Arkansas
Permanent URL for this collectionhttps://dspace.firearmsresearchcenter.org/id/frc0001/3270
Arkansas
This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Arkansas. 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, manufacturing and timber/agricultural records, and oral histories tied to Arkansas 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, Ordinance 21, in Green Forest Tribune, May 11, 1899, at 1(1899)Prohibited the sale, barter, exchange, disposal or furnishing, or keeps any dirk, Bowie-knife, sword or spear in a cane, brass or metal knuckles, or any kind of pistol or cartridge. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor.Item type:Item, Ark. Const. art. II, § 21 (1836)(1836)Establishes the right to keep and bear arms for "the free white men of this State."Item type:Item, An Ordinance Concerning Slaves, and Free Negroes and Mulattos, § 1, in Arkansas Gazette, Jan. 12, 1836, at 1(1836)That no slave or free negro or mulatto whatsoever shall keep or carry, within the limits of said City, any gun, pistol or other fire arm of any kind whatsoever, or any knife, dirk, club or any weapon of offence or defence whatsoever, or any powder, balls or shot; and that any and every such weapon, and any and all such ammunition found in the possession or custody of any negro or mulatto, may be seized by any person,Item type:Item, An Ordinance to Prevent the Firing of Guns, and Running of Horses, §§ 1-2, in The Arkansas Advocate, Mar. 7, 1832, at 4(1832)§Be it ordained by the Mayor and Town Council of the town of Little Rock, That if any free person shall wantonly fire or shoot off any gun, pistol, or other fire arms, within the bounds of the corporation of the town of Little Rock; or if any person shall run, gallop or canter, any horse, mare, gelding, mule, jack or jenny, through any of the public squares, streets or alleys, of said town, he or she, if free, shall on conviction before the Mayer of the town, forfeit and pay for each offence a sum not exceeding§ten dollars, and shall moreover stand committed until the same be paid together with the attendant costs; and if a slave be guilty of any of the above offences, he or she shall, for each offence, receive on his or her bare back,§ten§stripes or lashes, to be well laid on by the town constable.Item type:Item, Harry C. Hale, Digest of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, Embracing the Ordinances and Resolutions of a General Character Passed by the City Council of Said City Up to and Including the Session of September 21, 1914, at 97, § 463 (1915)(1869)Prohibited the discharge of any cannon, gun, fowling piece, pistol, or fire-arms of any description. Violators fined not less than two but no more than ten dollars.Item type:Item, 1835 Ark. Terr. Laws 521(1835)No slave or mulatto whatsoever, shall keep or carry a gun, powder, shot, club or other weapon whatsoever, offensive or defensive; but all and every gun weapon and ammunition found in the possession or custody of any negro or mulatto, may be seized by any person and upon due proof made before any justice of the peace of the district [county] where such seizure shall be, shall by his order be forfeited to the seizor, for his own use, and moreover, every such offender shall have and receive by order of such justice any number of lashes not exceeding thirty nine on his or her bare back well laid on for every such offense.Item type:Item, E.W. Rector, Digest of the Laws and Ordinances of the City of Hot Springs 61 (1887)(1887)Prohibited the carry of gun powder, giant powder, dynamite, nitro-glycerine or blasting powder on any vehicle in any part of the city unless secured in kegs, boxes, or canisters capable of preventing leakage of the materials and covered in sheets of canvas or other clothesItem type:Item, John H. Herry, Digest of the Laws and Ordinances of the City of Little Rock, with the Constitution of the State of Arkansas; General Incorporation Laws; and All Acts of the General Assembly Relating to the City 149 (1882)(1881)Required a payment and license for the operation of a shooting gallery or pistol gallery. Payment set at twenty-five dollars per year.Item type:Item, John H. Cherry, Digest of the Laws and Ordinances of the City of Little Rock 168, § 399.(1882)Prohibited carrying of a pistol, revolver, Bowie knife, dirk, rifle, shot gun, slungshot, colt, or metal knuckles while engaged in a breach of the peace. Punishable by a fine of $25-500.Item type:Item, John H. Cherry, Digest of the Laws and Ordinances of the City of Little Rock, with the Constitution of the State of Arkansas; General Incorporation Laws; and All Acts of the General Assembly Relating to the City 168 (1882)(1882)Prohibited the concealed carry of any pistol, colt, slung-shot, cross-knuckles, knuckles of lead, brass, or other metal, or Bowie-knife, dirk-knife, dirk, dagger, any knife resembling a Bowie-knife, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor, fined not less than ten nor more than twenty-five dollars, and double that sum for each subsequent offense.Item type:Item, George Eugene Dodge, A Digest of the Laws and Ordinances of the City of Little Rock, with the Constitution of State of Arkansas, General Incorporation Laws, and All Acts of the General Assembly Relating to the City 176 (1871)(1871)This law adds an extra penalty for anyone who commits or provokes a breach of the peace while carrying weapons such as pistols, knives, or metal knuckles. If a person is found to have had such a weapon during the offense, they must pay an additional fine of at least $25 on top of the punishment for the disturbance. Repeat offenses result in doubled fines for each subsequent violation.Item type:Item, 1927 Ark. Acts 528(1927)§ 7: Prohibited shooting fish with a gun or other instrument. Also prohibited throwing, dropping or exploding any dynamite or other explosive in the waters of the state.Item type:Item, 1935 Ark. Acts 171-75(1935)Uniform Machine Gun Act, Act No. 80, §§ 1-14: Prohibited the possession of machine guns in crimes of violence, for offensive or aggressive purposes. The presence of a machine gun in any room, boat, or vehicle presumes ownership. Required registration of machine guns.Item type:Item, 1931 Ark. Acts 705-06(1931)This law broadly restricts machine guns by prohibiting their transportation, sale, distribution, and possession, including allowing others to store or keep them. It also requires that any machine guns be registered with the Secretary of State. Anyone who violates these provisions faces fines ranging from $100 to $1,000.Item type:Item, 1909 Ark. Acts 810(1909)Prohibited any person, firm, or corporation from giving away, selling, offering for sale, making, or manufacturing any toy pistol, fire cracker, or gun that shoots blank cartridges. Also prohibited receiving, owning, carrying, or shooting any such item.Item type:Item, 1868 Ark. Acts 218(1868)Acts of the General Assembly of Arkansas, § 13: Any person who draws a pistol, gun, or any other deadly weapon on any other person or citizen for the purpose of frightening or intimidation from lawful acts when not justified in self-defense. Violators guilty of a high misdemeanor, fined not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars, and imprisoned for twelve months.Item type:Item, 1881 Ark. Acts 191-92(1881)Prohibited the carrying of any dirk, Bowie knife, sword, spear cane, metal knuckles, razor, or any pistol (except pistols that are used in the Army or Navy if carried openly in the hand). Prohibited selling, bartering, exchanging, disposing of, or furnishing any dirk, Bowie-knife, sword, spear-cane, brass or metal knuckles, any pistol, or any cartridge for any pistol. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor.Item type:Item, 1907 Ark. Acts 810(1907)Prohibited aiding and abetting of every person who shall draw a pistol, gun, or other deadly weapon upon any other person or shall serve or give notice either verbal or in writing to any other person or shall place notice upon the door or about the premises of any other person for the purpose of frightening or intimidating him from doing any lawful act.Violators guilty of a misdemeanor, fined not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars and imprisoned in county jail for twelve months.Item type:Item, 1 William W. Mansfield, A Digest of the Statutes of Arkansas: Embracing All Laws of a General and Permanent Character in Force at the Close of the Session of the General Assembly of One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty-Three 490, § 1909 (1884)(1884)Prohibited the sale, barter, exchange, disposal or furnishing, or keeps any dirk, Bowie-knife, sword or spear in a cane, brass or metal knuckles, or any kind of pistol or cartridge. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor.Item type:Item, 1868 Ark. Acts 218(1868)Acts of the General Assembly of Arkansas, § 12: Any person who threatens or draws a pistol, gun, or other deadly weapon upon a sheriff or other officer executing a civil or criminal process shall be deemed guilty of a felony, imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than one nor more than five years.Item type:Item, 1874-75 Ark. Acts 156-57(1875)Prohibited the carrying in public of any "pistol, gun, knife, dirk, bludgeon, or other offensive weapon, with intent to assault any person." Punishable by a fine of $25-100.Item type:Item, Ark. Const. of 1868, art. I, § 5 (retained in 1874 Ark. Const.).(1868)Provided the people a right to keep and bear arms for their common defenseItem type:Item, 1838 Ark. Rev. Stat. 280(1838)§ 13: Prohibited the concealed carry of any pistol, dirk, butcher, large knife, or sword-cane. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor, fined not less than twenty-five no more than one hundred dollars and shall be imprisoned not less than one nor more than six months.Item type:Item, Josiah Gould, A Digest of the Statutes of Arkansas Embracing All Laws of a General and Permanent Character in Force the Close of the Session of the General Assembly of 1856, at 380-82 (1837)(1837)Prohibited the concealed carrying of any pistol, dirk, butcher or large knife, sword cane, unless "upon a journey."Item type:Item, 1838 Ark. Rev. Stat. 587(1838)§ 18: Provided that every gun, rifle, weapon of any kind, ammunition found in the possession of any "free negro or mulatto" not having a license may be seized and violators fined not exceeding twenty dollars.Item type:Item, Josiah Gould, A Digest of the Statutes of Arkansas, Embracing All Laws of a General and Permanent Character in Force at the Close of the Session of the General Assembly of 1856, at 374-75 (1858)(1855)Prohibited hunting with a gun with intent to kill game or shoot for amusement on the Sabbath day. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor, fined not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars.Item type:Item, 1838 Ark Rev. Stat. 733-34(1837)§ 23: Prohibited possession of offensive or defensive weapon without written permission of his master. Violators shall have the weapon seized and whipped not exceeding thirty stripes.