Missouri

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Missouri

This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Missouri. It supports research on the state’s firearms history, technology, law, policy, and culture from the territorial 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, frontier, river trade (Missouri–Mississippi), railroad and manufacturing records, and oral histories tied to Missouri 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 47

Mo. Const. of 1820 art. XIII, § 3
(1820)
Declared that the right of the People to bear arms in defence of themselves and of the state shall not be questioned.
1818 Terr. of Mo. Laws 374
(1818)
Prohibited "slave or mulatto" from carrying a gun, powder, shot, club or other weapon and from possessing a gun or ammunition.
1818 Terr. of Mo. Laws 281
(1818)
Militia, § 4: Each militia man shall provide himself, with-in one month from the date of his enrollment with a good musket, a sufficient bayonet and belt, or a fusil, two spare flints, a knapsack and pouch with a box there-in to contain twentyfour cartridges suited to the bore of his musket or fusil, each cartridge to contain a pro-per quantity of powder and ball: or a good rifle, knap-sack, pouch and powder horn with twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powe-der
St. Louis, Mo., Rev. Ordinances no. 4868, art. 2, § 8 (1861)
(1861)
Misdemeanors, § 8: Hereafter it shall not be lawful for any person to wear under his clothes, or concealed about his person, any pistol, or colt, or slung-shot, or cross-knuckles, or knuckles of lead, brass, or other metal, or bowie knife, dirk knife, or dirk, or dagger, or any knife resembling a bowie knife, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon, within the city of Saint Louis
St. Louis, Mo., Rev. Ordinances ch. 16, art. 2, §§ 688-689 (1887)
(1887)
Not exceeding five pounds of gunpowder shall be allowed to be kept by any person or persons in any store, dwelling, building, or other place within the city, except that retailers or venders of gunpowder in small quantities may for that purpose keep any quantity not exceeding thirty pounds; provided, that the same shall also be kept in tin or metal canisters or stone jars, with good and closely fitted and well secured covers thereon; provided, also, that those parties now having magazines within the limits of the city are hereby allowed to store in such magazines such quantities of gunpowder as may be necessary for their business; provided, further, that giant powder, dynamite and nitro-glycerine shall not be stored in any place within the limits of the city, except in magazines as now located. § 689. Every retailer of gunpowder, giant powder, dynamite, nitro-glycerine or blasting powder, shall place on the building containing the same, over, or at the side of the front door thereof, a sign with the words "Powder for sale," printed thereon, in letters at least three inches in height, and shall notify the commissioner of public buildings in which portion of said store the said powder or powders are placed, which notice shall be kept of record in the said commissioner's office.
St. Louis, Mo., Rev. Ordinances no. 17188, art. 4, § 1054 (1895)
(1887)
§No person shall sell to any child under the age of sixteen years, without the written consent of the parents or guardian of such child, any cartridge of fixed ammunition of which any fulminate is a component part, or any gun, pistol or other mechanical contrivance arranged for the explosion of such cartridge, or of any fulminate.
St. Louis, Mo., Rev. Ordinances ch. 29, art. 11, § 3 (1881)
(1881)
Prohibited carry of any sling, cross bow and arrow, air gun, or other contrivance for ejecting, discharging or throwing any fragment, bolt, arrow, pellet, or other missile of stone, metal, wood, or other substance capable of inflicting injury or annoyance in any street, alley, walk, or park of the city of Saint Louis.
Saint Louis, Mo., Municipal Code ch. 18, art. 2, § 1471 (1892)
(1892)
it shall not be lawful for any person to wear under his clothes, or concealed about his person, any pistol or revolver, colt, billy, slung shot, cross knuckles, or knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, bowie knife, razor, dirk knife, dirk, dagger, or any knife resembling a bowie knife or any other dangerous or deadly weapon, within the City of Saint Louis, without written permission from the mayor
David H. MacAdam, Tower Grove Park of the City of Saint Louis, Rules and Regulations 117 (1883)
(1883)
§ 4: All persons are forbidden . . . 4. To carry firearms or to throw stones or other missiles within it.§
The Acts of Assembly Incorporating the City of Saint Louis, and the Ordinances of the City 35 (1828)
(1823)
No. 1, ch. 22, § 1: Be it ordained by the Mayor and board of Aldermen of the city of Saint Louis, That no store or shopkeeper, or other person or persons, shall keep, at the same time, in any house, shop, store, cellar or warehouse, or in any boat, more than thirty pounds of gunpowder, within the limits of the City.
1822 Mo. Laws 41-42
(1822)
An Act To Incorporate Inhabitants Of The Town Of Saint Louis, § 12: The Mayor and Board of Aldermen, shall have power by ordinance, to . . . regulate . . . the storage of gun powder, tar, pitch, rosin, hemp, cotton and other combustible materials[.]
St. Louis, Mo., Rev. Ordinances ch. 20, art. 2, § 9 (1871)
(1871)
Ordinances of the City of Saint Louis, Misdemeanors, § 9: Hereafter it shall not be lawful for any person to wear under his clothes, or concealed about his person, any pistol, or revolver, colt, billy, slung shot, cross knuckles, or knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, bowie knife, razor, dirk knife, dirk, dagger, or any knife resembling a bowie knife, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon, within the City of Saint Louis, without written permission from the Mayor
1873 Mo. Laws 328
(1873)
An Act to Incorporate The Town Of Moberly, art. III, § 1, pt. 15: Any person who shall threaten, quarrel, challenge or fight within said city, or any person who shall be found intoxicated, who shall carry concealed deadly weapons in said city, or any person who shall be found guilty of a misdemeanor, and to define what acts shall constitute a misdemeanor.
Henry Smith Kelley, Laws Applicable to and Governing the City of Saint Joseph, Missouri 192 (1888)
(1888)
§ 3: No person shall carry on or take part in carrying on, any pistol gallery or shooting gallery, without a license therefor from said city; and the charge for such license shall be five dollars per month.
Charles S. Shepherd, The General Ordinances of the City of Saint Joseph 508 (1897)
(1897)
§ 7: Prohibited the carrying of a concealed pistol or revolver, colt, billy, slungshot, cross knuckles or knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, dirk, dagger, razor, Bowie knife, or any knife resembling a Bowie knife, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.
Columbia, Mo. Gen. Ordinances § 120 (1883)
(1883)
Ordinances § 120: Any person who shall willfully fire any gun or pistol, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and fined not less than five dollars for each or either offence.
1873 Mo. Laws 215
(1873)
An Act To Amend The Charter Of The Town Of Canton . . . , § 10: The Board of Trustees shall have power and authority to . . . regulate the storage of gunpowder, tar pitch, rosin and other combustible materials[.]
J.H. Johnston, Revised Charter and Ordinances of the City of Boonville, Missouri 44 (1881)
(1881)
Art. 11, § 13: regulate the storage of gun powder and other combustible materials; and generally provide for the prevention of fires within the city.
An Ordinance in Revision of the Ordinances of the City of DeSoto 52 (1888)
(1888)
§ 217: Whenever there shall be found upon the person of anyone who has been found guilty of a breach of the peace, or of conduct calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, any slung shot, pistol, or knuckles of lead, brass, or other metal, or when upon trial, evidence shall be adduced proving that such weapons were in the possession, or on the person of anyone, while in the act or commission of the act aforesaid, such person shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
The Revised Ordinances of the City of Huntsville, Missouri, of 1984, at 58-59 (1894)
(1894)
Prohibited the concealed carry of any deadly or dangerous weapon or any kind of fire-arms, Bowie-knife, dirk, dagger, slung-shot, or other deadly weapon into any church, or place where people have assembled for religious worship, or into any school room or place where people are assembled for educational, literary, or social purposes, or to any election precinct on election day, into any court-room during the sitting of court, or into any other public assemblage. Also prohibited the brandishing of any above weapons, or carrying above weapon while intoxicated.
J.H. Johnston, Revised Charter and Ordinances of the City of Boonville, Missouri 91 (1881)
(1881)
No. 17, art. 1, § 6: Prohibited concealed carry of any pistol, revolver, dirk, dagger, slungshot, metallic knuckles, or other deadly or dangerous weapon or exhibit in a rude, angry, or threatening manner, or carry any such weapon while intoxicated. . Violators fined not less than five but no more than ninety dollars.
Columbia, Mo. Gen. Ordinances ch. 17, §§ 160-64 (1890)
(1890)
Chapter XVII: Carrying Concealed Weapons-Firing Guns, Pistols, Fire Crackers, Etc., May 22, 1890: Regulated discharge of firearms or other explosive compounds within Columbia city limits. Also regulated sensitive places while conceal carrying, including: Any church or assemblage of religious worship, any school, any assemblage for educational, literary, or social purpose, or any other public assemblage for any lawful purpose other than military, militia, or law enforcement purposes.
Columbia, Mo. Gen. Ordinances § 128 (1883)
(1883)
§ 128: Any person who shall be guilty of carrying concealed about his person any pistol, dirk, bowie knife, or other weapon, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than five dollars for every such offence.
Adam B. Chambers, The Revised Ordinances of the City of Saint Louis 304 (1843)
(1843)
[Ordinances of Kansas City, Misdemeanors, § 10: Every person who shall discharge any cannon or other ordinance, or fire off any carbine, fusil, rifle, musket, gun, pistol, or other arms, or set off any squib or cracker, or fly any kite in the air, within the city, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. This section shall not apply to the firing of salutes by any military corps, or to the firing of salutes upon any occasion of general public interest.
Bloomfield, Mo., Rev. Ordinances ch. 12, art. 3, § 52 (1898)
(1898)
Ch. 12, Art. 3, § 52: It shall be unlawful for any person in this city, except he be a police officer of this city or other officer in the discharge of his official duty, to discharge or fire off any gun, pistol or fire-arms of any description within the corporate limits of this city, and every person violating this section, shall, upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a misde§meanor and punished by a fine of not less than five nor more than twenty dollars, or by imprisonment in the city calaboose not exceed§ing twenty days."
An Ordinance in Revision of the Ordinances Governing the City of Kansas 264-65 (1880)
(1880)
Ch. 34, § 3: No person shall, in this city, wear under his clothes or concealed about his person, any pistol or revolver, except by special permission from the Mayor; nor shall any person wear under his clothes, or concealed about his person, any slung-shot, cross knuckles, knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, or any bowie knife, razor, billy, dirk, dirk-knife or dagger, or any knife resembling a bowie knife, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon. Any person, violating any provision or requirement of this section, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof before the City Recorder, shall be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars
Bloomfield, Mo., Rev. Ordinances ch. 12, art. 3, § 50 (1898)
(1898)
Sections 50–52 regulate weapons and firearms within the city. Carrying concealed deadly weapons, bringing weapons into churches, schools, elections, courts, or public gatherings, displaying them threateningly, carrying them while intoxicated, or providing them to minors without parental consent is prohibited. Violations may result in fines of $50–$200, imprisonment for 5 days to 6 months, or both. Exceptions apply to law enforcement, certain officials, peaceful travelers, and people with legitimate self-defense needs. Discharging firearms within city limits is also prohibited except by officers performing official duties, with penalties of $5–$20 or up to 20 days in jail.
The Supreme Court: On Carrying Concealed Weapons, in State Journal, Apr. 12, 1878
(1878)
Regulated conceal carrying where people may be assembled for educational, literary, or social purposes, or to any election precinct on any election day, or into any court room during the sitting of court, or into any other publica assemblage of persons met for other than militia drill or meetings called under the militia laws of the State, having concealed about his person any kind of fire arms, bowie knife, dirk, dagger, slung shot, or other deadly weapon shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
1879 Mo. Laws 90
(1879)
An Act To Prohibit The Discharge Of Firearms In The Immediate Vicinity Of Any Courthouse, Church Or Building Used For School Or College Purposes, § 1: Hereafter it shall be unlawful for any person in this State, except he be a sheriff or other officer, in the discharge of official duty to discharge or fire off any gun, pistol or fire-arms of any description in the immediate vicinity of any court house, church or building used for school or college purposes.
Mo. Rev. Stat. 854, ch. 47, § 3502 (1889)
(1889)
Prohibited the concealed carry of any deadly or dangerous weapon or any kind of fire-arms, Bowie-knife, dirk, dagger, slung-shot, or other deadly weapon into any church, or place where people have assembled for religious worship, or into any school room or place where people are assembled for educational, literary, or social purposes, or to any election precinct on election day, into any court-room during the sitting of court, or into any other public assemblage. Also prohibited the brandishing of any above weapons, or carrying above weapon while intoxicated. Also prohibited the transfer of the above weapons to any minor. Violators fined not less than fifty but no more than two hundred dollars, or imprisonment not less than five days but no more than six month.
1874 Mo. Laws 43
(1874)
An Act to prevent the carrying of concealed weapons § 1: Prohibited concealed carry of any fire-arms, Bowie-knife, dirk, dagger, slung-shot, or other deadly weapon in any church, place of religious worship, school-room, assembly for educational, literary, or social purpose, election precincts on election day, or court-room while court is in session.
1875 Mo. Laws 50-51
(1875)
An Act to prevent the carrying of weapons in public assemblies of the people, and to repeal "An Act to prevent the carrying of concealed weapons," approved March 26, 1874, § 1: Prohibited concealed carry of any fire-arms, Bowie-knife, dirk, dagger, slung-shot, or other deadly weapon in any church, place of religious worship, school-room, assembly for educational, literary, or social purpose, election precincts on election day, or court-room while court is in session, or into any other public assemblage of persons met for purposes other than militia drill or under militia law.
1883 Mo. Laws 76
(1883)
Prohibited carrying concealed deadly or dangerous weapons into any church, place of worship, school, educational institution, place of literary purposes, place of social purposes, election precinct, court, or other public assemblage other than militia purposes.
Mo. Rev. Stat 224, ch. 24, art. 2, § 1276 (1879)
(1879)
Hereafter it shall be unlawful for any person in this state, except he be a sheriff or other officer in the discharge of official duty, to discharge or fire off any gun, pistol or fire arms of any description, in the immediate vicinity of any court house, church or building used for school or college purposes.§
1877 Mo. Laws 240
(1877)
An Act to preserve the public peace by preventing the display of knives and other deadly weapons in the presence of one or more persons, § 1: Prohibited the brandishing, in a rude angry, or threatening manner, any firearms, Bowie-knife, dirk, dagger, slung-shot, or other deadly weapon. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor, fined not less than ten but no more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not exceeding six months, or both.
Mo. Rev. Stat. 224, ch. 24, art. 2, §§ 1274-1278 (1879)
(1879)
If any person shall carry concealed, upon or about his person, any deadly or dangerous weapon, or shall go into any church or place where people have assembled for religious worship, or into any school room or place where people are assembled for educational, literary or social purposes, or to any election precinct, on any election day, or into any court room during the sitting of court, or into any other public assemblage of persons met for any lawful purpose, other than for militia drill or meetings called under the militia law of this state, having upon or about his person any kind of firearms, bowie-knife, dirk, dagger, slung-shot, or other deadly weapon, or shall, in the presence of one or more persons, exhibit any such weapon in a rude, angry or threatening manner, or shall have or carry any such weapon upon or about his person when intoxicated or under the influence of intoxicating drinks, or shall, directly or indirectly, sell or deliver, loan or barter to any minor, any such weapon, without the consent of the parent or guardian of such minor, he shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than five nor more than one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding three months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Laws 1874, p. 43; laws 1875, p. 50, and laws 1877, p. 240,.amended.)
"Shot by a Trap Gun," The South Bend Tribune, Feb. 11, 1891
(1891)
Fined farmer $50 for setting a trap gun that killed his wife.
1840 Mo. Laws 193-94
(1840)
An Act To Incorporate The Rural Cemetery Association, § 7.: Any person who shall willfully . . . shoot or discharge any gun or other fire arms within the said limits, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, upon conviction thereof before any justice of the peace, or any other court of competent jurisdiction within the county of St. Louis, be punished by a fine of not less than five dollars, nor more than fifty dollars, according to the nature and aggravation of the offence[.]
Mo. Const. of 1875 art. II, § 17
(1875)
The right of no citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, and property, or in aid of the civil power, when thereto legally summoned, shall be called into question. But nothing herein is intended to justify the practice of wearing concealed weapons.
Mo. Rev. Stat. 1752, ch. 107, art. 3, § 7457 (1899)
(1899)
No person, corporation or joint-stock company shall, on and after ten days after this article shall take effect, have retain or keep in his possession or under his or her control, nor sell, give away or in any manner or way dispose of dynamite, giant powder, nitro-glycerine or any explosive substance, except gunpowder and blasting powder for ordinary purposes, without first obtaining a permit authorizing the same from the clerk of the county court, or mayor of the city of St. Louis, in whichever county or city such applicant may desire to do such business, nor without first making and delivering the affidavit required by the next succeeding section of this article.]

Missouri

Missouri

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