North Carolina
Permanent URL for this collectionhttps://dspace.firearmsresearchcenter.org/id/frc0001/4818
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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Item type:Item, 1782 N.C. Sess. Laws 413-14(1782)Created a draft for the Continental Army. Subject to the draft were "all the inhabitants ... between the ages of sixteen and fifty." To prevent the widespread community practice of filling draft ranks with the most vulnerable and least motivated, the act specified that "no British or Hessian deserter who hath not been a resident of this State twelve months, or orphan or apprentice under eighteen years of age, Indian, sailor or negro slave, shall be received as a substitute for any class volunteer or draft whatever."Item type:Item, 1792 N.C. Sess. Laws 33-34(1792)The minimum age remained 18, while the maximum dropped to 45. The mandatory arms paralleled the federal statute. Each infantryman was required to "provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, a knapsack, a pouch with a box therein to contain not less than 24 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, 20 balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder."Item type:Item, 1777 N.C. Sess. Laws 1(1777)The Militia of every County shall consist of all the effective men from sixteen to fifty years of age.Item type:Item, 1746 N.C. Sess. Laws 244(1746)Mandated that each militiaman appear with "a Gun, fit for service, a Cartouch Box, and a Sword, Cutlass, or Hanger [a type of sword], and at least Twelve Charges of Powder and Bail, or Swan Shot, and Six Spare FlintsItem type:Item, 1715 N.C. Sess. Laws 29(1715)The Militia of this Government shall consist of all the Freemen within the same between the years of Sixteen years & Sixty. This included free blacks. Each militiaman had to provide himself with "a good Gun well-fixed Sword & at least Six Charges of Powder & Ball."Item type:Item, 1760 N.C. Sess. Laws 518(1760)"[T]hat all Freemen and Servants within this Province, between the Age of Sixteen and Sixty ... there be mustered, trained, and exercised in Arms, and be provided with a well-fixed Gun, shall forfeit and Pay, if at a private Muster, Six Shillings, if at a general Muster Ten Shillings; and shall also be provided with a Cartouch-Box, a Sword, Cutlass or Hanger, and have at least Nine charges of Powder (made into Cartridges) and sizeable Bullets or Swan Shot, and Three spare-flints, a Worm, a Picker..."Item type:Item, 1715 N.C. Sess. Laws 30(1715)"And Be It Further Enacted by the Authority afors'd that all such persons who by this Act are exempt from Enlisting themselves or appearing at Muster as afors'd shall be ready at any time of danger to wait & attend the commands of the Governor or Commander in Chief for the time being completely provided with Arms & Ammunition on Penalty of Ten Pounds for such neglect to be levied by Warrant from the Governor or Commander in Chief as before in this Act is appointed for other times."Item type:Item, 23 W. Clark, State Records of North Carolina 63 (1904)(1715)Ch. 46, An Act Concerning Servants & Slaves: Directed "that every Christian Servant shall be allowed by their Master or Mistress at the expitation of his or her time of srvice Three Barrells of Indyan Corn & two new Suits of Apparrel of the Value of Five ounds at leasr or in liey of one suit of Apparrel a good well-fixed Gun, if he bwe a Manservant."Item type:Item, 1787 N.C. Sess. Laws 813-14(1787)The militia law kept the militia as "all freemen and indented servants within this State, from eighteen to fifty years of age." The required arms and equipment were now more specific and varied by role in the militia. For commissioned officers in the infantry, "side arms" (handguns) "or a spontoon" (a pole arm). For private and non-commissioned officers, a musket or rifle, plus a cartridge box, powder horn, shot pouch "in good condition," "nine charges of powder made into cartridges with sizeable balls or swan-shot," a spare flint, and one worm and picker. As for artillerymen, they "shall be armed and accoutred with small arms in the same manner of the infantry, except the non-commissioned officers, who shall have swords instead of fire-arms." Horsemen, whether officers or privates, needed "a strong, serviceable horse, at least fourteen hands high, with a good saddle, bridle, holsters, one pistol, horseman's sword and cap, a pair of shoe boots and spurs," plus "a proper cartouch-box and cartridges all in good order."Item type:Item, 1785 N.C. Sess. Laws 710-11(1785)Raised the minimum militia age to 18. Militiamen included "all freemen and indented servants" (but not servants for life, a/k/a slaves). Militiamen had to arm themselves with "a well fixed gun and cartouch-box, with nine charges of powder made into cartridges and sizeable bullets or swan-shot, and one spare flint, worm and picker.Item type:Item, 1792 N.C. Sess. Laws 33(1792)The minimum age remained 18, while the maximum dropped to 45. The mandatory arms paralleled the federal statute. Each infantryman was required to "provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, a knapsack, a pouch with a box therein to contain not less than 24 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, 20 balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder."Item type:Item, America's Founding Charters: Primary Documents of Colonial and Revolutionary Era Governance 232 (Jon L. Wakelyn ed. 2006) (Concessions and Agreements, Jan. 11, 1664)(1664)All inhabitants and freemen of Carolina above seventeen years of age and under sixty shall be bound to bear arms and serve as soldiers whenever the grand council shall find it necessary."Item type:Item, 1760 N.C. Sess. Laws 521(1760)Every trooper (horseman) needed "Holsters, Housing, Breast-Plate and Crupper, a Case of good Pistols, a good Broad Sword, Twelve Charges of Powder, Twelve sizeable Bullets, a Pair of Shoe-Boots, with suitable Spurs, and a Carbine well fixed, with a good Belt, Swivel and Bucket."Item type:Item, 1770 N.C. Sess. Laws 787-88(1770)Eliminated a conscientious objector exemption and ordered "all Male Persons of the people called Quakers, between the age of Sixteen and Sixty" to enlist in the militia. Additionally, the act provided that "the Father or where there is no Father living, the Mother of each and every Person under the age of Twenty One Years, shall be liable to the Payment of the Fines becoming due from their respective sons so under age."Item type:Item, 1779 N.C. Sess. Laws 191-2(1779)[E]ach Militia Soldier [had to] be furnished with a Good Gun, Shot bag a Cartouch Box or powder Horn, a Cutlass or Tomahawk.Item type:Item, 1777 N.C. Sess. Laws 1(1777)The Militia of every County shall consist of all the effective men from sixteen to fifty years of age.Item type:Item, Acts of the General Assembly and Ordinances of the Trustees for the Organization and Government of the University of North Carolina 16 (1838)(1838)Ch. 5, §§ 20-24: Every Student who shall send to any person a challenge or message, either in writing or otherwise, purporting to be a challenge to fight a duel, shall be expelled.Item type:Item, Acts of the General Assembly and Ordinances of the Trustees for the Organization and Government of the University of North Carolina 15 (1838)(1838)Ch. 5, § 13: Prohibited students from keeping any firearms or gunpowder at the college. Prohibited keeping, carrying, or owning any sword, dirk, sword-cane, or other deadly weapon. Prohibited use of firearms without the permission of the college president.Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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]Item type:Item, 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 dollarsItem type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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."Item type:Item, 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 worshipItem type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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."Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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 cityItem type:Item, 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 soldItem type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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 townsItem type:Item, 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 misdemeanorItem type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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.