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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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."
1778 Del. Acts, Mar. Adjourned Sess. 3-5
(1778)
Included "each and every able-bodied, effective, Male white Person between the Ages of Eighteen and Fifty." Militiamen had to provide their own "Musket or Firelock with a Bayonet," plus the cartridge box, cartridges, priming wire, brush, and six flints. For 18-to-20-year-olds who could not afford the mandatory arms, the parents had to provide them, if the parents could afford them.
1778 Del. Acts, Mar. Adjourned Sess. 1-3
(1778)
Another law punished people who bought from militiamen the arms or accoutrements that militiamen were supposed to always keep. If the illicit buyer were a man 18 to 50, the punishment could include six months' service in the militia.
1785 Del. Acts, May Adjourned Sess. 11-13
(1785)
Each white male 18-50 whose taxes were at least twenty shillings a year had to provide equipment " at his own expence." As for apprentices and persons over 18 and under 21, their parent or guardian would provide the arms" if the militiaman" s estate were at least eighty pounds, or if the parent paid " six pounds annually towards the public taxes." Arms were " a musket or firelock, with a bayonet," a cartridge box with twenty-three cartridges, " a priming wire, a brush and six flints, all in good order." Fines for neglect were to be paid by militiamen " of full age or by the parent or guardian of such as are under twenty-one years." The guardian could charge his ward for the expense when the time came for " settling the accounts of his guardianship."
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.
1 Del. Laws 175-76 (1797)
(1740)
Required " all the inhabitants and freemen" aged fifteen to sixty-three to " provide and keep . . . a well-fixed firelock or musket," plus ammunition supplies and cleaning tools.
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."
Report of the Board of Park Commissioners of Wilmington, Delaware For the Year 1897, at 24 (1898)
(1897)
Prohibited carry of firearms, shooting birds or other animals within the park, or throwing stones or missiles, or disturbing or annoying the birds or animals within Eden Park.
14 Del. Laws 620 (1871)
(1871)
§ 14: Placed a duty on commissioners, justices, and constables to suppress, extinguish, and prevent bonfires in the public square of Dover. Also required the suppression and preventing of discharge of guns, pistols, fireworks, or throwing fireballs within the town limits.
W.B. Hvland, Wilmington City Code: The Ordinances of the City of Wilmington, Delaware 688-89 (1885)
(1885)
Required supplying retailers to be in kegs, not more than twenty-five pounds, carefully enclosed in good bags, or by putting a sheet of canvas under and around the kegs. When transporting gunpowder the carriage shall contain no more than ten kegs as described above.
14 Del. Laws 605 (1871)
(1871)
§ 14: Placed a duty on commissioners, justices, and constables to suppress, extinguish, and prevent bonfires in the public square of Dover. Also required the suppression and preventing of discharge of guns, pistols, fireworks, or throwing fireballs within the town limits.
1852 Del. Rev. Stat. 215-16
(1852)
Title Tenth-Of Corporations, Chapter 73-Of the city of Wilmington, § 27: Authorized the city council to regulate the storage of gunpowder.
The Charter of the City of Wilmington, at pt. 7, § 7 (1893)
(1893)
Prohibited carry of firearms, shooting birds or other animals within the park, or throwing stones or missiles.
1837 Del. Laws 166-67 (Spec. Sess.)
(1837)
An Act To Prevent the Discharge Of Fire-arms In the Village of Camden, Kent County, And For Other Purposes Therein Mentioned, ch. 123, § 1: Prohibited discharge of any gun, "ordnance," musket, fowling-piece, fuse, or pistol within the village of Camden. Also prohibited the use of bonfires, firecrackers, squibs, or throwing any fireballs or rockets within one quarter of a mile of the village center. §2 and §3 had separate punishments between whites and minorities. Whites who violate the law are punished with a fine not less than one nor exceeding five dollars. Minorities who could not pay the same fine immediately upon conviction, the offender shall be jailed for one month, unless the fine is paid sooner.
1845 Del. Laws 10
(1845)
A Supplement To The Act Entitled "An Act To Survey, Lay Out And Regulate the Streets Of Smyrna and for Other Purposes," ch. 12, § 2: Imposed a duty on commissioners, justices of the peace, and constables to extinguish and prevent bonfires in the streets, lanes, and alleys. The duty also included the suppression and preventing discharge of guns, pistols, crackers, squibs, or fire-balls in the town limits.
14 Del. Laws 138 (1871)
(1871)
§ 17: Placed a duty on commissioners, justices, and constables to suppress, extinguish, and prevent bonfires in the public square of Dover. Also required the suppression and preventing of discharge of guns, pistols, fireworks, or throwing fireballs within the town limits.
8 Del. Laws 198 (1841)
(1841)
A Supplement to the Act Entitled "An Act for Establishing the Boundaries of the Town of Dover, and for Other Purposes Therein Mentioned, § 2: Placed a duty on commissioners, justices, and constables to suppress, extinguish, and prevent bonfires in the public square of Dover. Also required the suppression and preventing of discharge of guns, firecrackers, squibs within the town limits.
14 Del. Laws 160 (1871)
(1871)
§ 13: Placed a duty on commissioners, justices, and constables to suppress, extinguish, and prevent bonfires in the public square of Dover. Also required the suppression and preventing of discharge of guns, pistols, fireworks, or throwing fireballs within the town limits.
1852 Del. Laws 664
(1852)
An Act To Incorporate the Town of Camden and for Other Purposes, ch. 652, § 3: Authorized the elected commissioners to regulate the discharge of guns or pistols.
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.
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.
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.
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.§

Delaware

Delaware

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