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Massachusetts

Permanent URL for this collectionhttps://dspace.firearmsresearchcenter.org/id/frc0001/4129

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 - 6 of 6
  • Item type:Item,
    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.
  • Item type:Item,
    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.
  • Item type:Item,
    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."
  • Item type:Item,
    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,
  • Item type:Item,
    1692 Mass. Acts 11-12
    (1692)
    Prohibited riding or going armed offensively to cause fear or affray of the people.
  • Item type:Item,
    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.