Connecticut
Permanent URL for this collectionhttps://dspace.firearmsresearchcenter.org/id/frc0001/3340
Connecticut
This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Connecticut. 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, armory and manufacturing records (e.g., Hartford–New Haven corridor), and oral histories tied to Connecticut 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.
Browse
58 results
Filters
Advanced Search
Filter by
Settings
Search Results
Item type:Item, Acts and Laws of the State of Connecticut in America 144-50 (1786)(1788)"[A]ll male Persons, from sixteen Years of Age to Forty-five, shall constitute the Military Force of this State." Although not part of "the military force," all "Householders under fifty-five Years of Age" had to "be furnished at their own Expence" with the same arms as the militia. These arms were "a well fixed Musket, the Barrel not less than three Feet and an Half long, and a Bayonet fitted thereto, with a Sheath and Belt or Strap for the same." Militiamen, males under fifty-five, and householders also needed a ramrod, worm, priming-wire, and cartridge box with "fifteen rounds of Cartridges, made with good Musket Powder and Ball, fitting his Gun." Also needed were "six good Flints" and "one Canteen holding not less than three Pints." Light-Dragoons (horsemen) had to have "a Case of good Pistols…one Pound of good Powder, three Pounds of sizable Bullets, twelve Flints, a good pair of Boots and Spurs."Item type:Item, 1 Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 351 (J. Hammond Trumbull ed., 1850) (enacted 1646)(1660)"This Court orders, that ifany Indians shal bring in Guns into any o fthe Townes in this Coll: It shal be lawful for any on eof ye English to seize on their guns, and to keep them until there be 10s. a piece brought to redeem each gun, wch shal be devided, one half to ye Treasurie, the other half to ye seazer."Item type:Item, 1 Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 2, 79 (J. Hammond Trumbull ed., 1850) (enacted 1644)(1665)Prohibited the repairing, selling, and giving "any Indian" a gun or ammunition, punishable by fine.Item type:Item, Franklin Bowditch Dexter, Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College: May 1745-May 1763, Annals 8 (1745)(1745)Prohibited any scholar from keeping or discharging a gun or pistol in the College.Item type:Item, 1901 Conn. Spec. Acts 602 (Jan. Sess.)(1901)§ 20: Granted the county of New Haven the authority to regulate the discharge of firearms within the Borough. Also granted the authority to license, regulate, or prohibit the manufacture, keeping for sale, and use of fireworks, torpedoes, firecrackers, gunpowder, petroleum, dynamite, or other explosive or inflammable substance.Item type:Item, 1 Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 529-30 (J. Hammond Trumbull ed., 1850) (enacted 1650)(1642)"It is Ordered that no man wthin this Jurisdictn shall, directly or indirectly, amend, repaire, or cause to be amended or repaired, any gun smale or greate, belonging to any Indean, nor shall indeavor the same, nor shall sell nor giue to any Indean, directly nor indirectly, any such gun, or any gunpowder or shott or lead or shott mould, or any millitary wepons, armor or arrowe heads, nor sell nor barter any such, vppon payne of ten pownd fyne for euery offence att lest, and the Court shall [have] power to [increase] the fine or to impose corporal( punishement where a fyne cannot be had, at their discretion."Item type:Item, 1 Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 138 (J. Hammond Trumbull ed., 1850) (enacted 1646)(1646)("The Court [desires] that the Comissio[ners] should be [moved] that noe ]Ammuition] should be traded wth any that [live] out of the Jurisdictions in combination, whereby [it] might supply the Indeans. and that some consideration be taken to [restrain] Roade lland fro[m] trading w[i]th the in such kynd." [some antique spelling modernized])Item type:Item, 1 The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 95-96 (J. Hammond Trumbull ed., 1850) (enacted 1643)(1643)Required each family to bring arms to church every Sabbath and lecture day.Item type:Item, 1 Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 542-43 (J. Hammond Trumbull ed., 1850) (enacted 1650)(1650)Required all persons above sixteen years old to bear arms. All males will have a musket or other gun in continual readiness and fit for service.Item type:Item, 1 Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 113-14 (J. Hammond Trumbull ed., 1850) (enacted 1644)(1644)§ 130: Prohibited selling or trading "to the Indeans," nor any Dutch or Frenchman any guns, pistols, and other warlike instruments. Violators fined "twenty for one" and corporal punishment at the court's discretion.Item type:Item, 1 The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 196 (J. Hammond Trumbull ed., 1850) (enacted 1646)(1646)"It is ordered, that no man within this iurisdiction shall, directly or indirectly, amend, repair, or cause to bee amended or repaired, any gun, small or greate, belonging to any Indian, nor shall endevour the same, nor shall sell or give to any Indian, directly or indirectly, any such gun, or any gunpowder, or shott, or leade, or shot moulde, or any millitary weopons, or armour, vpon paine of ten pound fine for ev'y offence at least,& that the Court of Assistants shall have power to increase the fine or to impose corporall punishment wheare a fine cannot bee had, at their discretion."Item type:Item, Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven: From 1638 To 1649, at 201-02 (Charles J. Hoadly ed., 1857) (enacted 1646)(1646)"ho shall dwell or sojourne wthin this plantation, or any part of the bownds & limitts of it for a month together,shalbe &. continew at all times compleatly furnished wth armes, vizd a good serviceable gunne, a good sword,bandeleeres, a rest, all to be allowed by the military officers, one pownd ofgood gun powder, fower pownd of bullets, either fitted for his gunne or pistollbulletts, wth fower faddome of match fit for service wth every matchlocke, & 4 or5 good flints fitted for every firelock peece, all in good order & ready for any suddayne occassion, service or veiw, vnder the penaltie of10s fine, tobe paid by or for euery person, so oft as he shalbe fownd defective & faulty; each master or governour paying not only forhimselfe,but for all such as are vnder his chardge, for whome he should provide, & others to payfor themselues."Item type:Item, Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven: From 1638 To 1649, at 25-26 (Charles J. Hoadly ed., 1857) (enacted 1639)(1639)Itt is ordered thatt every one that beares armes shall be compleatly furnished wth armes (viz), a muskett, a sworde, bandaleers, a rest, a pound of powder, 20 bullets fitted to least, and be ready to show them in the markett place vpon Munday the 16th of this Moneth before Captaine Turner and Leivtennant Seely vnder the penaItem type:Item, 3 Resolves & Private Laws of the State of Connecticut 334 (1857)(1836)Ch. 1, § 20: Authorizing the local court of common counsel to prohibit and regulate the storage of gun powder.Item type:Item, Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven: From 1638 To 1649, at 131-32 (Charles J. Hoadly ed., 1857) (enacted 1644)(1644)One quarter of each plantation's militia will attend church services with "arms compleat" with five to six charges of powder, firelocks, and shot. Penalty of two shillings for neglect and one shilling for late arrival.Item type:Item, Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven: From 1638 To 1649, at 96-97 (Charles J. Hoadly ed., 1857) (enacted 1643)(1643)Itt is ordered thatt every male, fr? 16 yeares olde to sixty, wthin this jurisdict?, shall be forthwth furnished of a good gun or muskett, a pound of good pouder,4 fathom of match 97 for a match-lock, and 5 or 6 good flints, fitted for every fyre lock, and 4 pound of pistoll bulletts, or 24 bulletts fitted to their guns, and so continue furnished fromtime to time,vnder the penalty of 10s fine vpon every defect in any of the forenamed perticularsItem type:Item, Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven: From 1638 To 1649, at 132 (Charles J. Hoadly ed., 1857) (enacted 1646)(1646)"Itt was ordered, thatt a 4th part of the trayned band in every plantati? shall come to the publique worps of God att the beating of the 2d drum att furthest, wth their armes compleat, their guns ready charged, wth their match for their matchlocks and flints ready fitted in their firelocks, & shott & pouder for att least 5 or 6 charges, (besides their charge in their guns ) vnder the penalty of 2s fine for neglect or defect in furniture,"Item type:Item, 15 The Public Records Of The Colony Of Connecticut 191 (Charles J. Hoadly ed., 1890) (enacted 1775)(1775)Prohibited the exportation of salt petre, nitre, or gun powder out of the colony by land or water. Violators fined twenty pounds for every hundred weight of salt petre, nitre, or gun powder.Item type:Item, Charles Stoers Hamilton, Charter and Ordinances of the City of New Haven, Together with Legislative Acts Affecting Said City 164 (1890)(1890)§ 192: Prohibited the concealed carrying of any metal knuckles, pistol, slungshot, stiletto, or similar weapons, absent written permission of the mayor or superintendent of police. Punishable by a fine of $5-50.Item type:Item, Charter of the City of New Haven 142-43 (1881)(1881)§ 18: Prohibited the sale of any fixed ammunition, gun, pistol, or other mechanical contrivance arranged for the explosion of cartridge, or any fulminate to any child under the age of sixteen.Item type:Item, Charter and Ordinances of the City of Waterbury, Connecticut, with Amendments Thereto 230, §§ 6-8 (1902)(1897)Good Order and Decency, § 6: Prohibited the possession of any steel, iron, or brass knuckles, or slung shot or weapon of similar character. Also prohibited the concealed carry of any weapon. Violators shall forfeit the weapon and pay a fine of not less than five nor more than one hundred dollars for each offense.Item type:Item, Charter and By-Laws of the City of New Haven 91-96 (1865)(1865)That hereafter no person or persons shall, within the limits hereafter described, either directly or indirectly, sell and deliver any gunpowder, or have, store, or keep any quantity of gunpowder greater than one pound weight, without having obtained a license for that purpose from said Court of Common Council, in the manner herein prescribed.§Item type:Item, The Charter and By-Laws of the Borough of Wallingford 55 (1882)(1882)§ 15: Prohibited the discharge of any pistol, gun, cannon, or other fire-arm in any street, park, or public ground. Violators fined not exceeding twenty-five dollars.Item type:Item, By-Laws of the City of New Haven 15 (1840)(1827)Title XI - Gunpowder: Prohibited, directly or indirectly, selling or delivering any gunpowder, or to have, store, or keep any quantity of gunpowder greater than one pound weight. The Court of Common Council shall have the power to license the sale, having, storing, and keeping gunpowder up to seven pounds in weight, and stored in a tin canister.Item type:Item, J. M. Meech, Charter and Revised Ordinances of the City of Norwich With the Amendments Thereto, and Statutes of the State Relating to Municipal Corporations 178 (1876)(1876)Prohibited the discharge of any swivel, musket, fowling-piece, pistol, or other gun of any description within said city at a distance of less than "fifty rods" from any dwelling house, public highway, or street.Violators fined three dollars.Item type:Item, 1845 Conn. Pub. Acts 10(1845)An Act Prohibiting the Firing of Guns and Other Fire Arms in the City of New Haven, ch. 10: Prohibited the discharge of any gun or other firearm of any kind within the city limits of New Haven. Violators fined seven dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty days.Item type:Item, A By-Law in relation to the Firing of Guns and Pistols, ch. 26 in The By-Laws of the City of New London, with the Statute Laws of the State of Connecticut Relative to Said City (1835)(1835)Prohibited the discharge of any gun or pistol within the limits of the city. Violators fined two dollars. Minors who discharge guns or pistols, or explode fireworks, shall be held liable with the fine recoverable from the parent or guardian.Item type:Item, Ordinances and By-Laws of the Borough of Naugatuck 3 (1907)(1901)Section 2-An Ordinance or By-Law Relating to Public Safety, Clauses 1-8: Prohibited the discharge of any pistol, revolver, gun, cannon, or other firearm, or air gun in any street, park, or public ground. Also prohibited the carry of any firearm, brass or metal knuckles, slung shot, or similar weapon with permission from the Warden.Item type:Item, Charter and Ordinances of the City of Bridgeport: as Amended and Adopted 194 (1874)(1875)Prohibited the possession, keeping for sale, or for any other purpose within city limits, any quantity of gun powder or gun-cotton exceeding one pound in weight. Also prohibited having, keeping for sale, use, or other purpose, any quantity of nitro-glycerine, or other explosive substances or compounds exceeding six ounces without a special license.Item type:Item, 1923 Conn. Pub. Acts 3707-10(1923)An Act Concerning the Possession, Sale and Use of Pistols and Revolvers, ch. 252, § 5: Prohibited the sale of any pistol or revolver in any location not described in the permit allowing such sales. Prohibited the sale or delivery of any pistol or revolver unless the purchase or recipient of such pistol or revolver is personally known to the vendor.Item type:Item, 1923 Conn. Acts 3732(1923)Unnaturalized Persons, ch. 259, § 17: Prohibited noncitizens from owning or possessing any shotgun or rifle; violators subject to confiscation and resale of gun by state upon conviction.Item type:Item, 1 The General Statutes of Connecticut: Revision of 1930, at 903 (1930)(1930)Dealing in Explosives; License., ch. 147, § 2644: Dealing in Explosives; License., ch. 147, § 2644: Prohibited the manufacture, storage, sale, or dealing in gunpowder or any material defined as an explosive in § 2638Item type:Item, 1923 Conn. Pub. Acts 3667(1923)Ch. 222, § 67: Restricted the use of rifle ranges affiliated with the NRA on Sundays to the hours of one and six in the afternoon.Item type:Item, The Charter and Bylaws of the City of Meriden 135 (1875)(1869)Prohibited the discharge of any pistol, gun, cannon, or other fire-arm with the limits of the city. Violators forfeit the weapon and fined five dollars.Item type:Item, 1927 Conn. Acts 4286(1927)An Act Concerning The Use of Shot Guns on Sundays by Members of Gun Clubs, ch. 214: Extended § 67 of chapter 222 of 1923 Conn. Pub. Acts to apply to gun clubs affiliated with the NRA and members of such gun clubs using shot guns. The extension restricts the use of shotguns at rifle ranges on Sundays to the hours of one and six in the afternoon. Does not allow hunting on Sundays.Item type:Item, 1911 Conn. Pub. Acts 1357(1911)An Act Concerning the Use of Explosives in Connection with the Crime of Burglary, ch. 98: Prohibited entering any building with the intent to commit any crime therein or attempt open any vault, safe, or other secure place by the use of nitro-glycerin, dynamite, gunpowder, or any other explosive. Violators imprisoned not more than thirty years.Item type:Item, 1858 Conn. Acts 62(1858)An Act in Addition to and in Alteration of "An Act For Forming And Conducting The Military Force," chap. 82, § 5: Prohibited the creation of any booth, shed, tent, or other temporary erection for the sale of intoxicating liquors or spirits within one mile of any military parade ground, muster field, or encampment. Also prohibited any such structure for the purposes of gambling. Any such structure shall be first warned to vacate immediately. Violators will be declared a nuisance, with authorities given permission to pull down or destroy said structure.Item type:Item, 1864 Conn. Acts 95(1864)An Act In Addition To And In Alteration Of "An Act Relating To The Militia," chap. 73, § 8: It shall be the duty of the quartermaster general to provide a suitable armory for each company of active militia, upon a certificate from the adjutant general, that such company has organized according to law, and has made requisition for an armory, through the commanding officer of said company, as a drill room and place to preserve its arms and equipments; and also to provide for the expenses of cleaning and keeping in good repair the said arms and equipments, in such manner as he may prescribe.Item type:Item, 1859 Conn. Acts 62(1858)An Act In Addition To And In Alteration Of "An Act For Forming And Conducting The Military Force," chap. 82, § 7: Required the quarter-master general to inspect armories and gun houses of the several companies and regimental bands, and report the condition of the same. Also required the reporting on which companies are entitled to the allowance for armory rent.Item type:Item, 1861 Conn. Acts 95(1861)An Act In Addition To And In Alteration Of "An Act Relating To The Militia," chap. 73, § 8: Required the quarter-master general to provide a suitable armory for each company of active militia which has organized according to law.