Massachusetts

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Massachusetts

This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Massachusetts. It supports research on the state’s firearms history, technology, law, policy, and culture from the colonial and provincial periods 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, armory and manufacturing records (e.g., Springfield Armory and industrial corridor), militia and maritime archives, and oral histories tied to Massachusetts 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 51

1793 Mass. Acts 289-90
(1763)
Requires free, able-bodied white male citizens ages eighteen to forty-five to enroll in the state militia and prove eligibility if questioned.
1 Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay 392 (1853)
(1620)
"For such of or nation as sell munition, gunns, or other furniture, to arme the Indians against vs, or teach them the vse of armes, wee would haue yow to apphend them and send them prisons for England, where they will not escape severe punishmt, being expressly against the proclamacon."
Mass. Gen. Stat. 107, ch. 13, § 113 (1859)
(1859)
§A soldier who unnecessarily, or without order from a superior officer, comes to any parade, with his musket, rifle, or pistol, loaded with ball, slug, or shot, or so loads the same while on parade, or unnecessarily, or without order from a superior officer, discharges the same when going to, returning from, or upon parade, shall forfeit not less than five nor more than twenty dollars, to be recovered on complaint of the clerk, one-half to his use and one-half to the use of commanding officer.
Mass. Gen. Stat. 255, ch. 49, § 27 (1873)
(1859)
Appointed six individuals in each county for proving of musket barrels and pistols. Proven arms are stamped by the appointed officials.
1814 Mass. Acts 464
(1814)
An Act in Addition to an Act, entitled "An Act to Provide for the Proof of Fire Arms, Manufactured within this Commonwealth," ch. 192, § 2: Requiring all musket barrels and pistol barrels, manufactured within this Commonwealth to be proved by the person appointed according to the provisions of an act . . . with a charge of powder equal in weight to the ball which fits the bore of the barrel to be proved.
1836 Mass. Rev. Stat. 750, ch. 134, § 16
(1835)
Prohibited the carry of a dirk, dagger, sword, pistol, or other offensive and dangerous weapon without reasonable cause to fear assault, injury, or violence to oneself, their family, or property. Violators required to post a surety not exceeding six months.
Mass. Gen. Laws, ch. 194, § 2 (1850), codified at Mass. Gen. Stat. 816, ch. 164 § 11 (1873)
(1850)
Prohibited the manufacture or sale of slung-shots or metallic knuckles. Violators fined not less than fifty dollars or imprisoned not exceeding six months.
1856 Mass. Acts 86
(1856)
An Act to Incorporate the Proprietors of Oak Grove Cemetery, ch. 154 § 6: Any person who shall . . . discharge any gun or other fire-arms, within the said limits, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof before any justice of the peace, or other court of competent jurisdiction, shall be punished by a fine not less than five dollars, nor more than one hundred dollars...
1806 Mass. Acts 121-22
(1806)
An Act Providing for the Punishment of the Crimes of Burglary, and Other Breaking and Entering of Buildings: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That if any person, with intent to kill, rob, steal, commit a rape, or to do or perpetrate any other felony, shall in the night time break and enter, or having, with such felonious intent, entered, shall in the night time break a dwelling house, any person then being lawfully therein, and such offender being, at the time of such breaking or entering, armed with a dangerous weapon, or arming himself or herself, in such house, with a dangerous weapon, or committing an actual assault upon any person lawfully being in such house; every such offender, and any person present, aiding, assisting or consenting in such burglary, or accessary thereto before the fact, by counselling, hiring, or procuring such burglary to be committed, who shall be duly convicted thereof in the Supreme Judicial Court, shall suffer the punishment of death.
1804 Mass. Acts. 111
(1805)
Ch. 81, An Act to Provide for the Proof of Fire Arms Manufactured Within this Commonwealth: Requiring appointment of two per county for the inspection of barrels. Barrels required inspection under varying charges of powder and at varying degrees of elevation. Proven barrels are stamped post-inspection. Failed barrels fined thirty cents. Failed pistols fined twenty-five cents. Unproven barrels & pistols fined at ten dollars.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 240, § 1 (1837)
(1837)
Enrolled every able bodied white male citizen resident between eighteen to forty-five into the militia except idiots, lunatics, common drunkards, vagabonds, paupers, persons convicted of any infamous crime.
The Massachusetts Resolves (Oct. 29, 1765), reprinted in Prologue to Revolution: Sources and Documents on the Stamp Act Crisis, 1764-1766, at 56 (E. Morgan ed. 1959)
(1765)
Resolved that Massachusetts subjects have the same rights as are present and essential for natural born subjects.
1787 Mass. Acts 555
(1787)
Act of Feb. 16, 1787, ch. VI: Required persons against the Government to deliver their arms to a justice of the peace and "subscribe the oath of allegiance to this Commonwealth."
1786 Mass. Acts 87
(1786)
Ch. 38: Prohibited being armed with clubs or other weapons while in a group of twelve or more and "unlawfully, routously, riotously, or tumutluously assembled."
1775-76 Mass. Acts 31-32, 35
(1776)
Act of Mar. 14, 1776, ch. VII: Recommended the disarming of persons who are "notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who refuse to associate to defend by arms the United American Colonies."
1775 Mass. Acts 15
(1775)
An Act For Forming And Regulating The Militia Within The Colony Of The Massachusetts Bay, In New England, And For Repealing All The Laws Heretofore Made For That Purpose, ch. 1, §§ 1,7,9: § 1. . . That that part of the militia of this Colony, commonly called the Training-Band, shall be constituted of all the able-bodied male persons therein, from sixteen years old to fifty [excepting Quakers and others]. . . § 7. . . That each and every officer, and private soldier of said militia, not under the controul of parents, master, or gaurdians, and being of sufficient ability therefor, in the judgement of the select-men if the town wherein he has his usual place of abode, shall equip himself, and be constantly provided with a good firearm. . . § 9 . . . That the clerk of each and every company of said militia, shall . . . take an exact list of his company, and of each man's equipment respectively. .
A Collection of Original Papers Relative to The History of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay 492 (1769)
(1769)
Prohibited the selling or bartering guns, ammunition, and swords to "any Indian," punishable by fine.
1836 Mass. Rev. Stat. 529, ch. 85, §24
(1794)
Granted justices of the peace to punish, by fine of ten dollars, all assaults, batteries, and other breaches of the peace unless of a "high and aggravated nature." Including all who go armed offensively to the terror of the people, such as menaces and threatening speeches.
1780 Mass. Const. art. XVII, pt. 1
(1780)
Declared a right to bear arms for the common defense, and that standing armies are dangerous to liberty in times of peace and shall not be maintained without the consent of the legislature.
1801 Mass. Acts 507-08
(1801)
An Act to Provide for the Storing and Safe Keeping of Gun Powder in the Town of Boston, and to Prevent Damage from the Same, ch. XX § 1: §1... That all Gun Powder imported and landed at the port of Boston, shall be brought to and lodged in the Powder House or Magazine in said town, and not elsewhere, on pain of confiscation of all Powder put or kept in any other house or place...
1795 Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 2, § 2; 1795 Mass. Acts 436
(1795)
Commanded justices of the peace to arrest "all affrayers, ruiters, disturbers, or breakers of the peace, and such as shall ride or go armed offensively, to the fear or terror of the good citiens of this Commonwealth."
1717 Mass. Acts 336
(1717)
An Act For The Better Regulation Of Fowling: That if any person or persons shall, at any time after two months from the publication of this act, make use of any boat, canoe, float, raft or other vessel, wherewith to approach to, and shoot at any waterfowl, in any part of this province, he or they so offending, shall each of them forfeit and pay, for every such offence, the sum of forty shillings to the informer. And every such offender shall be, and hereby is prohibited and restrained from using a gun to shoot at waterfowl for the space of three years next after his offence, upon the like penalty of forty shillings for each time he shall presume so to offend, to be disposed of in manner as the forfeiture aforementioned.
The Charter Granted by Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary to the Inhabitants of the Providence of the Massachussets Bay in New England 271-72 (1726)
(1719)
An Act For the Punishing and Preventing of Duelling: That whoever ... fight a duel, combat, or engage in a rencounter with rapier, or small-sword, back-sword, pistol, or any other dangerous weapon, to the danger of life, mayhem, or wounding of the parties, or the affray of his Majesty's good subjects, (although death doth not thereby ensue) and be thereof convicted, by due course of law, before the Court of Assize, or Court of General Sessions of the Peace, in the respective Counties of this Province, shall be punished by fine, not exceeding a hundred pounds, imprisonment, not exceeding six months, or corporally punished...
1750 Mass. Acts 544
(1750)
An Act for Preventing and Suppressing of Riots, Routs and Unlawful Assemblies, ch. 17, § 1: Prohibited the carrying of a club or other weapon while unlawfully, riotously, or tumultuously assembling. Punishable by seizing the weapon and a hearing before the court.
1728 Mass. Acts 516
(1728)
An Act for Repealing an Act Entitled, "An Act For The Punishing And Preventing Of Dueling," and for Making Other Provisions Instead Thereof, ch. 5: That whoever from and after the publication of this Act shall be so hardy and wicked as to fight a duel, or for private malice, displeasure, fury or revenge, voluntarily engage in a rencounter, with rapier or small-sword, backsword, pistol or any other dangerous weapon, to the hazard of life, mayhem, or wounding of the parties, or the affray of his Majesty's good subjects, although death doth not thereby ensue; or shall by word, message, or any other way, challenge another to fight a duel, or shall accept a challenge, although no duel be fought, or shall any ways abet, prompt, encourage or seduce any person to fight a duel, or to challenge another to fight
The Acts and Resolves, Public and Private, of the Province of Massachusetts Bay 306 (1878)
(1746)
Prohibited the indiscreet firing of any gun or pistol in the town under penalty of forty shillings.
The Charter Granted by Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary to the Inhabitants of the Providence of the Massachussets Bay in New England 226-27 (1726)
(1713)
An Act To Prohibit Shooting Or Firing Off Guns Near The Road Or Highway On Boston Neck: That no person or persons, from and after the publication of this Act, may presume to discharge or fire off any gun upon Boston Neck within ten rods of the road or highway leading over the same, on pain of forfeiting and paying the sum of twenty shillings . . . And for the better conviction of persons offending against this Act, it shall be lawful, to and for any Free-holder, to arrest and take into custody any gun so fired off, and render the same to one of the next Justices in Boston, in order to its being produced at the time of trial.
1757 Mass. Acts 323
(1757)
An Act in Addition to the Several Acts of This Province for Regulating the Militia, ch. 12: That the Captain or Chief Officer of each military foot company, shall instruct and employ his Company in military exercises six days in a year . . . and on each of said days he shall make a strict enquiry into the state of the arms and ammunition of his Company . . . that every person from the age of sixteen to sixty, not exempted by law, shall appear with arms and ammunition according to law, and attend his duty each of the aforesaid days. . .
The Charter Granted by Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary to the Inhabitants of the Providence of the Massachussets Bay in New England 272-73 (1726)
(1719)
An Act in Further Addition to an Act for Erecting a Powder House in Boston: That, from and after the publication of this Act, no gunpowder shall be kept on board any ship, or other vessel, lying to or grounded at any wharf within the port of Boston. And if any gunpowder shall be found on board such ship or vessel lying aground, as aforesaid, such powder shall be liable to confiscation, and under the same penalty, as if it were found lying in any house or warehouse. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that no powder be carried through any town upon trucks, under the penalty of ten shillings per barrel for every barrel of powder so conveyed, and so proportionally for smaller cask.
The Charter Granted by Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary to the Inhabitants of the Providence of the Massachussets Bay in New England 189-90 (1726)
(1715)
An Act For Erecting a Powder-House within the Town of Boston: That, from and after the publication hereof, any person within the town of Boston, that shall presume to keep, in his house or Warehouse, any powder, above what is by law allowed, shall forfeit and pay, for every half-barrel, the sum of five pounds . . . That any person or persons whosoever, that shall throw any squibs, serpents, or rockets, or perform any other fireworks within the streets, . . (shall be fined).
1749-51 Mass. Acts 339
(1751)
An Act for Preventing and Suppressing of Riots, Routs and Unlawful Assemblies, ch. 12: If any Persons to the Number of Twelve or more, being Arm'd with Clubs or other Weapons, or if any Number of Persons consisting of Fifty or upwards, whether armed or not, shall be unlawfully riotously or tumultuously assembled; any Justice of the Peace, Field-Officer or Captain of the Militia, Sheriff of the County or Under-Sheriff, or any Constable of the Town, shall among the Rioters, or as near to them as he can safely come, command Silence while Proclamation is making, and shall openly make Proclamation in these or the like Words,
The Charters And General Laws Of The Colony And Province Of Massachusetts Bay 343 (1814)
(1700)
no person or persons whatsoever in any town or garrison, shall during the time of war, or of keeping a military watch in such town or garrison, presume to discharge or shoot off any gun or guns after the sun's setting or before the sun's rising, unless in case of alarm, approach of an enemy, or other necessary defense, on pain that every person, so offending, and being thereof convicted before one or more of his majesty's justices of the peace, shall forfeit and pay the sum of twenty shillings for each gun so discharged, on moiety thereof to and for the use of the poor of the town where the offence shall be committed, and the other moiety to him or them that shall inform or prosecute for the same...
1692 Mass. Acts 11-12
(1692)
Prohibited riding or going armed offensively to cause fear or affray of the people.
Records Of The Colony Of New Plymouth In New England 230 (Daniel Pulsifier ed., 1861)
(1671)
Laws of Plymouth Colony (1671). Whereas several persons have been greatly endangered by setting of guns, it is enacted by the Court and the authority thereof that none shall sett any guns except in enclosures and that the gun be sufficiently enclosed so as it be secure from hurting man or beast and that he that setteth the gun do give warning or notice thereof to all the neighbors on penalty of paying a fine of five pounds to the use of the Colony for every default.
1693 Mass. Acts 48
(1693)
An Act for Regulating of the Militia, ch. 3, §§ 1, 5: That all male persons from sixteen years of age to sixty, (other than such as are herein after excepted), shall bear arms, and duly attend all musters and military exercises of the respective troops and companies where they are listed . . . § 5 That every listed solider and other householder (except troopers) shall be always provided with a well fixed firelock musket, or musket or bastard musket bore . . .
1694 Mass. Acts 12
(1694)
No. 6, An Act for the Punishing of Criminal Offenders: Further it is Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That every Justice of the Peace in the County where the Offence is committed , may cause to be staid and arrested all Affrayers, Rioters, Disturbers, or Breakers of the Peace, and such as shall ride or go armed Offensively before any of their Majesties Justices, or other Their Officers or Ministers doing their Office or elsewhere.
The Compact with the Charter and Laws of the Colony of New Plymouth 102 (William Brigham ed., 1836)
(1657)
Required the militia of every township to bring arms during Sunday church services. Violators fined twelve pence for every default.
The Acts And Resolves, Public And Private, of The Province Of The Massachusetts Bay 268 (1869)
(1697)
§ 3: That no person or persons whatsoever, in any town or garrison, shall presume to discharge or shoot off any gun or guns after the shutting in of the daylight in the evening, or before daylight in the morning, unless in case of alarm, approach of the enemy, or other necessary defense, on pain that every person so offending, and being thereof convicted before one or more of his majestie's justices of the peace, shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten shillings, one moiety thereof to and for the use of the poor of the town where the offence is committed, and the other moiety to him or them that shall inform or prosecute for the same. And in case such offender shall not have wherewith to answer the said fine, or shall refuse or neglect to pay the same, then to be set in the stocks, not exceeding two hours' time: provided, that this act shall remain and continue in force during the present war, and no longer.
Records of The Colony of New Plymouth in New England 173 (1856)
(1676)
Prohibited the selling, bartering, and giving of arms or ammunition to "any Indian," punishable by death.
Records Of The Colony Of New Plymouth In New England 66 (Daniel Pulsifier ed., 1861)
(1656)
Laws of Plymouth Colony (1656). And likewise that no Indian shall discharge any gun on the Lords day at any thing to the breach of the Sabbath and disturbance of the English; as they will answer it at their peril.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts

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