Delaware

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Delaware

This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Delaware. 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, shipbuilding and manufacturing records, and oral histories tied to Delaware 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 - 37 of 37

1781 Del. Acts 1, 3
(1781)
Required most taxpaying men ages 18–50 to purchase and maintain militia arms and equipment at their own expense, imposing fines for noncompliance while exempting certain occupations and individuals.
2 Del. Laws 1134 (1797)
(1793)
Included "each and every free able bodied white male citizen of this state, who is or shall be of the age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years." However, "all young men under the age of twenty-one years, and all servants purchased bona fide, and for a valuable consideration, [were] exempted from furnishing the necessary arms, ammunition and accoutrements ... and [were] exempted from militia duties and fines during such minority or servitude, except in cases of rebellion, or an actual or threatened invasion."
2 Del. Laws 1225 (1797)
(1796)
Revised the organization and regulation of the militia, and again included able-bodied white males from 18 to 45. The act also forbade volunteer militias, because there were "a number of free able bodied white men in this state, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, who neglect and refuse to muster and do militia duty, in the companies in which they have been enrolled ... and yet meet together with arms in bodies distinguished and known by the name of Volunteer Companies."
2 Del. Laws 1134 (1797)
(1793)
Included " each and every free able bodied white male citizen of this state, who is or shall be of the age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years." However, " all young men under the age of twenty-one years, and all servants purchased bona fide, and for a valuable consideration, [were] exempted from furnishing the necessary arms, ammunition and accoutrements . . . and [were] exempted from militia duties and fines during such minority or servitude, except in cases of rebellion, or an actual or threatened invasion."
2 Del. Laws 1225 (1797)
(1796)
Revised the organization and regulation of the militia, and again included able-bodied white males from 18 to 45. The act also forbade volunteer militias, because there were " a number of free able bodied white men in this state, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, who neglect and refuse to muster and do militia duty, in the companies in which they have been enrolled . . . and yet meet together with arms in bodies distinguished and known by the name of Volunteer Companies."
George H. Ryden, Delaware - The First State in the Union 117 (1938)
(1741)
Required males from 17 to 50 years to enlist. Besides that, everyone else who was living self-sufficiently (" every Freeholder and taxable Person" ) had to have the same arms as militiamen.
George H. Ryden, Delaware - The First State in the Union 103-04 (1938)
(1671)
Required " That every Person that can beare Arms from 16 to 60 years of Age, bee allways provided with a convenient proportion of Powder & Bullett fit for Service, and their mutual Defence."
37 Del. Laws 813 (1931)
(1931)
Ch. 249, § 1: Prohibited a person from possessing a machine gun. Punishable by fine and/or imprisonment.
Game and Fish Laws of the State of Delaware 16 (1927)
(1927)
§ 2381A. Sec. 24A: Prohibited the use of any silencer or noise-reducing contrivance on any gun, rifle, or firearm when hunting game or fowl. Violators fined twenty dollars for each offense.
16 Del. Laws 716 (1879)
(1881)
Ch. 548, § 1: Prohibited the carrying of concealed deadly weapons or selling deadly weapons other than an ordinary pocket knife to minors. Punishable by a fine of $25-200 or imprisonment for 10-30 days.
26 Del. Laws 28-29 (1911)
(1911)
§ 2: Prohibited the sale of any pistol, revolver, pistol cartridges, revolver cartridges, stiletto, steel or brass knuckles, or other deadly weapons made especially for the defense of one's person, without having a license labeled "Special License to Sell Deadly Weapons." § 3: Prohibited the sale of firearms, ammunition, and other deadly weapons to minors and incompetent persons.
30 Del. Laws 484 (1919)
(1918)
Minors Under Fifteen Not to Use Gun Unless Accompanied by an Adult, § 2382 A. Sec. 25 A: Prohibited any minors under age fifteen from hunting game birds or game animals with a rifle or shotgun unless accompanied by an adult who is lawfully hunting.
30 Del. Laws 55-56 (1919)
(1919)
Prohibited the sale to any minor or intoxicated person, any revolver, pistol, revolver cartridge, pistol cartridge, stiletto, steel knuckles, brass knuckles, or other deadly weapons made for the defense of one's person.
1839 Del. Laws 263
(1893)
An Act for the Protection of Fish and Game In and on the Waters of the Delaware Bay and River, and The Streams, Tributary Thereto, Within the Limits of this State, ch. 216, § 1: Prohibited non-Delaware citizens from hunting, shooting, or killing any geese, ducks, fowls, birds, or other kind whatever. Violators forfeit the boat, vessel, and/or gun used to violate the act. Violators also shall pay a fine of two hundred dollars for each offense.
1893 Del. Rev. Stat. 432
(1893)
Prohibited trespassing on lands with a gun and/or a dog for the purpose of shooting birds or game. Violators shall pay a fine of five dollars and shall forfeit the gun until the fine is paid.
25 Del. Laws 577 (1909)
(1909)
House Joint Resolution Providing for Increase in Non-Resident Gunners License Fee, ch. 271: Imposed licensing requirement for non-residents who " make it a practice to gun " in the state.
26 Del. Laws 324 (1911)
(1911)
Of Fish, Oysters and Game, § 8: Prohibited the unlawful shooting or killing of any birds or animals protected by laws of the state using any device, swivel, punt gun, or any gun other than shouldered weapons raised at arm's length. Also prohibited hunting with the aid of artificial light or lantern, dog, or dogs equipped with bells or other noise-producing device.
27 Del. Laws 439 (1913)
(1913)
§ 18: Prohibited children under the age of 15 from being employed, permitted or suffered to work in any establishment manufacturing, compounding, or storing nitroglycerine, dynamite, dualin, guncotton, gunpowder, or other high or dangerous explosives.
1893 Del. Rev. Stat. 716
(1893)
Ch. 548: Prohibited the concealed carrying of deadly weapons or selling deadly weapons other than an ordinary pocket knife, and prohibited discharging any firearm in any public road. Punishable by fine of $25-100 or by imprisonment for 10-30 days.
37 Del. Laws 771 (1931)
(1931)
Ch. 225, § 1: Prohibited the carry of a gun while training dogs in a closed game season. Violators fined not less than nor more than one hundred dollars with costs of prosecution, and shall be committed to the County jail for thirty days unless the fine and costs are paid sooner.
1863 Del. Laws 332
(1863)
An Act in Relation to Free Negroes and Mulattoes, ch. 305, § 7: Prohibited any "free negroes and free mulattoes" from possessing a gun, pistol, sword, or any other warlike instrument, punishable by fine or imprisonment.
1863 Del. Laws 372
(1863)
An Act to Amend Chapter 55 of the Revised Code of the State of Delaware, Entitled "For The Protection Of Fish, Oysters and Game," chap. 328, § 10: Prohibited hunting in the state by anyone who is not a citizen of Delaware. Prohibited the hunting of any fish, wild goose, wild duck, or other wild fowl. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less fifty, nor more than one hundred dollars. Any boat or vessel, apparell, furniture, gun, decoy geese, or decoy ducks shall be forfeited.
2 Del. Laws 1136-37 (1797)
(1793)
Chapter 36-An Act for Establishing the Militia in this State, § 4: Required all citizens enrolled in the militia to arm themselves, within six months, with a good musket or firelock, a bayonet, belt, two spare flints, a knapsack, a pouch, and a box to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges and gunpowder suited to the bore of his gun, or twenty cartridges and a quarter-pound of gunpowder.
1829 Del. Laws 153 (Rev. ed.)
(1827)
An Act Concerning Crimes and Offenses Committed by Slaves, And For, The Security of Slaves Properly Demeaning Themselves, ch. 6, § 8: Prohibited "any negro or mulatto slave" from carrying any gun, pistol, sword, dirk, or unusual or dangerous weapons or arms without special permission.
1782 Del. Acts, Jan. Adjourned Sess. 1, 3
(1782)
An Act for Establishing a Militia Within this State, § 6: Required every person aged eighteen to fifty to provide a musket or firelock with a bayonet, a cartouch box with twenty-three cartridges, priming wire, a brush, and six flints all in good order. Also required providing the same from parents who are tax rated at eighteen pounds, or apprentices. Violators fined at twenty-shillings for ever two months neglect or default.
1861 Del. Laws 630
(1865)
An Act to Prevent the Loading of Gunpowder Within Certain Distances of Railroads, chap. 554, § 1: Prohibited loading gun powder into any rail cars within one hundred yards of the track used for carrying passengers.Violators fined one thousand dollars and imprisoned six months.
1874 Del. Rev. Stat. 249
(1874)
§ 5: Prohibited the discharge of a gun or pistol with any town, village, or within a mile of a town center, or within one mile of a "mill-dam" near a public road. Violators fined five dollars and jailed until the fine is paid.
8 Del. Laws 208 (1841)
(1832)
A Supplement to an Act to Prevent the Use of Firearms by Free Negroes and Free Mulattoes, and for Other Purposes, ch. 176, § 1: Prohibited "free negroes and free mulattoes" from having, owning, keeping, or possessing any gun, pistol, sword, or warlike instrument without permission of five or more citizens of the neighborhood.
1776 Del. Const. art. 9, 28
(1776)
Granted the state president to act as the captain-general and commander-in-chief of the militia and other military forces of the state.
1 Del. Laws 104 (1797)
(1797)
Ch. 43, § 6: Prohibited "any Negro or Mulatto slave" from carrying guns, swords, pistols, fowling pieces, clubs, or other arms and weapons without the master's special license.
1852 Del. Rev. Stat. 333
(1852)
§ 13: Authorized the justices of the peace to arrest and bind to surety all affrayers, breakers and disturbers of the peace, and all who go armed offensively to the terror of the people, or are otherwise disorderly and dangerous. Note as of 10/26: Duke left out a significant, material portion of this law. Affrayers, breakers and disturbers of the peace was not included on Duke's page.
9 Del. Laws 552 (1843)
(1843)
A Further Supplement to an Act Entitled "An Act to Prevent the Use of Fire-arms by Free Negroes and Free Mulattoes and for Other Purposes, § 1: Repealed laws allowing the Justice of the Peace to license or permit a "free negro or free mulatto" to have, use, or possess a gun or fowling piece.
1852 Del. Rev. Stat 215
(1852)
Tit. 10, ch. 73, § 27: to provide for the weighing of hay, and for the measuring, or weighing, of coal, lime, grain, or any other matter sold in the said city; to regulate the storage of gunpowder, or any other dangerously combustible matter.§
1835 Del. Laws 430 (Spec. Sess.)
(1841)
An Act Concerning Fees, ch. 368, § 1: Set payment for Justices of the Peace to receive 25 cents for each license issued to "negroes" to keep a firearm.
4 Del. Laws 522 (1812)
(1812)
An Act to Prevent the Discharging of Fire-Arms Within the Towns and Villages, and Other Public Places Within this State, and for Other Purposes. §1: Prohibited the discharge of any gun, ordinance, musket, fowling piece, fuse, or pistol in any town or village. When town limits cannot be ascertained, not within one quarter mile of the centre of such town or village, the greens, streets, alleys or lanes of any town or village.
An Act for Establishing a Militia in this Government (1756)
(1756)
Prohibited meeting of the militia within a half mile of a inn or tavern, and prohibited the sale of strong liquor within a half mile of the state militia.
Laws of the Government of New-Castle, Kent and Sussex Upon Delaware 171 (1741)
(1740)
"That every Freeholder and taxable Person residing in this Government (except such as are hereafter excepted) shall, on or before the First Day of March next, provide himself with the following Arms and Ammunition: One well fixed Musket or Firelock, one Cartouch-Box, with Twelve Charges of Gun-Powder and Ball therein, and Three good Flints, to be approved of by the Commanding Officer of the respective Company to which he belongs, and shall be obliged to keep such Arms and Ammunition by him, during the Continuance of this Act...."

Delaware

Delaware

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