Vermont

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Vermont

This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Vermont. It supports research on the state’s firearms history, technology, law, policy, and culture from the colonial and Republic of Vermont periods through statehood to the present.

Legal sources: statutes and session laws, administrative rules, attorney general opinions, appellate decisions, and select municipal ordinances.
Historical materials: newspapers, photographs, maps, catalogs, militia and frontier records, manufacturing and forestry archives, and oral histories tied to Vermont 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 - 32 of 32

1786 Vt. Acts & Laws 6
(1786)
Kept the minimum militia age at 16, but lowered the maximum age to 45. The gun mandate was changed to "a good musket or firelock." The bayonet was now mandatory. Made separate provisions for horsemen; each dragoon had to provide "a case of good pistols, a sword or cutlass not less than three and one half feet in length," plus a pound of gunpowder, "three pounds of sizeable bullets," and eight flints. Since horsemen would have at least two guns (the pair of handguns) they needed a bigger supply of flints.
Vermont State Papers, Being a Collection of Records and Documents, Connected with the Assumption and Establishment of Government by the People of Vermont 305 (1823)
(1779)
Provided that "all male persons, from sixteen years of age to fifty, shall bear arms." The firearm could be "a well fixed firelock, the barrel not less than three feet and a half long, or other good fire-arms." The edged arm was to be "a good sword, cutlass, tomahawk or bayonet." For cleaning, a soldier or "other householder" needed "a worm, and priming-wire, fit for each gun." Suitable ammunition storage for a solider could be with "a cartouch box, or powder-horn and bullet-pouch." Adequate supplies were at least a pound of gun powder, four pounds of bullets, "and six good flints."
1786 Vt. Acts & Laws 8
(1793)
Every non-commissioned officer and private had to "constantly keep himself provided with a good musket, with an iron or steel rod, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, a priming wire and brush, and a knapsack; a cartridge box and pouch, with a box therein, sufficient to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges suited to the bore of his musket."Horsemen were required to provide themselves with "a pair of pistols, and sabre, and cartridgebox to contain twelve cartridges for pistols."665 Cavalry officers needed "a pair of pistols, and sword."
Vt. Const. ch. 1, § XV
(1777)
Declared a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state.
1786 Vt. Acts, Oct. Sess. 30
(1793)
Every non-commissioned officer and private had to "constantly keep himself provided with a good musket, with an iron or steel rod, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, a priming wire and brush, and a knapsack; a cartridge box and pouch, with a box therein, sufficient to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges suited to the bore of his musket."664 Horsemen were required to provide themselves with "a pair of pistols, and sabre, and cartridge box to contain twelve cartridges for pistols."665 Cavalry officers needed "a pair of pistols, and sword."
Vermont State Papers, Being a Collection of Records and Documents, Connected with the Assumption and Establishment of Government by the People of Vermont 305 (1823)
(1779)
Provided that "all male persons, from sixteen years of age to fifty, shall bear arms." The firearm could be "a well fixed firelock, the barrel not less than three feet and a half long, or other good fire-arms." The edged arm was to be "a good sword, cutlass, tomahawk or bayonet." For cleaning, a soldier or "other householder" needed "a worm, and priming-wire, fit for each gun." Suitable ammunition storage for a solider could be with "a cartouch box, or powder-horn and bullet-pouch." Adequate supplies were at least a pound of gun powder, four pounds of bullets, "and six good flints."
1786 Vt. Acts, Oct. Sess. 6
(1786)
Kept the minimum militia age at 16, but lowered the maximum age to 45. The gun mandate was changed to "a good musket or firelock." The bayonet was now mandatory. Made separate provisions for horsemen; each dragoon had to provide "a case of good pistols, a sword or cutlass not less than three and one half feet in length," plus a pound of gunpowder, "three pounds of sizeable bullets," and eight flints.656 Since horsemen would have at least two guns (the pair of handguns) they needed a bigger supply of flints.
1908 Vt. Acts & Resolves 132-33
(1908)
No. 147, § 1: No person shall at any time hunt, shoot, pursue, take or kill any of the wild animals, wild fowl or birds of this state, nor use a gun for hunting the same, without having first procured a license therefor as hereinafter provided, and then only during the respective periods of the year when it shall be lawful, and subject to all the provisions of chapter 220 of the Public Statutes
1900 Vt. Acts and Resolves 210
(1900)
No. 178, § 10, pt. 15: To regulate and restrain the use and sale of rockets, squibs, fire-crackers, toy pistols, or other fire-works within the village, also guns, cannon and explosives.
Act of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Village of Northfield 20 (1894)
(1894)
Severely restricted the ability to discharge firearms in Northfield.
Charter and Ordinances of the City of Barre 116–17 (1904) (enacted 1895)
(1895)
Ch. 38, § 7: No person shall carry within the city any steel or brass knuckles, pistol, slung shot, stilletto, or weapon of similar character, nor carry any weapon concealed on his person without permission of the mayor or chief of police in writing."
1890 Vt. Acts & Resolves 83
(1890)
No. 82, § 19, pt. 15: Granted the village the power to restrain the use of firecrackers, rockets, squibs, and toy pistols in the village.
Leon G. Bagley, Charter and Ordinances of the City of Rutland 153 (1894)
(1894)
Ch. 20, § 19: No person shall, except in the performance of some duty required by law, discharge any gun, pistol, or other fire arm loaded with ball or shot, or with powder only, or squibs, or fire-crackers, serpent, or other preparation whereof gun-powder or other explosive substance is an ingredient, or which consists wholly of the same, within the principal inhabited parts of the city, or within twenty-five rods of any dwelling-house therein, nor shall make any bonfire in or upon any street, lane, common or public place within the city, except by authority of the city council.
Ch. 13, § 21; Ch. 22, §§ 14-15; Ch. 35, § 7, in St. Albans Daily Messenger Supplement, Aug. 7, 1897, at 1, 3-10
(1897)
No person, except on his own premises, or by the consent of the owner or occupant of the premises, or in the performance of some duty required by law, shall discharge any gun, pistol or other firearm loaded with ball or shot, or with powder only, or squibs or fire-crackers, serpent, or other preparation whereof gun-powder or other explosive substance is an ingredient, or which consists wholly of the same, within the principal inhabited parts of the city, or within twenty-five rods of any dwelling house therein, nor shall make any bonfire in or upon any street, lane or public place within the city, except by permission of the city council
1900 Vt. Acts and Resolves 145
(1900)
No. 162, § 42: Said board of fire wardens may inspect the manner of manufacturing and keeping gun powder, lime, ashes, matches, lights, fireworks or combustibles[.]
Charter and Ordinances of the City of Barre 48, 53 (1904) (enacted 1895)
(1895)
Ch. 14, § 18: No person, except on his own premises, or by the consent and permission of the owner or occupant of the premises, and except in the performance of some duty required by law, shall discharge any gun, pistol, or other fire arm loaded with ball or shot, or with powder only, or firecrackers, serpent, or other preparation whereof gunpowder or other explosive substance is an ingredient, or which consists wholly of the same, nor shall make any bonfire in or upon any street, lane, common or public place within the city, except by authority of the city council.
1884 Vt. Acts & Resolves 74
(1884)
An Act Relating To Traps, § 1: Prohibited the setting of any spring gun trap. Punishable by a fine of $50-500 and liability for twice the amount of any damage resulting from the trap.
1891 Vt. Acts & Resolves 95
(1891)
Ch. 8: Prohibited the carry of any firearms, dirk knife, bowie knife, dagger, or other dangerous or deadly weapon shall while "a member of and in attendance upon any school." Violators fined not exceeding twenty dollars.
Leon G. Bagley, Charter and Ordinances of the City of Rutland 193 (1894)
(1894)
Ch. 22, § 40: No person shall keep in any building or place within the city, excepting in such magazine or place of storage as may be provided by or under the direction of the city council, any greater quantity than twenty-five pounds of gunpowder, nitro-glycerine or other like compound for a longer period than twenty-four hours.
Act of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Village of Bradford 12-13 (1891)
(1891)
Provided that the trustees may grant revocable licenses to store and sell specified quantities of gunpowder, gun cotton, or other explosives under strict storage, signage, location, and inspection regulations, with unlicensed possession of excess amounts subject to a daily five-dollar fine.
1894 Vt. Stat. 918, tit. 32, ch. 225, § 5155 (enacted 1895)
(1882)
A person who has in his possession a toy pistol for the explosion of percussion caps or blank cartridges, with intent to sell or give away the same, or sells or gives away, or offers to sell or give away the same, shall be fined not more than ten nor less than five dollars; and shall be liable for all damages resulting from such selling or giving away, to be recovered in an action on the case.
Act of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Village of Northfield 19-20 (1984)
(1894)
Provided that to store powder or gun-cotton within the village, individuals must obtain and record a Trustee-approved license, display a designated warning sign, permit inspections, and adhere to strict quantity limits and metal container rules.
1849 Vt. Acts & Resolves 26
(1849)
Prohibited the manufacture, sale, giving, or disposing of any instrument or weapon usually known as a slungshot, and prohibited the carrying any slungshot or similar weapon. Violators guilty of misdemeanor, punishable by fine not exceeding five hundred but not less than two hundred dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding two years.
1779 Vt. Acts & Resolves 59
(1779)
An Act for Forming and Regulating the Militia; and for Encouragement of Military Skill, for the Better Defense of This State: That every listed soldier and other householder, shall always be provided with, and have in constant readiness, a well fixed firelock, the barrel not less than three feet and a half long, or other good firearms, to the satisfaction of the commissioned officers of the company to which he doth belong, or in the limits of which he dwells; a good sword, cutlass, tomahawk or bayonet; a worm, and priming wire, fit for each gun
1865 Vt. Acts & Resolves 213
(1865)
No. 141, § 10: Authorizing Village of Rutland to appoint fire wardens to inspect the manufacture and keeping of gun powder, lime, ashes, matches, lights, fireworks, and other combustibles; authorized said fire wardens to order the persons mfring or keeping the gun powder to keep in a specified manner if they deem the manufacture or keeping unsafe.
1787 Vt. Acts & Resolves 67
(1787)
An Act for the Punishment of Divers Capital and Other Felonies, § 4: That whoever shall be guilty of Burglary, by breaking open any dwelling-house, or shop, wherein are deposited goods, wares, or merchandize, or shall commit Robbery, if in the perpetration of said crimes the person or persons committing the same shall be guilty of any personal abuse or violence, or shall be so armed with any dangerous weapon as clearly to indicate their violent intentions; such persons found guilty as aforesaid, and being thereof convicted before the Supreme Court, shall suffer death.
1818 Vt. Acts & Resolves 64-65
(1818)
An Act Regulating and Governing the Militia of This State, § 42: No noncommissioned officer, private or citizen shall unnecessarily fire a gun, single musket or pistol, in any public road, or near any house or place of parade, on the evening preceding, on the day or evening of the same, on which any troop company, battalion or regiment shall be ordered to assemble for military duty
Vermont State Papers 307 (1823)
(1779)
Required every listed soldier and other householder to be provided and have in constant readiness: a firearm, blade weapon, gunpowder, bullets, and cleaning equipment.
1876 Vt. Acts & Resolves 357
(1876)
No. 192, § 10, pt. 8: To regulate the manufacture and keeping of gunpowder, ashes and all other dangerous and combustible material.
1852 Acts & Resolves of Vermont, 25
(1852)
No. 24, An Act to Prevent Traffic in Intoxicating Liquors for the Purpose of Drinking, §15: It shall be the duty of any sheriff, sheriff's deputy, constable, selectman, or grand juror, if he shall have information that any intoxicating liquor is kept or sold in any tent, shanty, hut or place of any kind for selling refreshments in any public place, except dwelling houses, on or near the ground of any cattle show, agricultural exhibition, military muster or public occasion of any kind, to search such suspected place without warrant, and if such officer shall find upon the premises any intoxicating liquor, he shall seize and apprehend the keeper or keepers of such place, and take them, with the liquor so found and seized, forthwith, or as soon as conveniently may be, before some justice of the peace of the town in which the same was found
1837 Vt. Acts & Resolves 38
(1837)
An Act for Regulating and Governing the Militia of This State, ch. 9, art. 20: Every non commissioned officer and private, who shall neglect to keep himself armed and equipped as provided by this act, or who shall, at any time of examination, or any company training, in the month of June, be destitute, or appear unprovided with the arms and equipments herein directed, excepting as before excepted, shall pay a fine not exceeding seventy-five cents for a gun, and twenty-five cents for each and every other article, in which he shall be delinquent; or if he shall appear with his arms in an unfit condition, he shall be fined not exceeding seventy-five cents, at the discretion of his commanding officer.
1878 Vt. Acts & Resolves 30
(1878)
No. 14, § 3: Any tramp, who shall enter or attempt to enter any dwelling-house or premises against the will of the owner or occupant thereof, or having entered any house or premises, shall persist in remaining therein against the will of the owner or occupant thereof, or shall kindle any fire in any outbuilding, school-house, or any other public or unoccupied building, or on the land of any person, or in the public highway adjoining the lands of such person between the first days of May and the first days of December in each year, without the consent of the owner or occupant thereof, or shall be found carrying any firearm or other dangerous weapon, or who shall threaten to injure any person or the property of any person, real or personal, shall be punished by imprisonment at hard labor in the state prison, or state work-house, for a term not exceeding two years, or by a fine payable to the treasurer of the State not exceeding one hundred dollars, together with the costs of prosecution.

Vermont

Vermont

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