Virginia

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Virginia

This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Virginia. It supports research on the Commonwealth’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, colonial and militia records, maritime and manufacturing archives, agricultural and law-enforcement collections, and oral histories tied to Virginia people and places.
Research outputs: technical reports, academic studies, training manuals, and curated datasets relevant to the Commonwealth.

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 103

1874-75 Va. Acts 282-83
(1874)
Ch. 239, § 6, sched. B(18): Included the value of all "rifles, muskets, and other fire-arms, bowie-knives, dirks, and all weapons of a similar kind" in list of taxable personal property, imposing a tax payable of 50 cents per 100 dollars of value.
The Charter and General Ordinances of the Town of Lexington 108 (1892)
(1873)
Prohibited the discharge of firearms and other weapons in public streets and alleys, punishable by a fine of one to five dollars.
The Charter and General Ordinances of the Town of Lexington 87 (1892)
(1869)
Penalized carrying concealed weapons (including pistols and bowie knives) with fines and forfeiture, except for officers on duty. Further prohibited supplying cigarettes or specified weapons to minors under sixteen, punishable by fines.
9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 267-68 (1823)
(1777)
Applied to "all free male persons, hired servants [not indentured], and apprentices, between the ages of sixteen and fifty years." "The county lieutenant, colonels, lieutenant colonels, and major" had to appear "with a sword." Every captain and lieutenant needed a "firelock and bayonet, a cartouch box, a sword, and three charges of powder and ball." Ensigns needed a sword. Non-commissioned officers and privates had to have a rifle and tomahawk, or good fire-lock and bayonet, with a pouch and horn, or a cartouch or cartridge box, and with three charges of powder and ball; and, moreover, each of the said officers and soldiers shall constantly keep one pound of powder and four pounds of ball, to be produced whenever called for by his commanding officer.
9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 16, 28 (1823)
(1775)
Established militia age limits of 16 and 50. Every militiaman had to "furnish himself with a good rifle, if to be had, or otherwise with a tomahawk, common firelock, bayonet, pouch, or cartouch box, three charges of powder and ball, and appear with the same at the place appointed for mustering, and shall constantly keep by him one pound of powder and four pounds of ball."
11 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 476-78 (1823)
(1784)
Increased its militia's minimum age to 18, and kept the maximum age at 50. Militiamen were required to appear "armed, equipped, and accoutred" according to rank. "The county lieutenants, lieutenant colonels commandant, and majors, with a sword; the captains, lieutenants, and ensigns, with a sword and espontoon." Noncommissioned officers and privates needed to supply themselves "with a good clean musket, carrying an ounce ball, and three feet eight inches long in the barrel, with a good bayonet and iron ramrod well fitted thereto." Plus also "a cartridge box properly made, to contain and secure twenty cartridges" and "a good knapsack and canteen."
9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 281 (1823)
(1777)
Required "all free born male inhabitants of this state, above the age of sixteen years" to "renounce and refuse all allegiance to George the third" and swear to "be faithful and bear true allegiance to the commonwealth of Virginia, as a free and independent state."
3 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 13 (1823)
(1684)
"every trooper of the respective colonies of this country, shall furnish and supply himself with a good able horse, saddle, and all arms and furniture, fitt and compleat for a trooper, and that every foot soldier, shall furnish himselfe, with a sword, musquet and other furniture fitt for a soldier, and that each trooper and foot soldier, be provided with two pounds of powder, and eight pounds of shott, and shall continually keep their armes well fixt, cleane, and fitt for the king's service."
3 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 335-38 (1823)
(1705)
The militia included "all male persons whatsoever, from sixteen to sixty years of age ... to serve in horse or foot." An infantryman needed "a firelock, muskett or fusee well fixed, a good sword," cartridge box, and ammunition. He had to bring six rounds of ammunition to muster. Additionally, he had to "have at his place of abode two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shott, and bring the same into the field with him when thereunto specially required." A horseman needed the usual tack and ammunition accoutrements along with a pair of pistols and a sword. He had to bring eight rounds of ammunition to muster. At his usual place of abode, he also had to keep a well fixed carabine, two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shot. The act made it unlawful for creditors to seize a militiaman's arms as payment for debts. If a creditor nevertheless took someone's militia equipment, the seizure would "be unlawful and void." Any "officer or person that presumes to make or serve the same" (e.g., a sheriff serving a writ of attachment) would "be lyable to the suit of the party grieved, wherein double damages shall be given upon recovery."
2 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 381 (1823)
(1676)
"whereas by a branch of an act of assembly made in March last, liberty is granted to all persons to carry their armes wheresoever they goe, which liberty hath beene found to be very prejudiciall to the peace and wellfaire of this colony. Bee it therefore further enacted by this present grand assembly, and the authority thereof, and it is hereby enacted, that if any person or persons shall, from and after publication of this act, presume to assemble together in armes to the number of five or upwards without being legally called together in armes the number of five or upwards, they be held deemed and adjudged as riotous and mutinous, and that they be proceeded against and punished accordingly."
7 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 93-94 (1823)
(1757)
Restored the minimum militia age to 18 and set the maximum age at 60. Soldiers had to furnish themselves with "a firelock well fixed, a bayonet fitted to the same," and keep an extra pound of powder and "four pounds of ball" at home.
4 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 78 (1823)
(1720)
Appropriated one thousand pounds to distribute "to each christian titheable [subject to taxation], one firelock, musket, one socket, bayonet fitted thereto, one cartouch box, eight pounds bullet, two pounds powder, until the whole one thousand pounds be laid out."
3 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 205-07 (1823)
(1701)
Provided 500-acre land grants, with the proviso that the grantee keep "upon the said land one christian man between sixteen and sixty years of age perfect of limb, able and fitt for service." Such men should be "continually provided with a well fixt musquett or fuzee, a good pistoll, sharp simeter, tomahauk and five pounds of good clean pistoll powder and twenty pounds of sizable leaden bulletts or swan or goose shott to be kept within the fort directed by this act besides the powder and shott for his necessary or usefull shooting at game..."
7 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 534, 537 (1823)
(1762)
Ensured that "every person so exempted shall always keep in his house or place of abode such arms, accoutrements, and ammunition, as are by the [1757] act required to be kept by the militia."
5 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 16 (1823)
(1738)
The militia under this act consisted of "all male persons, above the age of one and twenty years."
2 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 126 (1823)
(1662)
"that every man able to beare armes have in his house a fixed gun, two pound of powder and eight pound of shot at least"
2 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 333 (1823)
(1676)
"that in goeing to churches and courts in those tymes of danger, all people be enjoyned and required to goe armed for their greate security"
1 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 525 (1809)
(1659)
"That every man able to beare armes have in his house a fixt gunn two pounds of powder and eight pound of shott at least"
4 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 78 (1823)
(1720)
Appropriated one thousand pounds to distribute "to each christian titheable [subject to taxation], one firelock, musket, one socket, bayonet fitted thereto, one cartouch box, eight pounds bullet, two pounds powder, until the whole one thousand pounds be laid out."
3 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 335-38 (1823)
(1705)
The militia included "all male persons whatsoever, from sixteen to sixty years of age . . . to serve in horse or foot." An infantryman needed "a firelock, muskett or fusee well fixed, a good sword," cartridge box, and ammunition. He had to bring six rounds of ammunition to muster. Additionally, he had to "have at his place of abode two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shott, and bring the same into the field with him when thereunto specially required." A horseman needed the usual tack and ammunition accoutrements along with a pair of pistols and a sword. He had to bring eight rounds of ammunition to muster. At his usual place of abode, he also had to keep a well fixed carabine, two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shot. The act made it unlawful for creditors to seize a militiaman's arms as payment for debts. If a creditor nevertheless took someone's militia equipment, the seizure would "be unlawful and void." Any "officer or person that presumes to make or serve the same" (e.g., a sheriff serving a writ of attachment) would "be lyable to the suit of the party grieved, wherein double damages shall be given upon recovery."
3 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 205-07 (1823)
(1701)
Provided 500-acre land grants, with the proviso that the grantee keep "upon the said land one christian man between sixteen and sixty years of age perfect of limb, able and fitt for service." Such men should be "continually provided with a well fixt musquett or fuzee, a good pistoll, sharp simeter, tomahauk and five pounds of good clean pistoll powder and twenty pounds of sizable leaden bulletts or swan or goose shott to be kept within the fort directed by this act besides the powder and shott for his necessary or usefull shooting at game..."
3 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 13 (1823)
(1684)
"every trooper of the respective colonies of this country, shall furnish and supply himself with a good able horse, saddle, and all arms and furniture, fitt and compleat for a trooper, and that every foot soldier, shall furnish himselfe, with a sword, musquet and other furniture fitt for a soldier, and that each trooper and foot soldier, be provided with two pounds of powder, and eight pounds of shott, and shall continually keep their armes well fixt, cleane, and fitt for the king's service."
2 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 381 (1823)
(1676)
"whereas by a branch of an act of assembly made in March last, liberty is granted to all persons to carry their armes wheresoever they goe, which liberty hath beene found to be very prejudiciall to the peace and wellfaire of this colony. Bee it therefore further enacted by this present grand assembly, and the authority thereof, and it is hereby enacted, that if any person or persons shall, from and after publication of this act, presume to assemble together in armes to the number of five or upwards without being legally called together in armes the number of five or upwards, they be held deemed and adjudged as riotous and mutinous, and that they be proceeded against and punished accordingly."
2 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 333 (1823)
(1676)
"that in goeing to churches and courts in those tymes of danger, all people be enjoyned and required to goe armed for their greate security"
2 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 126 (1823)
(1662)
"that every man able to beare armes have in his house a fixed gun, two pound of powder and eight pound of shot at least"
1 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 525 (1809)
(1659)
"That every man able to beare armes have in his house a fixt gunn two pounds of powder and eight pound of shott at least"
1786 Va. Acts 35
(1786)
Ch. 49, An Act Forbidding and Punishing Affrays: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no man, great nor small, of what condition soever he be, except the Ministers of Justice in executing the precepts of the Courts of Justice, or in executing of their office, and such as be in their company assisting them, be so hardy to come before the justices of any court, or either of their Ministers of Justice, doing their office, with force and arms, on pain, to forfeit their armour to the Commonwealth, and their bodies to prison, at the pleasure of a Court; nor go nor ride armed by night nor by day, in fair or markets, or in other places, in terror of the county, upon pain of being arrested and committed to prison by any Justice on his own view, or proof by others, there to abide for so long a time as a jury, to be sworn for that purpose by the said Justice, shall direct, and in like manner to forfeit his armour to the Commonwealth; but no person shall be imprisoned for such offence by a longer space of time than one month."
9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 281-82 (1821)
(1777)
Act of May 5, 1777, ch. 3: An act to oblige the free male inhabitants of this state above a certain age to give assurance of Allegiance to the same, and for other purposes. WHEREAS allegiance and protection are reciprocal, and those who will not bear the former are not entitled to the benefits of the later, Therefore Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that all free born male inhabitants of this state, above the age of sixteen years, except imported servants during the time of their service, shall, on or before the tenth day of October next, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation before some one of the justices of the peace of the county, city, or borough, where they shall respectively inhabit; and the said justice shall give a certificate thereof to every such person, and the said oath or affirmation shall be as followeth, viz . . . And the justices tendering such oath or affirmation are hereby directed to deliver a list of the names of such recusants to the county lieutenant, or chief commanding officer of the militia, who is hereby authorised and directed forthwith to cause such recusants to be disarmed
1657, Va. Acts 434
(1657)
Act 3: That the Lord's day be kept holy, and that no journeys be made except in case of emergent necessity on that day, that no goods be laden in boats nor shooting in guns . . . the party delinquent to pay one hundred pounds of tobacco or laid in the stocks . . .
1651 Va. Acts 365
(1651)
Articles At The Surrender Of The Country, art. 13: That all ammunition, powder and arms, other than for private use shall be delivered up, security being given to make satisfaction for it.
1655 Va. Acts 401
(1655)
Act 12: What persons or persons soever shall, after publication hereof, shoot any guns at drinking (marriages and funerals only excepted) that such person or persons so offending shall forfeit 100 lb. of tobacco to be levied by distress in case of refusal and to be disposed of by the militia in ammunition towards a magazine for the county where the offence shall be committed.
1657, Va. Acts 437
(1657)
Act 13: If any planter or person shall hunt or shoot upon or within the limits or precincts of his neighbor or others' dividends without leave first obtained for his so doing and having been warned by the owner of the land, to forbear hunting and shooting as aforesaid: He or they so offending shall forfeit for every such offense four hundred pounds of tobacco . . .
6 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 531 (1819)
(1755)
§ 5: That every person so as aforesaid enlisted (except free mulattoes, negroes, and Indians) shall be armed in the manner following, that is to say: That every person so as aforesaid enlisted (except free mulattoes, negroes, and Indians) shall be armed in the manner following, that is to say: Every soldier shall be furnished with a firelock well fixed, a bayonet fitted to the same, a double cartouch-box.
University of Virginia Board of Visitors Minutes 6-7 (Oct. 4-5, 1824)
(1824)
Banned students from keeping or using weapons or arms of any kind or gunpowder on campus.
An Ordinance, for the Government of the Powder Magazine of this City, and for other purposes (1828)
(1828)
That no person or persons within the City of Richmond, shall retain in his, her or their possession at any time, more than twenty-five pounds of Powder.
Laws of the Town of Alexandria § 3 (1800)
(1800)
To prevent accidents... Sec. 3, No person to discharge any fire arms: "Sec. III. No person shall discharge any Musket, Fowling-piece, Pistol, or other Fire Arms, within the limits of the corporation, unless in defence of his or her person or proprety, under the penalty of One Dollar for each offence."
1934 Va. Acts 137-39
(1934)
Ch. 96, §§ 1-7: Prohibited possession or use of a machine gun during a violent crime; punishable by death or imprisonment for a minimum of 20 years. Prohibited unlawful possession or use of a machine gun for offensive or aggressive purposes; punishable by imprisonment for a minimum of 10 years. Requires manufacturers to keep a register of machine guns.
The Code of Lynchburg 116 (Thomas D. Davis ed., 1887)
(1887)
Prohibited discharge of any gun, pistol, other fire-arm, fireworks, or popcrackers without written consent of the mayor, or fire any cannon within one hundred yards of any dwelling-house. Violators fined not less than one dollar but no more than ten dollars.
Ordinances of the Corporation of the City of Richmond ch. 26, § 13 (1830)
(1830)
That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to fire or discharge any Gun, Pistol, Fowling-Piece or Fire-Arms, or to make any other unusual noise within the limits of this City, whereby the inhabitants thereof may be alarmed, except in cases of necessity or in the performance of some public and lawful act of duty, nor to discharge or set-off any Rocket, Cracker, Torpedo, Squib or Balloon, containing any substance in a state of combustion, or other Fire-works within the said City, without permission first had and obtained in writing, from the Mayor of the City, under the penalty of six dollars and sixty-six cents for each offence, if free
Code of the City of Staunton 115 (1910)
(1910)
Ch. II, § 135 p. 115: Prohibited carrying of firearms, throwing stones, or other missiles within the park.

Virginia

Virginia

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