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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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Items are described using Dublin Core with standardized fields for Jurisdiction, Date Issued, Category, and Exceptions to support precise discovery and comparison.
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Item type:Item, 2 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 381 (1823)(1676)"whereas by a branch of an act of assembly made in March last, liberty is granted to all persons to carry their armes wheresoever they goe, which liberty hath beene found to be very prejudiciall to the peace and wellfaire of this colony. Bee it therefore further enacted by this present grand assembly, and the authority thereof, and it is hereby enacted, that if any person or persons shall, from and after publication of this act, presume to assemble together in armes to the number of five or upwards without being legally called together in armes the number of five or upwards, they be held deemed and adjudged as riotous and mutinous, and that they be proceeded against and punished accordingly."Item type:Item, 2 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 126 (1823)(1662)"that every man able to beare armes have in his house a fixed gun, two pound of powder and eight pound of shot at least"Item type:Item, 2 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 333 (1823)(1676)"that in goeing to churches and courts in those tymes of danger, all people be enjoyned and required to goe armed for their greate security"Item type:Item, Charter to William Penn, and Laws of the Province of Pennsylvania, Passed Between the Years of 1682 and 1700, Preceded by Duke of Yorke's Laws in Force from the Year 1676 to the Year 1682, at 39 (1676)(1676)Provided that "[e]very Male within this Goverment from Sixteen to Sixty years of age, or not freed by public Allowance, shall if freeholders at their own, if sons or Servants at their Parents and Masters Charge and Cost, be furnished from time to time and so Continue well furnished with Armes and other Suitable provition hereafter mentioned ... Namely a good Serviceable Gun, allowed Sufficient by his Military Officer to be kept in Constant fitness for present Service, with a good sword bandeleers or horne a worme a Scowerer a priming wire Shott Badge and Charger one pound of good powder, four pounds of Pistol bullets or twenty four bullets fitted to the gunne, four fathom of Serviceable Match for match lock gunn four good flints fitted for a fire lock gunn." As for horsemen, their mandatory arms were "Holsters, Pistolls, or Carbine, and a good Sword." Also provided that "[e]very Town shall be provided of a Sufficient ware house and a Safe convenient place thereunto Adjoyning for keeping Powder and Ammunition; under the penalty of ten Pounds and the Constable and Overseers shall provide and maintain for a General Stock to the use of the Town in Case of necessity, one Barrell of good Pouder, English weight one hundred and fifty Pounds of Muskett or Pistell Bullets Thirty Pounds of good Match; which they shall carefully renew from yeare to yeare, or time to time as shall be needful under the Penalty of five pounds, for The want of such proportions of Bullets, Pouder, or Match as beforementioned; And where there are Artillery forts or Batteryes in any Town, The Constable and Overseers shall Mount such Guns, and fitt them with Appurtenances for Service, and the Constable and Overseers are hereby Authorized to Assess Levy or destrain upon the Inhabitants for building providing doing and maintaing the particulars before recited."Item type:Item, Charter to William Penn, And Laws of the Province of Pennsylvania, Passed Between the Years 1682 and 1700, at 32 (1879)(1676)Prohibited the giving, selling, or bartering guns, ammunition, armour, or boats and the repair of guns to "any Indian," punishable by fine.Item type:Item, E.B. O'Callaghan, Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, 1638-1674, at 205 (1868); N.Y. Col. MSS, VI 207, XVI 62(1665)Ordinance Of The Director General And Council Of New Netherland To Prevent Firing Of Guns, Planting May Poles And Other Irregularities Within This Province: The director General and Council expressly forbid from this time forth all firing of Guns . . .on a penalty of 12 guilders for the first offense; double for the second offense, and for the third an arbitrary correction . . .Item type:Item, 2 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 381 (1823)(1676)"whereas by a branch of an act of assembly made in March last, liberty is granted to all persons to carry their armes wheresoever they goe, which liberty hath beene found to be very prejudiciall to the peace and wellfaire of this colony. Bee it therefore further enacted by this present grand assembly, and the authority thereof, and it is hereby enacted, that if any person or persons shall, from and after publication of this act, presume to assemble together in armes to the number of five or upwards without being legally called together in armes the number of five or upwards, they be held deemed and adjudged as riotous and mutinous, and that they be proceeded against and punished accordingly."Item type:Item, 2 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 333 (1823)(1676)"that in goeing to churches and courts in those tymes of danger, all people be enjoyned and required to goe armed for their greate security"Item type:Item, 2 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 126 (1823)(1662)"that every man able to beare armes have in his house a fixed gun, two pound of powder and eight pound of shot at least"Item type:Item, Laws and Acts of Her Majesties Colony of Rhode Island, and Providence-Plantations Made from the First Settlement in 1636 to 1705, at 23 (1896)(1673)Established a militia in 1673, consisting of persons from 16 to 60 years old Each militiaman was required to "at all times hereafter have on[e] good gun or muskitt Fitt for Service one pound of good powder & thirty bullits at Least." If a son or servant had no valuable estate of his own, his parents or master would be liable for any fines imposed upon him.Item type:Item, 1 The Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution 49-54 (1896)(1665)Every Male within this Government from Sixteen to Sixty years of age, or not freed by public Allowance, shall if freeholders at their own, if sons or Servants at their Parents and Masters Charge and Cost, be furnished from time to time and so Continue well furnished with Armes and other Suitable provition hereafter mentioned: under the penalty of five Shillings for the least default therein Namely a good Serviceable Gun, allowed Sufficient by his Military Oficer to be kept in Constant fitness for present Service, with a good sword bandeleers or horne or worme a Scowerer a priming wire Shott Badge and Charger one pound of good powder, four pounds of Pistol bullets or twenty four bullets fitted to the gunne, four fathom of Serviceable Match for match lock gunn four good flints fitted for a fire lock gunn. Troopers had to "keepe and maintaine a good Horse Fitted with Sadle, bridle, Holsters, Pistolls or Carbine, and a good Sword. Further, "In defence of himself his wife Father or Mother Children or Servants a man may Lawfully use force to resist any attempt made to that purpose."Item type:Item, Charter to William Penn, and Laws of the Province of Pennsylvania, Passed Between the Years of 1682 and 1700, Preceded by Duke of Yorke's Laws in Force from the Year 1676 to the Year 1682, at 39 (1676)(1676)Every Male within this Goverment from Sixteen to Sixty years of age, or not freed by public Allowance, shall if freeholders at their own, if sons or Servants at their Parents and Masters Charge and Cost, be furnished from time to time and so Continue well furnished with Armes and other Suitable provition hereafter mentioned . . . Namely a good Serviceable Gun, allowed Sufficient by his Military Officer to be kept in Constant fitness for present Service, with a good sword bandeleers or horne a worme a Scowerer a priming wire Shott Badge and Charger one pound of good powder, four pounds of Pistol bullets or twenty four bullets fitted to the gunne, four fathom of Serviceable Match for match lock gunn four good flints fitted for a fire lock gunn." As for horsemen, their mandatory arms were "Holsters, Pistolls, or Carbine, and a good Sword.Item type:Item, Ordinances for Defence, in Duke of Yorke's Book of Laws 450 (1664)(1671)Required "every person that can bear arms from 16 to 60 years of age, be always provided with a convenient proportion of powder and bullet fit for service, and their mutual defence." This meant "at least one pound of powder and two pounds of bullet."Item type:Item, 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."Item type:Item, America's Founding Charters: Primary Documents of Colonial and Revolutionary Era Governance 232 (Jon L. Wakelyn ed. 2006) (Concessions and Agreements, Jan. 11, 1664)(1664)All inhabitants and freemen of Carolina above seventeen years of age and under sixty shall be bound to bear arms and serve as soldiers whenever the grand council shall find it necessary."Item type:Item, 7 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, October 1678-November 1683, at 53 (1889); see also 1698 Md. Acts 99(1678)Kept the militia ages "between sixteen and sixty yeares of age." Further required that each "appeare and bring with him one good serviceable fixed Gunn and six shoots of Powder." Troopers were required to bring their own horses, and "to find themselves with sword Carbine Pistolls Holsters & Amunition."Item type:Item, 1 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 403 (1823) (enacted 1676)(1676)Ordered that all persons have liberty to sell arms and ammunition to any of his majesties loyal subjects. Includes "Indians of the Easterne shore" have equal liberty to trade with "our friends and neighbouring Indians."Item type:Item, 1676 Va. Laws 37(1665)Enforced militias to arm themselves in order to protect churches, courts, and other public meetings from "Indians."Item type:Item, 1636-1748 R.I. Pub. Laws 31(1679)That if any person or persons shall presume to sport game or play at any manner of game or games or shooting out any gun or shall set tipling & drinking in any tavern alhouse ordinary or vitling house on the first day of the week more than neccesity requireth and upon examination of the fact it shall be judged by any Justice of the Peace and the Person or Persons so offending as aforesaid. Upon conviction before one Justice of Peace Shall by the said Justice of the Peace be sentenced for every the aforesaid offences to set in the stocks three hours or pay five shillings in money for the use of the poor of the town or place where the offence was committed.Item type:Item, 2 Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England 561 (1857)(1677)Required seizure of guns and ammunition from "any Indian."Item type:Item, 3 Records of the Colony of Rhode Island, and Providence Plantations, in New England 31 (1858)(1679)And bee it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That any person or persons shall presume to sport, game or play at any manner of game or games, or shooting on the first day of the weeke as aforesaid, or shall sit tippling and drinking in any tavern, ale-house, ordinary or victualling house on the first day of the weeke, more than necessity requireth;Item type:Item, 2 The Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution 687 (1894)(1664)Prohibited "any slave" from possessing or using any gun, pistol, sword, club, or any other kind of dangerous weapon not in the presence of their master.Item type:Item, 1 Colonial laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution 49-50 (1894)(1665)"Besides the Generall stock of each Town Every Male within this Government from Sixteen to Sixty years of age, or not freed by public Allowance, shall if freeholders at their own , if sons or Servants at their Parents and Masters Charge and Cost, be furnished from time to time and so Continue well furnished with Armes and other Suitable provition hereafter mentioned: under the penalty of five Shillings for the least default therein Namely a good Serviceable Gun, allowed Sufficient by his Military Officer to be kept in Constant fitness for present Service, with a good sword bandeleers or horne or worme a Scowerer a priming wire Shott Badge and Charger one pound of good powder, four pounds of Pistol bullets or twenty four bullets fitted to the gunne , four fathom of Serviceable Match for match lock gunn four good flints fitted for a fire lock gunn..."Item type:Item, The Compact with the Charter and Laws of the Colony of New Plymouth 285-86 (William Brigham ed., 1836)(1671)"And every man from the age of sixteen years and upward, shall also be provided with such Arms and Amunition as the Court have determined, upon penalty expressed in our said Book of Records."Item type:Item, The Compact with the Charter and Laws of the Colony of New Plymouth 184 (William Brigham ed., 1836)(1677)"It is enacted by the Court That the order of Court made Anno 1644 allowing Matchcockes be repealed ; and that all psons required by the lawes of this Collonie to keep and maintaine armes ; be att all times provided with sufficient fix feir lockes or snaphance musketts or other servicable peeces not exceeding four foot and an halfe longe ; nor under Colliver bore"Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, The Compact with the Charter and Laws of the Colony of New Plymouth 176 (William Brigham ed., 1836)(1675)Required every one to bring arms to Sunday church services, furnishing six chargers of powder and shott. Penalty of two shillings for violations.Item type:Item, The Charters And General Laws Of The Colony And Province Of Massachusetts Bay 190 (1814)(1663)Colony Laws. § 4: Be it also enacted by the authority of this court, that no masters of ships, or seamen, having their vessels riding within any of our harbors in this jurisdiction, shall presume to drink healths, or suffer any healths to be drunk within their vessels by day or night, or to shoot off any gun after the daylight is past, or on the sabbath day, on penalty for every health twenty shillings, and for every gun so shot twenty shillings.Item type:Item, Records Of The Colony Of New Plymouth 177 (1856)(1675)that whoever shall shoot of any gun on any necessary occasion, or at any game whatsoever, except at an Indian or a wolf, shall forfeit five shillings for every such shot, till further liberty shall be given.Item type:Item, 7 Archives of Marland 51-2(1678)"Forasmuch as there is nothing more acceptable to almighty God then the true and Sincere Service & worship of him according to his holy will & fforasmuch as the Sanctifying or keepeing Holy of the Lords day comonly called Sunday is and hath been esteemed by the present & all primitive Christian Churches & people a principall and cheife part of the said Worship, which day in most places in this Province hath been & still is profaned and neglected by a wicked and disorderly sort of people by working Drunkeness swearing gameing vnlawfull pastimes and other Debaucheries to the high dishonnor of almighty God the Scandall of Christian Religion... That noe person or persons from & after the time aforesaid shall profane or abuse the said Lords day as aforesaid by Drunkeness Swearing gameing at Cards Dice Billiards Shuffell boards bowles Nynepins horserace fowling or hunting or any other vnlawfull Sportes or recreations "Item type:Item, The Grants, Concessions, and Original Constitutions of the Province of New-Jersey 78 (1752)(1668)every Male from 16 Years and upwards, to the Age of 60 Years, shall be furnished at their own Cost and Charge, with good and sufficient Arms, and constantly maintain the same, viz., a good serviceable Gun well fixed, one pound of good Powder, four Pounds of Pistol Bullets, or Twenty four Bullets suited to the Gun, a Pair of Bandeleers, or a good Horn and a Sword and Belt...Item type:Item, 22 & 23 Car. 2, c. 25 (1671)(1671)Prohibited any person "not having Lands and Tenements of the clear yearly value of One hundred pounds" from firearm possession.Item type:Item, 14 Car. 2, c.3 (1662)(1662)Ordered deputy lieutenants to seize arms from any person "judge[d] dangerous to the Peace of the Kingdom."Item type:Item, The Grants, Concessions, and Original Constitutions of the Province of New-Jersey 103 (1752)(1675)Be il enacfed by this Asiiemh\y, that no person or persons oi what state or degree soever within this Province, shall under any preetence sell, give or any other ways supply any Indian or Indians, with any guns or ammunituion whatsoever instrumental for war, or what quantity or worth soever, be it never so small...Item type:Item, The Grants, Concessions, and Original Constitutions of the Province of New-Jersey 135 (1752)(1679)[A]ll males from sixteen years old to sixty, having sufficient warning from the captain of each company, shall make their appearance in compleat arms, at the time and place appointed for disciplining of the said company, excepting magistrates, ministers, deputies, and constables...Item type:Item, 8 Stat. at Large, from the Twelfth Year of King Charles II, to the Last Year of King James II 40 (Danby Pickering ed. 1763)(1662)1662 Militia Act: Ordered the king's agents to search for and seize all arms in the custody or possession of any person "judge[ d] dangerous to the peace of the kingdom."Item type:Item, 1 Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 2, 79 (J. Hammond Trumbull ed., 1850) (enacted 1644)(1665)Prohibited the repairing, selling, and giving "any Indian" a gun or ammunition, punishable by fine.Item type:Item, 1 Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 351 (J. Hammond Trumbull ed., 1850) (enacted 1646)(1660)"This Court orders, that ifany Indians shal bring in Guns into any o fthe Townes in this Coll: It shal be lawful for any on eof ye English to seize on their guns, and to keep them until there be 10s. a piece brought to redeem each gun, wch shal be devided, one half to ye Treasurie, the other half to ye seazer."