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 62

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.
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."
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
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
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
1912 N.J. Laws 364
(1912)
Ch. 225, 1: Any person who shall carry any revolver, pistol, firearm, bludgeon, blackjack, knuckles, sand-bag, slung-shot or other deadly, offensive or dangerous weapon, or any stiletto, dagger or razor or any knife with a blade five inches in length or over concealed in or about his clothes or person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
Hoboken, N.J., Ordinances ch. 22, §§ 246-47 (1901)
(1901)
Concerning the Manufacture, Storage, Transportation, and Sale of Powder, Nitro-glycerine, etc.: No person shall manufacture, have, keep or give away any gunpowder, blasting powder, gun cotton, nitro-glycerine or dualin within the limits of the City of Hoboken, except in quantities limited in the manner and upon the conditions herein provided and under such regulations in special cases as the Board of Fire Commissioners shall prescribe.
Ordinances of Jersey City 86-87 (1874)
(1873)
An Ordinance In Relation to the Carrying of Dangerous Weapons: That with the exceptions made in the second section of this ordinance, no person shall, within the limits of Jersey City, carry, have or keep on his or her person concealed, any slung-shot, sand-club, metal knuckles, dirk or dagger not contained as a blade of a pocket knife, loaded pistol or other dangerous weapon.
An Ordinance to Prevent the Carrying of Loaded or Concealed Weapons Within the Limits of the City of Hoboken, in Hoboken, N.J., Ordinances 240-41 (1892)
(1885)
That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons (excepting policemen and private watchmen when on duty), within the corporate limits of the city of Hoboken, to carry, have or keep concealed on his or her person any instrument or weapon commonly known as slung shot, stilletto, billy, sandclub or metal knuckles, and any dirk or dagger (not contained as a blade of a pocket knife), and loaded pistol or other dangerous weapon
1901 N J. Laws 265
(1901)
Ch. 120, 14: It shall be unlawful to hunt with a hound or hounds, or with fire-arms or weapons of any kind, or to carry a gun in the woods or fields or on the waters on the Sabbath day, commonly called Sunday, under a penalty of twenty dollars for each offence.
City of Trenton, N.J., Charter and Ordinances 390 (1903)
(1903)
An Ordinance providing for the government and protection of public parks and squares of the city of Trenton, 8: Prohibited carry of firearms or shooting birds in "said park" or squares, or within fifty yards thereof, or throwing stones or other missiles therein.
1920 N.J. Laws 67
(1920)
Ch. 31, 9: Prohibits hunting fowl or other animals with any shotgun or rifle holding more than two cartridges or that may be fired more than twice without reloading. Violators fined twenty dollars.
Book of Ordinances of the Town of Freehold, New Jersey 54 (1894)
(1894)
That if any person or persons shall fire, discharge, or let off any gun, pistol, squib, or other fire-work within this town within one hundred yards of any dwelling house, stable, or any other building, every such person or persons so offending and being thereof duly convicted, shall forfeit and pay for every such offense the sum of Five Dollars

New Jersey

New Jersey

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