 365
(1912)
Ch. 225, 2: A person who manufactures, or causes to be manufactured, or sells or keeps for sale, or offers, or gives, or disposes of any instrument or weapon of the kind usually known as a blackjack, slung-shot, billy, sandclub, sand-bag, bludgeon, or metal knuckles, to any person; or a person who offers, sells, loans, leases, or gives any gun, revolver, pistol or other firearm, or any air-gun, spring-gun or other instrument or weapon in which the propelling force is spring or air, or any instrument or weapon commonly known as a toy pistol or in or upon which any loaded or blank cartridges are used, or may be used, or any loaded or blank cartridges or ammunition therefor, to any person under the age of twenty-one years, is guilty of a misdemeanor;
1874 N.J. Laws 137-38
(1874)
Ch. 525, 4: That no person shall at any time kill any wild duck, brant, or goose with any device or instrument known as a swivel or punt gun, or with any gun other than such guns as are habitually raised at arms [sic] length and fired from the shoulder; or shall use any net, device, instrument, or gun other than such gun as aforesaid with intent to capture or kill any such wild duck or goose, under a penalty of fifty dollars.
1777 N.J. Laws 90
(1777)
Ch. 40, 20: That the President and Council aforesaid be, and they hereby are empowered and directed to deprive and take from such Persons as they shall judge disaffected and dangerous to the present Government, all the Arms, Accoutrements and Ammunition which they own or possess; and the said President and Council are hereby authorized to pay for such Arms, Accoutrements and Ammunition, or any of them, such Sum as shall be ascertained by two or more Appraisers under Oath, which said Arms, Accoutrements and Ammunition shall be delivered, for the Use of the State, to the Commanding Officer of the Battalion in whose District such disaffected Person resides."
1907 N.J. Laws 116-17
(1907)
Ch. 62, 2: For greater certainty it is hereby specified that, in addition to the other powers hereby conferred upon said board, are the following: . . . To regulate and prohibit the use of guns, pistols, firearms and fireworks of all descriptions within the city.
Revision of the Statutes of New Jersey 263 (1877)
(1874)
An act relating to the transportation of explosive and dangerous material, 1: An act relating to the transportation of explosive and dangerous material, 1: That if any person shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to any canal, railroad, steamboat, or other transportation company, or to any persons, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of transportation, any nitroglycerine, dualin, dynamite, gunpowder, mining or blasting powder, gun-cotton, phosphorous, friction matches, or other explosive or dangerous material of any nature whatsoever, under any false or deceptive invoice or description, or without previously informing such person, firm or corporation, in writing, of the true nature of such article, and without having the box, keg, barrel, can or package containing the same plainly marked with the name of the explosive or dangerous material therein contained, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be sentenced to imprisonment for thirty days, and to pay a fine of one hundred dollars, and shall be responsible for all damages to persons or property directly or indirectly resulting from the explosion of any such article. 2. That it shall and may be lawful for any officer or agent of any person, firm, or corporation, engaged in the business of transportation to require any package tendered for transportation, believed to contain explosive material, to be opened by the person delivering the same, and to refuse to receive any such package unless such requirements be complied with; and if such package be opened and found to contain such explosive or dangerous material, the said package and its contents shall be forthwith removed to any lawful place for the storing of gun-powder, and after conviction of the offender, or after three months from such removal, the said package, with its contents, shall be sold at public sale, after the expiration of ten days from notice of the time and place of such sale, published in one newspaper in the county where such seizure shall have been made; and the proceeds of such sale, after deducting therefrom the expenses of removal, storage, advertisement, and sale, shall be paid into the treasury of the said county; provided, however, that nothing in this act contained shall be construed to require common carriers to transport any such explosive or dangerous articles against their consent, nor to transport them otherwise than at such times, and under such regulations for safety to persons and property, as they may from time to time prescribe in relation thereto
Revision of the Statutes of New Jersey 232-33 (1877)
(1877)
An act for the punishment of crimes against the public peace, 31: If any person shall by word, message, letter, or any other way, challenge another to fight a duel, with a rapier, or small-sword, back-sword, pistol, or other dangerous weapon, or shall accept a challenge, although not duel be fought, or knowingly be the bearer of such challenge, or shall any way abet, prompt, encourage, persuade, seduce, or cause any person to fight a duel, or to challenge another to fight a duel, every person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
Jersey City, N.J., Ordinances ch. 1, tit. 4, § 7 (1844)
(1843)
An Ordinance to regulate the paving and repairing, and to prevent obstructions in the streets of Jersey City: 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 property or person, nor let off any squibs, crackers, or other fireworks, unless by permission of the city authorities, under the penalty of five dollars for each and every offence."
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
Jersey City, N.J., Rev. Ordinances ch. 23, §§ 1-3 (1899)
(1871)
Concerning the Transportation, Shipment and Landing of Gunpowder: Regulated the import of gunpowder and storage thereof. Also regulated the storage of gunpowder within the city
1837 N.J. Laws 373
(1837)
An Act to Incorporate the City of Trenton, 24: That it shall and may be lawful for the common council of the said city, in common council convened, to pass such ordinances as to them shall seem meet . . . for regulating the keeping and transporting of gunpowder or other combustible or dangerous materials.
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.
General Ordinances of the City of Plainfield, New Jersey 125-26 (1902)
(1895)
An Ordinance Concerning Firearms and Other Deadly Weapons: That no person shall fire or discharge any gun, fowling piece or firearms within the limits of the City of Plainfield. That no person shall carry within the limits of the City of Plainfield concealed upon or about his person, any pistol, dirk, butcher or bowie knife, stilletto, dagger, sword, or spear in a cane, brass or metal knuckles, razor, slug shot, or other deadly weapon
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 Brunswick, N.J., Ordinances art. 5, § 33 (1865)
(1864)
An Ordinance to Establish and Regulate the Fire Department and for the Prevention and Extinguishment of Fires: No person or persons shall store or keep at any time within half a mile of the line of buildings of this city, more than thirty pounds of gunpowder
1778 N.J. Laws 45
(1778)
An Act for the Regulating, Training and Arraying of the Militia, ch. 21, 11: That every Person enrolled shall constantly keep himself furnished with a good Musket, well fitted with a Bayonet, Steel Ramrod and Worm, a Cartridge-box, twenty three Rounds of Cartridges sized to his Musket, a Priming-wire, Brush and twelve Flints, a Knapsack and Canteen
1776-77 N.J. Laws 6
(1776)
"Act for the Inspection of Gunpowder," ch. 6, 1: Required the inspection of gunpowder prior to sale, and appointed state inspectors to "mark" lots that passed inspection.
1927 N.J. Laws 742
(1927)
Ch. 321, 1: Prohibited a pawnbroker from selling or possessing for sale, loan, or to give away a machine gun, automatic rifle, revolver, pistol, or other firearm, or other instrument of any kind known as a blackjack, slungshot, billy, sandclub, sandbag, bludgeon, metal knuckles, dagger, dirk, dangerous knife, stiletto, bomb or other high explosive. Punishable as a high misdemeanor.
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.
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
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.
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
1934 N.J. Laws 394-95
(1934)
Ch. 155, 1-5: Declares a person who possesses a machine gun or submachine gun a "gangster" and therefore, enemy of the state. Also declares a person who carries a deadly weapon without a permit a "gangster." If convicted a "gangster," punishable by fine up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment up to 20 years.
1906 N.J. Laws 699-700
(1906)
Ch. 317, 1: It shall be unlawful for three years after the passage of this act for any person to gun for or to take, or attempt to take, kill, injure or destroy, or to have in possession any wild deer, be the same buck, doe or fawn, under penalty of one hundred dollars for each offense; and thereafter it shall be unlawful to take, kill, injure or destroy or to hunt with intent to take, kill, injure or destroy, any wild deer, be the same buck, doe or fawn, excepting on every Wednesday in the month of November
1905 N.J. Laws 324-25
(1905)
Ch. 172, 1: Prohibited the carrying of a concealed revolver, pistol or other deadly, offensive or dangerous weapon or firearm or any stiletto, dagger or razor. Punishable by fine up to $200 and/or imprisonment with hard labor up to 2 years.
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.

New Jersey

New Jersey

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