North Carolina

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North Carolina

This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to North Carolina. 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, militia and frontier records, coastal and naval stores archives, manufacturing and law-enforcement collections, and oral histories tied to North Carolina 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 49

1866 N.C. Sess. Laws Priv. Sess. 63
(1856)
Imposed a $50 tax on all weapons.
1860-61 N.C. Sess. Laws 219-20
(1860)
Priv. Laws, ch. 180, § 1: Granted the town of Wilmington the authority to levy and collect taxes annually on all pistols, dirks, Bowie-knives, or sword-canes if worn about the person at any time during the year, as well as all pistol galleries.
1862-1863 N.C. Sess. Laws 60
(1862)
Priv. Laws, Adj. Sess., ch. 49, § 9: [T]hey may prohibit and prevent by practices the riding or driving of horses or other animals at a speed greater than six miles an hour, within the city; and also the firing of guns, pistols, crackers, gun powder or other explosive, combustible or dangerous materials in the streets, public grounds, or elsewhere within the city.
Regulations and Ordinances, Together with a Statement of the Various Acts, Ordinances and Resolutions Concerning the Town of Salem, N.C., from 1856 to 1896, at 5 (1896)
(1896)
§ 7: No person shall fire a gun or pistol for the purpose of sport or amusement, nor shoot or discharge any sling shot, or other projectile unless by written consent of the Mayor. Fine Ten Dollars for Each offense]
Laws for the Government of the City of Raleigh 63 (1854)
(1854)
§ 6: No person shall discharge any gun or other fire-arms within any of the streets or public squares of the city, or upon any lot of the same, (excepting his own lot,) on pain of forfeiting four dollars for every such offence. Or, if the offence be committed in the night, the offender shall forfeit twenty-five dollars
1871-1872 N.C. Sess. Laws 113
(1871)
Priv. Laws, ch. 72, § 4: That any person who shall willfully . . . shoot or discharge any gun or other firearms within the limits thereof shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction before any justice of the peace of the county of Pasquotank, shall be fined at the discretion of the court and be moreover liable to the company for the damage done by such act.
1868-69 N.C. Sess. Laws 202
(1868)
Priv. Laws, ch. 123, § 18: Granted the Board the power to levy and collect taxes on all pistols, except when part of stock in trade. Also on all dirks, Bowie-knives, and sword-canes if worn on the person at any time during the year. Tax not to exceed one dollar.
1865-66 N.C. Sess. Laws 22
(1866)
Priv. Laws, ch. 7, § 64: That they may prohibit and prevent, by penalties, . . . and also the firing of guns, pistols, crackers, gun-powder or other explosive, combustible or dangerous materials in the streets, public grounds, or elsewhere within the city."
1885 N.C. Sess. Laws 1010
(1885)
Priv. Laws, ch. 103, § 6: That it shall be a misdemeanor for any one to fire off a gun or pistol in the limits of the incorporation while occupied in worship
1891 N.C. Sess. Laws 775
(1891)
Ch. 52, § 27.: That they may prohibit the firing of any gun, pistol, fire-cracker, gunpowder, other materials or other dangerous combustibles in the streets, public grounds or elsewhere in said town.
1885 N.C. Sess. Laws 382
(1885)
Pub. Laws, ch. 207, §§ 1-2: That nothing in section two thousand eight hundred and thirty-four of The Code shall be so construed as to prevent the farmers in Pamlico county from shooting larks, doves and partridges on their own premises, when the same are doing injury to their crops.
1868-69 N.C. Sess. Laws 96, 101-102
(1869)
Priv. Laws, ch. 79, § 25: The commissioners may prevent by penalties the firing of guns, pistols, crackers, gunpowder or other explosive materials in the streets or corporate limits.
1879 N.C. Sess. Laws 360
(1879)
Ch. 204, §§ 1-6: It shall be unlawful to take any fish of the kind known as perch or bream by shooting or netting in the day time or in any manner by fire light from any of said streams between the first day of May and the fifteenth day of August in each year.
1869-70 N.C. Sess. Laws 234-35
(1870)
Priv. Laws, ch. 23, § 32: That it shall not he lawful for any person to discharge fire-arms within the bounds of said town, except on muster days or other service, and persons offending against this regulation shall be fined not more than five dollars, or imprisoned not to exceed ten days; but double this penalty shall be enforced if the offence be committed in the night; one half to the informer the other half to the town."
1893 N.C. Sess. Laws 348
(1893)
Priv. Laws, ch. 221, § 5: That it shall be a misdemeanor for any one while a congregation is assembled at the church for any social, religious, political or educational purposes, or while any such congregation is breaking and leaving, to fire any gun or pistol, to throw anything by which any one might be hurt, to cut loose any animal, or commit any damage to any article of personal property; and for every such offence, on conviction, the offender shall be fined ten dollars.
1889 N.C. Sess. Laws 820
(1889)
Ch. 178, § 3: That it shall be a misdemeanor for any person to . . . fire off a gun or pistol in hearing distance of those assembled for or occupied in divine worship at said church.
1881 N.C. Sess. Laws 731
(1881)
Ch. 40, § 43: The Board of Aldermen�shall have power to make ordinances to prohibit or control the firing of fire-arms, fire crackers, torpedoes and other explosive material, and to govern the sale thereof in the city
1865-66 N.C. Sess. Laws 69-70
(1866)
Priv. Laws, ch. 7, § 30: That the said board of aldermen shall have power to make from time to time, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning the firing of fire-arms, and all explosions in said city, the pace and speed at which horses may be driven or rode through the streets, the arrangements of stove-pipes in buildings, the mode in which fire shall be kept, or carried through the city, the manner in which powder and other explosive and inflammable substances may be kept and sold
1879 N.C. Sess. Laws 54-55
(1879)
Priv. Laws, Ch. 46, §§ 1-4: That it shall not be lawful for any person in the hunting of wild fowl in Carteret county to use any gun other than can be fired from the shoulder.
1899 N.C. Sess. Laws 250
(1899)
Pub. Laws, ch. 120, § 1: That it shall be unlawful for any person wantonly or in sport to shoot or discharge any gun or pistol in or within one hundred yards of any street in any public road leading out of the towns of Sparta in Alleghany county and Jefferson in Ashe county for a distance of one-fourth mile from the court houses in said towns
1869-70 N.C. Sess. Laws 85
(1870)
Pub. Laws, ch. 42, § 1: That if any person whatsoever shall hunt or shoot wild fowl in the county of Currituck on the Sabbath day, or hunt them on any day of the week after the hour of sundown or before daylight in the morning with guns or fire, or use any gun other than can be fired from the shoulder, or build or use any blinds, boxes or batteries in any of the waters away from the marshes or shores proper, from and after thirty days after the passage of this act, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
1865-66 N.C. Sess. Laws 63
(1866)
Priv. Laws, ch. 7, § 19: Granted the Board of Aldermen the power to levy a fifty dollar tax on every pistol, Bowie-knife, dirk, sword-cane, or any other deadly weapon worn upon the person except a pocket knife without special permission from the aldermen.
1893 N.C. Sess. Laws 468-69
(1893)
Pub. Laws, ch. 514, §§ 1-2: Prohibiting the transfer of any pistol, pistol cartridge, brass knucks, Bowie knife, dirk, loaded cane, or slingshot to a minor.
1876-1877 N.C. Sess. Laws 162-63
(1876)
ch. 104, § 1: Prohibited the concealed carry of any pistol, Bowie-knife, dirk, dagger, slung-shot, loaded cane, brass knuckles, iron knuckles, or other deadly weapon of a like kind. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor.
1893 N.C. Sess. Laws 148
(1893)
Pub. Laws, ch. 191, §§ 1-3: That no body of men composed of more than three persons calling themselves detectives or claiming to be in the employ of any detective agency or known and designated as detectives shall go armed in this state.
1893, N.C. Sess. Laws 356-57
(1893)
Pub. Laws, ch. 374, § 38: It shall be unlawful for any persons to organize a military company, or drill or parade under arms as a military body, except under the militia laws and regulations of this state; and no person shall exercise or attempt to exercise the power or authority of a military officer in this state unless he holds a commission from the governor, and any person offending against this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined or imprisoned at the discretion of the court.
1876-77 N.C. Sess. Laws 606
(1877)
Resolution of Mar. 6, 1877, N.C. Pub. Laws 606 (Resolution in Relation to Public Arms): That the adjutant general be required to collect and deposit in the state arsenal, such arms and equipments belonging to the state as are now in unauthorized hands, whereever they may be found, and that the necessary expenses of travel, freight and drayage, incident thereto, be paid by the treasurer of the state upon the warrant of the governor.
1883 N.C. Sess. Laws 819-20
(1883)
Ch. 96, § 3: That if any person after crossing said bridge shall refuse to pay toll, or shall drive rapidly, or ride at a trot, gallop or run, or discharge firearms at the bridge, the same shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction before a justice of the peace in Catawba or Iredell county
1876-77 N.C. Sess. Laws 53
(1877)
Ch. 4, §§ 1-2: That if any person shall cast, or throw, or shoot, any stone, rock, bullet, shot, pellet, or other missile, at, against, or into, any railroad car, locomotive, or train, while the said car or locomotive shall be in progress from one station to another, or while the said car, locomotive or train shall be stopped for any purpose, with intent to injure said car or locomotive, or any person therein or thereon, the person so offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine or imprisonment in the county jail, or the State prison, at the discretion of the Court.
1889 N.C. Sess. Laws 502
(1889)
Ch. 527, § 1: That it shall be unlawful for any person to point any gun or pistol at any person, either in fun or otherwise, whether such gun or pistol be loaded or not loaded.
1879 N.C. Sess. Laws 231
(1879)
Ch. 127, §§ 1-2: Prohibited the concealed carry of any pistol, Bowie-knife, dirk, dagger, slung-shot, loaded cane, brass knuckles, iron knuckles, metal knuckles, or other deadly weapon of a like kind. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor.
1887 N.C. Sess. Laws 885
(1885)
Ch. 58, § 22, pt. 50: Imposed a twenty-five dollar property tax on every pistol, Bowie-knife, dirk, sword-cane, or other deadly weapon.
N.C. Const. of 1875, art. I, § 24
(1875)
Reiterated the terms of the US second amendment. Included a second portion declaring that standing armies are dangerous to liberty and ought not to be kept up. A third section declared that nothing herein contained shall justify carrying concealed weapons or prevent the legislature from enacting penal statutes against said practice.
1879 N.C. Sess. Laws 355-56
(1879)
Ch. 198, §§ 1-7: Any tramp who shall enter any dwelling house or kindle any fire on the highway or on the land of another without the consent of the owner or occupant thereof, or shall be found carrying any firearms or other dangerous weapon, or shall threaten to do any injury to any person or to the real or personal estate of another, shall be punished by imprisonment at the discretion of the court, not to exceed twelve months.
1868-69 N.C. Sess. Laws 59-60
(1868)
Pub. Laws, ch. 18, § 1: [I]f any person or persons whomsoever shall be known to hunt in this state on the Sabbath with a dog or dogs, or shall be found off of their premises on the Sabbath, having with him or them a shot-gun, rifle or pistol, he or they shall be subject to indictment; and, upon conviction, shall pay a fine not to exceed fifty dollars at the discretion of the Court, two-thirds of such fine to enure to the benefit of the free public schools in the County of which such convict is a resident, the remainder to the informant.
1861 N.C. Sess. Laws 25
(1861)
Pub. Laws, 2d. Extra Sess., ch. 17, § 10: Every resident enrolled and notified, as is directed in the third section of this act, shall within one month thereafter, provide himself with a good musket, smooth bore gun or rifle, shot pouch and powder horn, and shall appear so armed and accoutred when called out to exercise or in actual service; the commissioned officers shall severally be armed with a sword or revolver at his discretion
1874-75 N.C. Sess. laws 280
(1875)
Ch. 207, §§ 1-2: That the Adjutant General be and he is hereby authorized, and directed, under the direction of the Governor, to draw if practicable such additional breech loading Springfield rifles, muskets and the accoutrements therefor as the State is entitled to, not to exceed four hundred, and to issue the same under the provisions of chapter ninety-six, acts of one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three and one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, entitled an act to provide for and furnish arms to military schools.
1866-67 N.C. Sess. Laws 103
(1867)
Pub. Laws, ch. 72, § 14: Property tax of one dollar on every dirk, Bowie knife, pistol, sword cane, dirk cane, and rifle cane. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by forfeiture of the weapon.
1868-69 N.C. Sess. Laws 407-08
(1868)
Pub. Laws, ch. 167, § 7: Every person who commits any assault upon the person of another, with any deadly or dangerous weapon, or who unlawfully shoots or attempts to shoot at another with any kind of fire-arms, with intent to injure any person, without intent to kill such person or to commit any felony, shall be punished upon conviction, by imprisonment in the State's prison not exceeding five years.
1871-72 N.C. Pub. Laws, 115
(1872)
Ch. 68, §§ 1-4: That if any person shall hunt for with gun, or chase with a dog, or shall kill or destroy any deer running wild in the woods, between the fifteenth day of January and the first day of September next thereafter ensuing, unless in an enclosure surrounded by a sufficient fence, at least five feet high, and where such person shall have a lawful right so to do, the person so offending shall pay a penalty of fifty dollars

North Carolina

North Carolina

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