New York

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New York

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

Legal sources: statutes and session laws, administrative code and registers, attorney general opinions, appellate decisions, and select municipal ordinances.
Historical materials: newspapers, photographs, maps, catalogs, armory and manufacturing records, maritime and law-enforcement archives, and oral histories tied to New York 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 86

Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, and Constitutions 11 (John Holt ed., 1763)
(1763)
Prohibited the discharge of firearms within the city of New York.
Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, and Constitutions 39-40 (John Holt ed., 1763)
(1763)
Limits gunpowder stored within New York City, requires excess powder to be kept in licensed public magazines, regulates storage, transport, fees, and inspections, and imposes fines for violations to reduce fire and explosion risks.
1792 N.Y. Laws 227
(1786)
Defined the New York militia as "every able- bodied male person, being a citizen of this state, or of any of the United States, and residing in this state (except such persons as are herein after excepted) and who are of the age of sixteen, and under the age of forty-five years." The arms were "a good musket or firelock," 24 bullets, "a sufficient bayonet" and other standard items."
1 The Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution 231-32 (1896)
(1691)
Lowered the minimum militia age, so that "noe person whatsoever from fiftieen to Sixty years of Age remaine unlisted." For every foot soldier, "a well fixed muskett or fuzee" for officers, "a good pike or Sword or lance and pistoll." At home, every foot soldier was to have "one pound of good powder and three pound of Sizeable bulletts," and every Trooper (horseman) had to "have at his usuall place of abode a well fixed Carabine with belt and Swivell and two pounds of fine powder with Six pounds of Sizeable bulletts."
1 The Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution 161 (1896)
(1684)
Ensured that persons exempted from the militia still kept the militia arms in their homes.
1886 N.Y. Laws 94
(1778)
Established "a night watch in the counties of Ulster, Tryon,Charlotte, Dutchess, and Albany." Service on the watch was required of "every able bodied male inhabitant, Indians and slaves excepted…from sixteen years of age till sixty."
E.B. O'Callaghan, Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, 1638-1674, at 205 (1868); N.Y. Col. MSS, VI 207, XVI 62
(1665)
Ordinance Of The Director General And Council Of New Netherland To Prevent Firing Of Guns, Planting May Poles And Other Irregularities Within This Province: The director General and Council expressly forbid from this time forth all firing of Guns . . .on a penalty of 12 guilders for the first offense; double for the second offense, and for the third an arbitrary correction . . .
1792 N.Y. Laws 227
(1786)
Defined the New York militia as "every able- bodied male person, being a citizen of this state, or of any of the United States, and residing in this state (except such persons as are herein after excepted) and who are of the age of sixteen, and under the age of forty-five years." The arms were "a good musket or firelock," 24 bullets, "a sufficient bayonet" and other standard items."
1 The Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution 49-54 (1896)
(1665)
Every Male within this Government from Sixteen to Sixty years of age, or not freed by public Allowance, shall if freeholders at their own, if sons or Servants at their Parents and Masters Charge and Cost, be furnished from time to time and so Continue well furnished with Armes and other Suitable provition hereafter mentioned: under the penalty of five Shillings for the least default therein Namely a good Serviceable Gun, allowed Sufficient by his Military Oficer to be kept in Constant fitness for present Service, with a good sword bandeleers or horne or worme a Scowerer a priming wire Shott Badge and Charger one pound of good powder, four pounds of Pistol bullets or twenty four bullets fitted to the gunne, four fathom of Serviceable Match for match lock gunn four good flints fitted for a fire lock gunn. Troopers had to "keepe and maintaine a good Horse Fitted with Sadle, bridle, Holsters, Pistolls or Carbine, and a good Sword. Further, "In defence of himself his wife Father or Mother Children or Servants a man may Lawfully use force to resist any attempt made to that purpose."
1886 N.Y. Laws 232
(1780)
Required "all the male inhabitants (slaves excepted) of the age of sixteen years and upwards" to provide themselves with "a good musket or firelock" plus seventeen rounds of ammunition.
2 The Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution 687 (1894)
(1664)
Prohibited "any slave" from possessing or using any gun, pistol, sword, club, or any other kind of dangerous weapon not in the presence of their master.
E.B. O'Callaghan, Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, 1638-1674, at 234-35 (1868); N.Y. Col. MSS, VIII 56
(1656)
Prohibited admission of "any Indians" in possession of a gun or other weapon into Fort Amsterdam or in the Flatland.
E.B. O'Callaghan, Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, 1638-1674, at 128 (1868); N.Y. Col. MSS, XI. 53, 54
(1652)
Prohibited sale of powder, lead, and guns. The exact text is lost but the intention is to restrict sale of arms, especially ammunition, "to the Indians."
E.B. O'Callaghan, Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, 1638-1674, at 138 (1868); N.Y. Col. MSS, XVI. 31
(1652)
Ordinance Of The Director And Council Of New Netherland Against Firing At Partridges Or Other Game Within The Limits Of New Amsterdam: Therefore the Honorable Director General and Council, in order to prevent accidents, expressly forbid and interdict all persons henceforward firing within the jurisdiction of this city or about the Fort, with any guns at Partridges or other Game that may by chance fly within the city, on pain of forfeiting the gun and a fine at the discretion of the Judge, to be applied one-third to the Poor, one-third to the Church and one-third to the Officer.
Rules, By-Laws and Ordinances of the Village of Wappingers Falls 34 (1898)
(1898)
Ordinances of Wappinger Falls. Park Ordinances. § 1: No person or persons shall fire or discharge any gun or pistol or other firearm, or any rocket torpedo, or other fireworks of any description, nor send up any balloon, nor throw stones or missiles, nor play ball within the limits of Mesier Park, without the permission obtained of the Park Commissioners at a meeting of the Board.
Laws of the State of New-York, Relating to the City of Schenectady 58 (1824)
(1824)
A Law to prevent injuries by fire, and for other purposes, § XI: That if any person shall fire or discharge any gun, pistol, rocket, cracker, squib or other fire works, in any street, lane or alley, or in any yard, garden or other enclosure, or in any place which persons frequent to walk within the limits aforesaid, without permission of the mayor or one of the aldermen or assistants of this city, such person shall forfeit for every such offence the sum of one dollar...
An Ordinance Regulating the Carrying of Loaded Firearms and Other Dangerous Weapons in the City of Troy, § 1, in Municipal Ordinances of the City of Troy (1905)
(1905)
Any person, other than a peace officer, who shall in any public street, highway or place within the City of Troy, have or carry concealed upon his person any loaded pistol, revolver, or other firearm, or any slungshot, billy, sand-club, or a dagger, dirk, stilletto, or dangerous knife, without theretofore having been authorized as hereinafter provided to carry the same, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars or by imprisonment in a penitentiary or county jail for not more than one hundred and fifty days, or by both.
1900 N.Y. Laws 756
(1900)
Ch. 338, art. 3, § 32, pt. 12: To regulate or prevent the discharge of firearms, rockets, gunpowder or other explosives, or the making of bon-fires.
Charter and Ordinances of the City of Syracuse 192 (1877)
(1877)
Ch. 27, § 7: Any individual who shall carry about his or her person any dirk, bowie knife, sword or spear cane, pistol, revolver, slung-shot, jemme, brass knuckles, or other deadly or unlawful weapon, with the intent to do bodily harm to any other person or persons, shall be liable to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars, and also to imprisonment not to exceed three months.
Charter of the City of Schenectady 97 (1869)
(1863)
An Ordinance Prohibiting the Obstructing of Side-Walks, and for Other Purposes, § 3: It shall not be lawful for any person to discharge any gun, pistol or other fire-arms, except in a shooting gallery, within the lamp district of this city; and every person offending in this respect shall be punished by fine not exceeding ten dollars and the costs of the suit, and to stand committed until such fine and costs be paid, not exceeding ten days.
The New York City Consolidation Act, as in Force in 1891, at 209 (1891)
(1890)
Gunpowder and other explosives. Sale thereof regulated, § 455: No person shall manufacture, have, keep, sell, or give away any gunpowder, blasting powder, gun-cotton, niro-glycerine, dualin, or any explosive oils or compounds, within the corporate limits of the city of New York, except in the quantities limited, in the manner, and upon the conditions herein provided, and under such regulations as the board of fire commissioners shall prescribe
Laws and Ordinances, Ordained and Established by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty, of the City of New York 25-26 (1799)
(1799)
A Law to regulate the keeping of gun-powder in the city of New York: That no person or persons shall keep in any house, shop store house or other place within two miles of the city hall of the said city (Magazines of powder of the United States or of this state only excepted) any more or greater quantity of gun powder at one time than twenty-eight pounds,
Ordinance to Regulate the Carrying of Pistols, reprinted in BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Oct. 26, 1880, at 1
(1880)
Prohibited concealed carry of any pistol without a license. Licenses only issued to individuals twenty-one and over in age.
Edward Livingston, Laws and Ordinances, Ordained and Established by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City of New York 83-84 (1803)
(1803)
Ch 23, § 1: That no person shall hereafter be permitted to fire or discharge any gun, pistol, fowling piece, or fire-arm, at any place on the island of New York, within the distance of four miles from the City Hall, under the penalty of five dollars upon each offender, to be recovered with costs.
Laws and Ordinances of the City of New York app. at 1 (1793)
(1786)
An Act to prevent the Firing of Guns and other Fire-Arms within this State, on certain days therein mentioned: If any person or persons, of what age, sex, or quality whatsoever, from and after the said first day of June next, shall fire and discharge any gun, pistol, rocket, cracker, squib or other fire-work, in any street, lane or ally, garden or other inclosure, or from any house, or in any other place where persons frequently walk, to the southward of Fresh-Water; that then every such person or persons so offending, and being thereof convicted before on or more justice or justices of the peace for the said city and county of New York, either by the confession of the party or parties so offending, or the oath of one or more witness or witnesses, (which oath the said justice or justices of the peace is and are hereby empowered and required to administer) shall, for every such offense, forfeit the sum of twenty shillings...
D. T. Valentine, Ordinances of the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New York 235 (1859)
(1859)
Ch. 13, § 6 : No tavern-keeper, keeper of a public house, garden or place of resort, nor any other person, shall suffer or permit any person to practice with or fire off any pistol, gun, fowling-piece or other fire-arms, in or upon his or her premises, nor shall suffer or permit any pistol gallery, erected in his or her house, or upon his or her premises, to be used for the purpose of practicing with any pistol gun, fowling-piece or other fire-arms, upon the first day of the week, called Sunday, under the penalty of fifty dollars for each offense, to be sued for and recovered from the person keeping such public house, tavern, public garden, pistol gallery, place of resort or premises;
5 Colonial Laws of New York 244-246 (1894)
(1773)
Ch. 1501: Restricted the firing of guns, pistols, rockets, crackers, squibs, or other fireworks on New Years Eve or the days following. Violators fined twenty shillings.
Charter of the Village of Lansingburgh 50 (1865)
(1865)
An Ordinance to prevent accidents by fire in the village of Lansinburgh, and for other purposes, § 5: Nor shall any person or persons fire any cannon, gun, pistol or other fire arms, or set fire to, or burn any squib, cracker, rocket or powder (except for the purpose of blasting rocks for improvements, or trying guns in the manufacturing of them,) within the limits of said village without the consent of the president or board of trustees of said village
Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, and Constitutions 20 (John Holt ed., 1763)
(1763)
§ XVI: And whereas the present store-keeper of the magazine with the consent of the corporation, for the more safe conveying of gun-powder to and from the said magazine, hath provided leather bags, or covers, in order to cover all casks of gun powder to and form the said magazine, be it ordained by the authority aforesaid that from and after the publication hereof, no cart-man, or other person whatsoever, do presume to carry any gun powder to or from the said Magazine, or through any part of this city, but what shall be covered with leather bags as aforesaid, under the penalty of forty shillings, for every offense; the one half thereof to the informer, and the other half to the church wardens of this city for the time being, for the use of the poor thereof.
Charles Wheeler, By-Laws of the Village of Mechanicville 7 (1881)
(1881)
Fires and Their Prevention, Fire Arms and Fire Works, § 20: No person, except on the anniversary of our national independence, and on that day only, at such place or places as the President or Trustees shall permit, shall fire, discharge or set off, in the village, any gun, cannon, pistol, rocket, squib, cracker or fire ball, under the penalty of five dollars for each offense.
Penal Ordinance No. 35: Concealed Weapon[s], §§ 1-4, in Revised Charter Ordinances and Franchises of the City of Lockport (1909)
(1909)
No person over the age of 16 years shall have or carry concealed upon his person, in said city, any pistol, revolver, or other firearm without a written license therefor, theretofore issued to him by the chief of police of such city as hereinafter provided. Also provided licensing and registration requirements for concealed carry permits
Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, and Constitutions 18-19 (John Holt ed., 1763)
(1763)
Ordinances of the City of New York, § XII: For every load of gunpowder, to or from the powder-house, not exceeding four casks, two shillings and six pence. If less than four casks eighteen pence. If more than four casks three shillings.]
First Annual Report of the Improvement of the Central Park, New York (January 1, 1857) Appendix A, 106 (Chas. W. Baker 1857)
(1857)
Among other activities, restricts carry of firearms and throwing of stones or other missiles in Central Park.
Revised Charter of the City of Elmira 17, 20-22 (1898)
(1898)
Elmira City Charter, Title 3-Powers and Duties of the Common Council, § 26, pts. d, e, & k: Granted the Common Council the power to regulate firearm discharge and gun powder storage
Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Central Park 106 (1861)
(1861)
Prohibited any person from carrying firearms, throwing stones or other missiles within Central Park.
Minutes of Proceedings of Bd. of Comm'rs of Central Park, N.Y. for Year Ending April 30, 1858, at 166 (1858)
(1858)
Prohibited the carry of firearms, throwing stones or other missiles within Central Park.
1891 N.Y. Laws 129
(1891)
Ch. 105, tit. 7, ch. 2, § 209: No person other than members of the police force, regularly elected constables, the sheriff of Erie county, and his duly appointed deputies, shall, in the city, carry concealed upon or about his person, any pistol or revolver, or other dangerous weapon or weapons, without first obtaining a permit, as hereinbefore provided;
1869 N.Y. Rev. Stat. 613, ch. 20, pt. 1, tit. 8, § 3
(1869)
No person shall fire or discharge any gun, pistol, rocket, squib, cracker, or other fire-work, within a quarter mile of any building, on the twenty-fifth day of December, on the last day of December, on the first day of January, or on the twenty-second day of February, in any year; nor on the fourth day of July, or such other day as shall at the time be celebrated as the anniversary of American independence, without the order of some officer of the militia, while in the course of military exercise
Acts Relating to the City of Brooklyn, and the Ordinances Thereof 25 (1836)
(1836)
Tit. 1, § 1: That it shall not be lawful for any person within the first six wards, and in so much of the seventh ward as lies westerly of Clinton avenue and the Jamaica turnpike, southerly of the place where the said turnpike is intersected by Clinton avenue, in said city, to fire or discharge any gun, pistol, fowling piece, or fire arms, or to explode or set off any squib, cracker, or other thing containing gunpowder, or any combustible material, under the penalty of five dollars for each and every offence.
An Ordinance Regulating the Carrying of Loaded Firearms in the City of Albany, Part 4, Ch. 72, § 1 in The Municipal Code of the City of Albany (1905).
(1905)
Any person, other than a peace officer, who shall in any public street, highway, or place within the city of Albany, have or carry concealed upon his person any loaded pistol, revolver, or other firearm, without theretofore having been authorized as hereinafter provided to carry the same, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars, or by imprisonment in a penitentiary or county jail for not more than one hundred and fifty days, or by both.

New York

New York

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