FRC Jurisdictions Portal

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This top community organizes Firearms Research Center holdings by jurisdiction. It provides separate collections for U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia, and the federal jurisdiction, spanning the territorial period to the present.

Scope of Content

Legal sources: statutes and session laws, administrative code, attorney general opinions, appellate decisions, and selected municipal ordinances.
Historical materials: newspapers, photographs, maps, catalogs, company records, and oral histories tied to specific places and periods.
Research outputs: FRC reports, datasets, and interpretive materials that contextualize legal and technical developments.

How to Use

Browse: open a jurisdiction collection to view items for that state, territory, DC, or the federal jurisdiction.
Search: use keywords and filter by Jurisdiction, Date Issued, and Category. Record any Exceptions noted for applicability.
Cite: use the item’s identifier and provided links (Original Source and Duke reference) when available.

Metadata & Standards

Items are described using Dublin Core with standardized fields for Jurisdiction, Date Issued, Category, and Exceptions to support precise discovery and comparison.

Questions

For questions about coverage, rights, or submissions, contact the Firearms Research Center (firearmsresearchcenter.org).

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Now showing 1 - 40 of 44

Tenn. Const. of 1796, art. XI, § 26
(1796)
Provided that the freemen of the state have a right to keep and bear arms for their common defense.
1931 Tenn. Priv. Acts 1089
(1931)
An Act to Be Entitled, "An Act to Incorporate the City of Murfreesboro in Rutherford County, Tennessee . . . ," ch. 429, art. 3, § 4, pt. 46: To regulate, restrain, and prevent the carrying on of manufactories dangerous in causing or producing fires; and to regulate and suppress the sale of firearms, and to prevent and suppress the selling, carrying, using or firing of pistols, rifles, guns, bowie knives, dirks, firearms, or other deadly weapons.
1858 Tenn. Code 871
(1858)
§ 4864: "Any person who sells, loans, or gives to any minor a pistol, bowie-knife, dirk, Arkansas tooth-pick, hunter's knife, or like dangerous weapon, except a gun for hunting or weapon for defence in travelling, is guilty of a misdemeanor,"
1884 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 1060–61, § 5533
(1879)
Made the sale, offer of sale, or importation into the state belt pistols, pocket pistols, revolver, or any other kind of pistols except Army or Navy pistols a misdemeanor.
1903 Tenn. Pub. Acts 376–77
(1903)
Ch. 169, § 6: [N]o person or persons shall . . . for the purpose of taking or destroying birds or animals not protected by this Act, use any swivel or punt gun, or gun other than a gun held in the hands and fired from the shoulder, and of the gauge not larger than No. 8[.]
1909 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 400, §§ 91–92
(1909)
Laws regulating what groups may act as military organizations: "Sec. 91. Be it further enacted, That no body of men, except the organized militia, the troops of the United States, and organizations of Confederate veterans, Grand Army of the Republic, and Spanish-American War veterans, shall maintain an armory or associate together at any time as a company or organization for drill or parade with firearms, and the latter organization can have such privileges only with the consent of the Governor of this State; provided, that associations wholly composed of soldiers honorably discharged from the service of the United States may parade in public with arms upon the reception of any organizations of soldiers returning from said service and for escort duty at the burial of deceased soldiers, with the written permission of the Mayor and Aldermen of the city or the Sheriff of the county. Students in educational institutions where military science is a prescribed part of the course of instruction may, with the consent of the Governor, drill and parade with firearms in public.
1901 Tenn. Pub. Acts 435, 437
(1901)
An Act to Incorporate the Town of Dresden, Tennessee, and to Define Its Rights and Powers, ch. 202, § 3, pt. 16: To regulate and suppress the shooting of guns and pistols and other firearms in the corporate limits."
1907 Tenn. Pub. Acts 208
(1907)
Ch. 74, § 2, pt. 11: [T]o regulate the discharging, firing, shooting, or carrying of guns, pistols, and fireworks in the town; to regulate or prohibit the selling within the limits of the town fireworks of any kind whatever.
1925 Tenn. Priv. Acts 298
(1925)
An Act to Create and Incorporate the City of Brownsville, in Haywood County, Tennessee . . . , ch. 92, § 25, pt. 21: To regulate the storage and transportation of illuminating oil and gunpowder and other high explosives, and to regulate and prohibit the use of firearms.
1879 Tenn. Pub. Acts 135-36, An Act to Prevent the Sale of Pistols, chap. 96, § 1.
(1879)
Made the sale, offer of sale, or importation into the state belt pistols, pocket pistols, revolver, or any other kind of pistols except Army or Navy pistols a misdemeanor.
1884 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 1060–61, § 5533
(1879)
Banned concealed carry of any dirk or razor. Also banned the carry of any sword-cane, loaded cane, slung-shot, brass knuckles, Spanish stilletos, belt pistols, pocket pistols, revolvers, any kind of pistol.
1899 Tenn. Pub. Acts 780
(1899)
Provided however, That it shall be lawful for any person to hunt quail or partridges in said counties with a gun, between the first day of November and the first day of January of each year. But it is further provided, that it shall not be lawful to hunt upon the inclosed lands of another with a gun, as above mentioned, until written permission is first obtained from the owner or owners of such inclosed lands.
1883 Tenn. Pub. Acts 17
(1883)
A Bill to Be Entitled An Act to Prevent the Sale, Loan or Gift of Pistol Cartridges in This State, ch. 13: [I]t shall be unlawful for any person or persons to buy or sell or give away any pistol cartridges in this state.
1895 Tenn. Pub. Acts 129–30
(1895)
An Act to Incorporate the City of South Fulton, in Obion County Tennessee . . . , ch. 85, § 3, pt. 14: To regulate the storage of gunpowder, tar, pitch, resin, saltpeter, gun cotton, coal oil, and all other combustibles, explosive or inflammable material, and the use of lights, candles, lamps, stove pipes, steam pipes, and chimneys in all storehouses, dwellings, outhouses, shops, stables, and other places, and to regulate and suppress the use and sale of fire crackers or fireworks of all kinds, toy pistols, air guns, or target guns.
1901 Tenn. Pub. Acts. 406
(1901)
An Act to Incorporate the Town of Carthage, in Smith County, Tennessee, and Conferring and Defining the Corporate Powers Thereof, ch. 186, § 10: Be it further enacted, That the Council shall have power by ordinance to . . . regulate the storage of gunpowder and other explosives, and noisome or offensive substances. . .
1929 Tenn. Priv. Acts 2018
(1929)
An Act to Amend . . . an Act Entitled an Act to Incorporate the Town of Lebanon in the County of Wilson, State of Tennessee . . . , ch. 685, art. 2, § 1, pt. 38: [T]o regulate or prevent the discharging, firing, shooting, or carrying of guns, pistols and fireworks in the City.
Chapter XII, Article III: Offenses Affecting Public Safety, undated, reprinted in Digest of the Acts Repealing the Charters of Certain Municipal Corporations . . . and the Ordinances of the Taxing District of Shelby County, Tennessee 188, 189 (C.W. Heiskell ed., 1882).
(1882)
To carry concealed on or about the person any pistol, bowie-knife, dirk or other deadly weapon. Or to carry any pistol, slung-shot, dangerous knife, or any other deadly weapon of like character at all or in any manner, except in self-defense or while executing some law, or to carry through the streets or other public place in the District, any loaded gun. Also prohibited the discharge of firearms
Tenn. Const. of 1870, art. I, § 26
(1870)
Declared the citizens have a right to keep and bear arms, but that the legislature shall have the power to regulate the wearing of arms to prevent crime.
A Compilation of the Laws and Ordinances of the Corporation of Lebanon ch. 20, §23 (1871)
(1871)
Carrying Concealed Weapons Prohibited: Whoever shall carry concealed upon or about his person any pistol, Bowie knife, dirk, sword cane or other dangerous weapon, within the limits of the Corporation, unless on a journey or permitted by law to carry weapons, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and fined not less than three dollars nor more than fifty [dollars] for each offence."
Ordinances of the City Council of Memphis ch. 4, art. 5, §§ 1-8 (1867)
(1867)
Shooting Galleries: That from and after the passage of this ordinance, no person or persons shall be allowed, under any pretence whatever, to open, set up or establish a shooting gallery in the first story of any building within the corporate limits of the City of Memphis, under a penalty of fifty dollars per day for each and every day that such shooting gallery shall be set up or continued within said corporate limits of the city.
1871 Tenn. Pub. Stat. 95
(1871)
Criminal Laws, 1870-chapter 13, § 1: That it shall not be lawful for any person to publicly or privately carry a dirk, sword cane, Spanish stiletto, belt or pocket pistol or revolver,other than an army pistol, or such as are commonly carried and used in the United States army, and in no case shall it be lawful for any person to carry such army pistol publicly or privately about his person in any other manner than openly in his hands[.]
1855-1856 Tenn. Pub. Acts 34
(1855)
An Act to Amend and Reduce into One, the Acts Relating to the Charter of the Town of Clarkeville, ch. 32, § 2, pt. 20: To provide for the prevention and extinguishment of fires; to organize, establish and equip fire companies, hose companies, and hook and ladder companies; to regulate, restrain or prohibit the erection of wooden or combustible buildings in any part of the city; to regulate and to prevent the carrying on of manufactories dangerous in causing or producing fires; to regulate the storage of gun powder, tar, pitch, rosin, saltpetre [sic], gun cotton and all other combustible or explosive material[.]
John Lellyett, Ordinances of the City of Nashville 244 (1872)
(1872)
Active Nuisances, § 9: That it shall not be lawful for any person to use what is commonly called or known as a sling gun, or spring shot, made from India rubber, or other elastic substances, attached to a forked stick, or other brace, to throw or shoot pebbles, gravel, shot, bullets, or other hard substances, or to use a bow and arrow, within the corporate limits of Nashville. And the using of any such instrument or apparatus aforesaid, or having the same in his or her possession, shall be a misdemeanor; and such person or persons shall be liable to arrest and upon conviction, fined not less than two, nor more than fifty dollars, for each and every offense.
2 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 125, tit. 12, ch. 9, art. 2, § 4864
(1856)
Any person who sells, loans, or gives, to any minor a pistol, bowie-knife, dirk, Arkansas tooth-pick, hunter's knife, or like dangerous weapon, except a gun for hunting or weapon for defense in traveling, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars, and be imprisoned in the county jail at the discretion of the court.
1871 Tenn. Pub. Acts 108
(1858)
Elections, 1869-70 ch. 22, § 2: Prohibited for any person from carrying, concealed or openly, any pistol, dirk, Bowie knife, Arkansas Toothpick, or other deadly or dangerous weapon at an election, fair, race course, or other public assembly.
1879 Tenn. Pub. Acts 231
(1879)
Ch. 186, § 1: Prohibited the public or private carry of any dirk, razor concealed on their person. Also prohibited the open carry of any sword cane, spanish stilletto, belt pistols, pocket pistols, revolver, or any other kind of pistols except Army or Navy pistols. Violators fined fifty dollars and imprisoned in the county of the violation at the court's discretion.
1855-56 Tenn. Pub. Acts 92
(1856)
Ch. 81, § 2: Prohibited the sale or transfer of any pistol, Bowie knife, dirk, Arkansas toothpick, or hunter's knife to a minor. Excepted the transfer of a gun for hunting.
1879 Tenn. Pub. Acts 135–36
(1879)
Ch. 46, §§ 1–6: Made the sale, offer of sale, or importation into the state belt pistols, pocket pistols, revolver, or any other kind of pistols except Army or Navy pistols a misdemeanor.
1869–1870 Tenn. Pub. Acts 55
(1870)
Ch. 41, § 2: Prohibited the carry of dirks, sword-canes, Spanish stilletos, belt pistols, pocket pistols, or revolvers. Violators fined not less than ten but no more than fifty dollars and imprisoned not less than thirty days but no more than six months. One thousand dollar bond required to "keep the peace" for six months post-conviction.
Tenn. Const. art. I, § 26
(1831)
Establishes the right to keep and bear arms for the "free white men of this State."
1837-1838 Tenn. Pub. Acts 200, ch. 137, § 1.
(1837)
Prohibited any merchant from selling a Bowie knife or Arkansas tooth pick. Punishable by fine of $100-500 and imprisonment for $1-6 months.
1837-38 Tenn. Pub. Acts 200, ch. 137, § 1
(1837)
An Act to Suppress the Sale and Use of Bowie Knives and Arkansas Tooth Picks in this State, ch. 137, § 1: That if any merchant, . . . shall sell, or offer to sell . . . any Bowie knife or knives, or Arkansas tooth picks . . . such merchant shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof upon indictment or presentment, shall be fined in a sum not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, and shall be imprisoned in the county jail for a period not less than one month nor more than six months.
2 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 52, tit. 12, ch. 2, art. 5, § 4628 (1852)
(1852)
If any person assaults and beats another with a cowhide, stick, or whip, having a the time in his possession a pistol or other deadly weapon, with intent to intimidate the person assaulted, and prevent him from defending himself, he shall, on conviction, be imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than two nor more than ten years.
1831 Tenn. Pub. Acts 314
(1831)
Acts 1741, c. 24, § 40: Prohibited any "slave" from being armed with a gun, sword, club, or other weapon without a certificate from a court.
1837-1838 Tenn. Pub. Acts 201, ch. 137, § 4
(1837)
Prohibited the stabbing or cutting of another person with any knife or weapon known as a "Bowie knife, Arkansas tooth pick, or any knife or weapon that shall in form, shape or size resemble a Bowie knife," regardless of whether the person dies. Punishable by imprisonment for 3-15 years.
1836 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 673
(1821)
Shooting, 1821—Chapter 68, § 1: [A]ny person or persons who shall after the first of January next, shoot at a mark within the bounds of any town, or within two hundred yards of any public road of the first or second class within the state, such person or persons so offending shall be subject to a fine of ten dollars each[.]
1836 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 100
(1825)
Arms, 1825—Chapter 19, § 1: When any sheriff, coroner, or constable, shall know of his own knowledge, or upon the representation of any person, or if he or they, shall have good reason to suspect, any person of being armed with the intention of committing a riot or affray, or the wounding or killing any person, it shall be the duty of all such officers, immediately to arrest all such persons so suspected, and return them before some justice of the peace, whose duty it shall be, upon proof being made, that there was reasonable ground to suspect such person or persons for being armed, with intent to disturb or commit a breach of the peace, to bind such person or persons in a bond with two or more good and sufficient securities, in a sum of not less than two hundred and fifty dollars, and not exceeding two thousand dollars, conditioned for his or their good behavior and peaceable deportment for the term of twelve months thereafter
1836 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 325
(1836)
Felonies, 1829—Chapter 23, § 56: If any person within this state shall fight a duel, or shall deliberately and maliciously challenge, by word or writing, any other person, to fight with sword, pistol, or other deadly weapon, or shall deliberately and maliciously invite another verbally, or by writing, to meet him in this state, or elsewhere, with a view or intent to challenge or fight; or if any person so challenged, shall deliberately and maliciously accept the said challenge, in either case, such person so deliberately and maliciously giving or receiving, or sending any such challenge, and being convicted thereof, shall be sentenced to imprisonment, at hard labor in the penitentiary, for a term not less than three nor more than ten years: Provided always, that no person who shall be verbally challenged, shall be a competent witness to prove the fact of such verbal challenge, against any person who may be indicted for the same.
1837-38 Tenn. Pub. Acts 200-01, ch. 137, § 2
(1837)
An Act to Suppress the Sale and Use of Bowie Knives and Arkansas Tooth Picks in this State: Prohibited the carrying of a concealed Bowie knife, Arkansas tooth pick, or other knife or weapon. Punishable by fine of $200-500 and imprisonment for 3-6 months.
1825 Tenn. Priv. Acts 306
(1825)
An Act to Amend an Act Passed at Murfreesboro, October 20, 1821, Incorporating Winchester and Reynoldsburgh, ch. 292 § 3: That said mayor and aldermen may, and shall, have power and authority to make any rules and laws regulating the police of said town and the inhabitants thereof, to restrain and punish drinking, gaming, fighting, breaking the sabbath, shooting and carrying guns, and enact penalties and enforce the same, so that they do not conflict or violate the constitution of this State, and are consistent with the laws of this state.

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