Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvania
This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Pennsylvania. It supports research on the state’s firearms history, technology, law, policy, and culture from the colonial and provincial periods 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 and militia records, armory and manufacturing archives (e.g., gunmaking traditions), and oral histories tied to Pennsylvania 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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Item type:Item, 14 Stat. at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, at 457-58 (1909)(1793)And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That in order that the militia may be properly armed, equipped and accoutred, every citizen enrolled and notified of this enrollment in manner aforesaid, except as is hereinbefore excepted, shall, within six months after receiving such notice, provide himself with the arms, ammunition and accoutrement hereinafter mentioned, viz.: Every non-commissioned officer and private of the infantry (including grenadiers and light infantry and of the artillery) shall have a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints and a knapsack, a pouch with a box therein, to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball, or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch and powder horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle and a quarter of a pound of powder; the commissioned officers of infantry shall be armed with a sword or hanger and an espontoon, and those of artillery with a sword or hanger, a fuzee, bayonet and belt, and a cartridge box to contain twelve cartridges. The commissioned officers of the several troops of horse shall furnish themselves with good horses, of at least fourteen hands and an half high, and shall be armed with a sword and a pair of pistols, the holsters of which shall be covered with bearskin caps; each light-horseman or dragoon shall furnish himself with a serviceable horse, of at least fourteen hands and an half high, a good saddle, bridle, mail pillion and valise holsters, and a breast plate and crupper, a pair of boots and spurs, a pair of pistols, a sabre and a cartouch box, to contain twelve cartridges for pistols; the artillery and horse shall be uniformly clothed in regimentals, to be furnished at their own expense, the color and fashion to be determined by the brigadier commanding the brigade to which they belong; every militiaman shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided when called out to exercise or into service (except that when called out on company days to exercise only he may appear without a knapsack) and every man so enrolled as aforesaid, and providing himself with the arms, ammunition and accoutrements required as aforesaid, shall hold the same exempted from all suits, distresses, executions, or sales for debt or the payment of taxes. Each battalion and regiment shall be provided with the state and regimental colors by the field officers, and each company with a drum and fife or bugle horn by the commissioned officers of the company; the expenses of such colors, drums, fifes or bugle horns to be repaid to the officers out of the fines incurred by this act.Item type:Item, 16 The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, at 297 (1911)(1799)Explicitly allowed "sons who are not subject to the militia law may be admitted as substitutes for their fathers."Item type:Item, 14 The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, at 456 (1909)(1793)"[A]ll young men under the age of twenty-one years, and all servants purchased bona fide and for a valuable consideration," had to enroll in the militia. But "during such minority or servitude," they were exempt from training and from fines for not having the requisite equipment. The exception did not apply "in cases of rebellion, or an actual or threatened invasion of this or any of the neighboring states."Item type:Item, A Digest of the Laws and Ordinances for the Government of the Municipal Corporation of the City of Reading 240 (1897)(1897)City Park, § 20(8) : Prohibited any person from carrying firearms, or discharge in the common or within fifty yards therof, or throw stones or other missiles therein.Item type:Item, By-Laws and Ordinances of the City of Pittsburgh 73 (1828)(1816)Ch. 2, §§ 1-3 : That no shop-keeper or other person or persons, shall keep, at the same time, in any house, shop, cellar or warehouse, or other apartment, or in any boat within the said city, more than thirty pounds weight of gun-powder. § 2. That the aforesaid quantity of gun-powder allowed to be kept within the city, shall be deposited in a place by itself, separate from other goods and commodities, and shall be secured by lock and key, or in some other safe manner. § 3. That no person shall carry or convey in any dray, cart, wagon or other carriage, any greater quantity of gun-powder than thirty pounds weight, at any one time, in or through the city, without securing the same in a good bag or bags, or within a canvas or other safe covering completely around the said powder, sufficient to prevent the same from scattering from the said carriage.Item type:Item, By-Laws and Ordinances of the City of Pittsburgh 188 (1828)(1827)Ch. 103, § 2: That if any person shall fire off or discharge wantonly and without reasonable cause, any gun, pistol, fowling piece, or any other fire-arms, at any place or from any house, within the city, or in any of the streets, alleys or highways of the said city, such person shall forfeit and pay for every such offence the sum of five dollars.Item type:Item, By-Laws and Ordinances of the City of Pittsburgh 99 (1828)(1816)Ch. 16, § 1: That if any person or persons shall, within the said city, beat a drum, or without lawful authority, ring any public bell, after sunset, or at any time except in lawful defence of person or property, discharge any gun or fire arms, or play at or throw any metal or stone bullet, or make a bon-fire, or raise or create any false alarm of fire, he, she or they so offending, shall for every such offence, on conviction thereof, forfeit and pay the sum of four dollars32…Item type:Item, W.W. Thomson, A Digest of the Acts of Assembly Relating to and the General Ordinances of the City of Pittsburgh 496 (1893)(1893)Prohibited carry of firearms, shooting or throwing of stones, or setting snares within the limits of the park or within one hundred yards thereof.Item type:Item, Laws and Ordinances for the Government of the Municipal Corporation of the City of Williamsport 141 (1891)(1891)An ordinance prescribing the rules and regulations for the government and protection of Brandon Park, § 21: Prohibited carry of fire-arms, shooting in the park, discharging fire-works, throwing stones, or throwing missiles within the limits of Brandon ParkItem type:Item, 1847 Pa. Laws 266(1847)No. 208, § 1: That if any person shall open any tomb or grave in the lands of the cemetery of Laurel Hill cemetery company of Philadelphia . . . or shall shoot or discharge any gun or other fire arms within said limits shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. . .Item type:Item, Saunders Lewis, Ordinances of the Corporation of and Acts of Assembly Relating to the City of Philadelphia 128 (1851)(1821)A Supplement to an ordinance titled "an ordinance for the suspension of nuisances[.]" § 2: If any person shall fire off or discharge, wantonly and without any reasonable cause, any gun, pistol, fowling-piece or other fire-arms, at any place or from any house within the city of Philadelphia, or in any of the streets, alleys or highways of the said city, such person shall forfeit and pay for every such offence the sum of five dollars.Item type:Item, Frank F. Brightley, A Digest of the Laws and Ordinances of the City of Philadelphia 513 (1887)(1887)Commissioners of Fairmount Park, art. VII, § 57, pt. 2: Prohibited carry of firearms, shooting of birds, or throwing stones or missiles within fifty yards of Fairmount Park.Item type:Item, Acts of Assembly Relating to Fairmount Park 18 (1868)(1868)§ 21: No persons shall carry fire-arms, or shoot birds in the Park, or within fifty yards thereof, or throw stones or other missiles therein.Item type:Item, P. G. Carey, A Digest of the Ordinances of the Borough of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 135 (1906)(1906)Parks § 1.4: Prohibited carry of fire-arms, shooting birds, throwing stones or other missiles within Reeves Park.Item type:Item, 1791 Pa. Laws 105, ch. 1573, § 1, in 14 Stat. at Large of Pa. from 1682 to 1801 (1791)(1791)That it shall and may be lawful for the owners of gun-powder not deposited , or to be deposited, in the said magazine, the square to the south of Vine street, to remove and deposit the same in the said new magazine; and all gun-powder brought into the city of Philadelphia, from and after the first day of July next, shall be deposited and kept in the said new magazine subject to the regulation contained in the said first recited act.Item type:Item, Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at 240-41, ch. 1846, § 1 (vol. 3, 1810)(1795)§all gun-powder manufactured within this state, with intent to sell the same within the city or county of Philadelphia, shall be put in good and tight kegs or casks of twenty-five, fifty, or one hundred pounds neat weight , each made of well seasoned timber, bound together with at least twelve loops, and having a hole bored in each head with the diameter of one fourth part of an inch, well stopped with corks and having the tare weight (weight of the actual keg or cask) of each cask marked thereon, and that all such gun-powder, and all other gun-powder, wheresoever manufactured imported into the port of Philadelphia, or brought into the city or county of Philadelphia for sale, shall be deposited, forthwith on such importation or bringing by land or by water, in the public magazine in in the said city, and delivered to the care of the keeper the same, who shall give his receipt for the same, deliverable to the order of him or them who shall deposit the same.Item type:Item, Laws of the City of Johnstown, Pa. 86 (1897)(1889)Prohibited the concealed carrying of any pistol, razor, dirk, Bowie knife, blackjack, handy billy, or other deadly weapon. Punishable by fine of $5-50.Item type:Item, 1873 Pa. Laws 735-36, No. 810, § 1(1873)Prohibited the carry of any pistol, dirk-knife, slung-shot, or deadly weapon within city limits.Item type:Item, Laws of the City of Johnstown, Pa. 84 (1897)(1897)Any person who shall on any public street, alley, square, or public grounds, within the limits of the city, willfully discharge any gun or firearm - excepting in necessary defense of self or property - or shall wantonly throw any metal, stone, brick, bullet, or other missile, or who shall willfully explode any torpedo, bomb, fire-cracker, or fire-works in any place on either public or private grounds, or on the street corners or alleys, shall upon conviction pay a fine of not less than one dollar or more than fifty dollars with costs.Item type:Item, Annual Message of the Mayor and Annual Reports of the City Controller, Commissioners of the Water and Lighting Department, City Engineer, Building Inspector, Sanitary Committee, Chief of Police, Superintendent of the fire and Police Alarm Telegraph, Chief Engineer of the Fire Department and Ordinances Passed and approved During the Session of 1895, of the City of Harrisburg, Penna., for the Year 1895, at 180 (1897)(1895)§That any person who shall discharge any bow guns, air guns, sling shots, or play the game of catty, shinny or golf or any device dangerous to person or property, shall upon conviction thereof before the mayor or any alderman be fined not less than two nor more than twenty dollars, and in default of payment thereof be imprisoned not exceeding five days. § 3. That any person or persons found in possession of any bow gun, air gun, sling shot, or any device the use of which is dangerous to person or property, shall upon conviction thereof, before the mayor or any alderman, be subject to the same penalty as though discovered in the act of using the same.Item type:Item, 1871 Pa. Laws 142, No. 148, § 20(1871)To pass ordinances providing for the punishment of discharging fire-arms of any description, rockets, gun-powder and fireworks in the streets of the city or in the immediate vicinity of any building.Item type:Item, A Revised Edition of Acts of Assembly and Ordinances Relating to the Borough of Gettysburg, at 62-63, Div. 5, § 9 (1887)(1887)That no person shall keep or have in their possession or cause to be kept within said borough, rock or gun powder, gun or explosive cotton, or other combustible matter likely to prove dangerous, unless the same is preserved carefully and without danger to the citizens in a safe magazine constructed and used solely for that purpose and at a distance of at least 500 feet from any dwelling, and the person offending against this section shall, upon conviction before the burgess or any Justice of the Peace, pay a fine and penalty of twenty dollars. To be collected as all such fines are now by law collectible.Item type:Item, 1909 Pa. Laws 466, No. 261, § 1(1909)Prohibited unnaturalized foreign born residents from hunting in the Commonwealth, or to possess a shotgun or rifle.Item type:Item, 1868 Pa. Laws 321, No. 288, § 2, pt. 6.(1868)To regulate, by ordinances . . . the storage, sale of gun powder, fire works and other inflammable or dangerous articles, and the location of refineries.Item type:Item, 1929 Pa. Laws 777-78, No. 329, §§ 1-4(1929)Prohibited selling, giving, transferring, or possessing a machine gun. Punishable by fine up to $1,000 and imprisonment by separate or solitary confinement at labor up to 5 years. Also Prohibited using a machine gun during an attempted crime. Punishable by separate and solitary confinement at labor for up to 10 years.Item type:Item, 1919 Pa. Laws 710, No. 286, § 1(1919)The department may adopt and enforce rules and regulations governing the having, using, storage, sale and keeping of gasoline, naptha, kerosene, or other substance of like character, blasting powder, gun powder, dynamite, or any other inflammable or combustible chemical products or substances or materials. The department may also adopt and enforce rules and regulations requiring the placing of fire extinguishers in buildings.Item type:Item, 1923 Pa. Laws 386, No. 228, art. 7, § 704(a)(1923). . . It is unlawful to hunt for, or catch or take or kill or wound, or attempt to catch or take or kill or wound, game of any kind, excepting raccoons, through the use of what is commonly known as an automatic gun or an automatic firearm of any kind, or a swivel gun or an air-rifle or the apparatus known as a silencer, or from an automobile or vehicle or boat or craft of any kind propelled by any mechanical power. . .Item type:Item, 1931 Pa. Laws 498, No. 158, § 4-6(1931)Prohibited individuals convicted of violent crimes from owning, possessing or having a firearm under their control.Item type:Item, 1903 Pa. Laws 198-99, No. 142, §§ 1-2.(1903)§Be it enacted that six months after the passage of this act it shall be unlawful for any person to discharge, on the streets or alleys, of any city or borough in this Commonwealth, a flobert rifle, air gun, spring gun, or any implement which impels with force a metal pellet of any kind.§Item type:Item, Ordinances of the Borough of Shamokin, Pa. 71-72 (1896)(1896)This section regulates the transportation of gunpowder, blasting powder, and other explosives through borough streets. Quantities greater than 25 pounds must be securely covered with canvas to prevent spilling or accidental ignition from sparks. Anyone violating the rule may have the explosives forfeited and, upon conviction, must pay a fine of $1 to $10.Item type:Item, 1905 Pa. Laws 252-53, No. 180, § 8(1905)No person shall make use of what is known as buckshot in hunting deer or fawn within this Commonwealth, or shall kill or wound, or attempt to kill or wound, any deer or fawn within this Commonwealth, or shall kill or wound, or attempt to kill or wound, any deer or fawn within this Commonwealth by or with or through the use of a gun propelling or emitting more than one pellet, bullet or ball at a single discharge; and persons violating this provision shall be subject to the penalties provided by existing law for the unlawful taking or killing of deer or fawn.Item type:Item, 1905 Pa. Laws 279-80, No. 189, § 1.(1905)§Be it enacted, that if any person shall willfully and maliciously, either by day or by night, with or without breaking, enter any building with intent to commit a felony by the use of nitroglycerine, dynamite, gunpowder, or other high explosives, such person shall be guilty of felony, and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, and undergo an imprisonment, by separate and solitary confinement at labor, not exceeding twenty-five years.Item type:Item, Ordinances of Tyrone Borough, Pa. 35 (1893)(1893)That from and after the passage of this Ordinance it shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any gun, pistol, or other fire arm (in or upon any of the streets or alleys) within the limits of the borough of Tyrone. §2. Any person violating the provisions of this Ordinance, shall, upon conviction before the Burgess, be subject to a fine of not less than one ($1) dollar nor more than fifty ($50) dollars at the discretion of the Burgess, and in default of payment thereof be confined in the lock-up not exceeding forty-eight (48) hours.Item type:Item, 1881 Pa. Laws 111, No. 124, § 1(1881)makes any person, "who shall knowingly and willfully sell or cause to be sold, to any person under sixteen years of age, any cannon, revolver, pistol or other such deadly weapon, ... shall, in every such case, be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars."Item type:Item, A Digest of the Laws of Pennsylvania: From the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred to the Sixth Day of July, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty-Three, at 423-24, Crimes, pt. 6, § 113 (11th ed., Vol. 1, 1885)(1883)Any person who shall knowingly and willfully sell or cause to be sold to any person under sixteen years of age, any cannon, revolver, pistol or other such deadly weapon, or who shall knowingly and willfully sell, or cause to be sold, to any such minor, any imitation or toy cannon, revolver or pistol so made, constructed or arranged as to be capable of being loaded with gunpowder or other explosive substance, cartridges, shot, slugs or balls and being exploded, fired off and discharged, and thereby become a dangerous or deadly weapon, or who shall knowingly and willfully sell, or cause to be sold to any such minor, any cartridge, gunpowder or other dangerous and explosive substance, shall in every such case, be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars.Item type:Item, 1903 Pa. Laws 178, No. 136, §§ 1-2(1903)Imposed licensing requirement for non-residents and unnaturalized foreign-born resident to possess a gun in the fields, forests, or waters of the State. Punishable by fine.Item type:Item, John C. McCombs, Charter of the City of Allegheny 141 (1870)(1870)Any person who shall fire off, or discharge any gun, pistol, fowling piece, or other fire-arms, within the limits of the city of Allegheny, unless the same be in defense of person or property, shall forfeit and pay a fine of not less than $1.00 nor more than $4.00, upon conviction.]Item type:Item, A Digest of the Laws and Ordinances of the City of Philadelphia, at 462, Bureau of Corrections, pt. 3, § 80 (1887)(1879)Any tramp who shall enter any dwelling-house, against the will or*§without the permission of the owner or occupant thereof, or shall kindle any fire in the highway, or on the land of another, without the owner's consent, or shall be found carrying any fire-arms or other dangerous weapon, with intent unlawfully to do injury or intimidate any other person, which intent may be inferred by the jury trying the case, from the facts that the defendant is a tramp, and so armed, or shall do, or threaten to do, any injury, not amounting to a felony, to any person, or to the real or personal estate of another, shall, upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be sentenced to undergo an imprisonment by separate or solitary confinement at labor for a period not exceeding three years."Item type:Item, 1875 Pa. Laws 33, No. 38, § 1(1875)Prohibited concealed carry of any firearms, slung-shots, billys, dirk-knives, razors, or any other deadly weapon with intent to maliciously do injury to any another personItem type:Item, 1876 Pa. Laws 105, No. 77, § 4(1876)No person shall, at any time, kill any wild duck or goose with any device or instrument known as a swivel or punt gun, or with any gun other than such guns as habitually are raised at arm's 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 ten dollars.