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.
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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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Now showing 1 - 40 of 80

3 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 335-38 (1823)
(1705)
The militia included "all male persons whatsoever, from sixteen to sixty years of age ... to serve in horse or foot." An infantryman needed "a firelock, muskett or fusee well fixed, a good sword," cartridge box, and ammunition. He had to bring six rounds of ammunition to muster. Additionally, he had to "have at his place of abode two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shott, and bring the same into the field with him when thereunto specially required." A horseman needed the usual tack and ammunition accoutrements along with a pair of pistols and a sword. He had to bring eight rounds of ammunition to muster. At his usual place of abode, he also had to keep a well fixed carabine, two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shot. The act made it unlawful for creditors to seize a militiaman's arms as payment for debts. If a creditor nevertheless took someone's militia equipment, the seizure would "be unlawful and void." Any "officer or person that presumes to make or serve the same" (e.g., a sheriff serving a writ of attachment) would "be lyable to the suit of the party grieved, wherein double damages shall be given upon recovery."
4 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 78 (1823)
(1720)
Appropriated one thousand pounds to distribute "to each christian titheable [subject to taxation], one firelock, musket, one socket, bayonet fitted thereto, one cartouch box, eight pounds bullet, two pounds powder, until the whole one thousand pounds be laid out."
3 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 205-07 (1823)
(1701)
Provided 500-acre land grants, with the proviso that the grantee keep "upon the said land one christian man between sixteen and sixty years of age perfect of limb, able and fitt for service." Such men should be "continually provided with a well fixt musquett or fuzee, a good pistoll, sharp simeter, tomahauk and five pounds of good clean pistoll powder and twenty pounds of sizable leaden bulletts or swan or goose shott to be kept within the fort directed by this act besides the powder and shott for his necessary or usefull shooting at game..."
5 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 16 (1823)
(1738)
The militia under this act consisted of "all male persons, above the age of one and twenty years."
Laws and Acts of Her Majesties Colony of Rhode Island, and Province-Plantations Made from the First Settlement in 1636 to 1705, at 48 (1896)
(1700)
Persons subject to militia service also had to serve on watch and ward (day and night guard duty in towns). Mandatied that each militiaman appear with a "Good & Sufficient muskett or Fuze a Sword or Bayenet, Catooch box or Bandelers wth twelve Bulets fit for his Piece half a Pound of Powder & Six good Flints."
9 Stat. at Large of South Carolina: Containing the Acts Relating to Roads, Bridges and Ferries, With an Appendix, Containing the Militia Acts Prior to 1794, at 617-19 (David J. McCord ed., 1841)
(1703)
Included "all and every the inhabitants from the age of sixteen years to sixty." It required "each person or soldier" to appear "with a good sufficient gun, well fixed, a good cover for their lock, one good cartridge box, with at least twenty cartridges of good powder and ball, and one good belt or girdle, one ball of wax sticking at the end of the cartridge box, to defend the arms in rain, one worm, one wier and four good spare flints, also a sword, bayonet or hatchet.
The Charter and the Acts and Laws of His Majesties Colony of Rhode Island, and Providence-Plantations in America, 1719, at 86 (Sidney S. Rider, ed. 1895)
(1718)
Provided that "all male Persons ... from the Age of Sixteen, to the Age of Sixty Years, shall bear Arms." Arms were "one good Musket, or Fuzee, the Barrel whereof not to be less than three foot and an half in length," plus a sword or bayonet, a pound of gunpowder, thirty bullets, six flints, and a cartridge box.
9 Stat. at Large of South Carolina: Containing the Acts Relating to Roads, Bridges and Ferries, With an Appendix, Containing the Militia Acts Prior to 1794, at 643 (David J. McCord ed., 1841)
(1739)
"all persons who are liable to bear arms, shall constantly keep in their houses such arms, furniture, ammunition and accoutrements.
1715 N.C. Sess. Laws 29
(1715)
The Militia of this Government shall consist of all the Freemen within the same between the years of Sixteen years & Sixty. This included free blacks. Each militiaman had to provide himself with "a good Gun well-fixed Sword & at least Six Charges of Powder & Ball."
1746 N.C. Sess. Laws 244
(1746)
Mandated that each militiaman appear with "a Gun, fit for service, a Cartouch Box, and a Sword, Cutlass, or Hanger [a type of sword], and at least Twelve Charges of Powder and Bail, or Swan Shot, and Six Spare Flints
1715 N.C. Sess. Laws 30
(1715)
"And Be It Further Enacted by the Authority afors'd that all such persons who by this Act are exempt from Enlisting themselves or appearing at Muster as afors'd shall be ready at any time of danger to wait & attend the commands of the Governor or Commander in Chief for the time being completely provided with Arms & Ammunition on Penalty of Ten Pounds for such neglect to be levied by Warrant from the Governor or Commander in Chief as before in this Act is appointed for other times."
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 15 (1980)
(1746)
Sought to raise 500 troops for a state army expedition against Canada. This act also made it unlawful for an officer "to inlist any young Men under the Age of Twenty One Years, or any Slaves who are so for Term of Life, bought Servants, or Apprentices, without the Express Leave in Writing of their Parents or Guardians, Masters or Mistresses."
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 5 (1980); see also 1753 N.J. Laws ch. 257; 1766 N.J. Laws ch. 422; 1770 N.J. Laws ch. 520; 1771 N.J. Laws ch. 539
(1746)
Each militiaman between the Age of Sixteen and Fifty Years" must "be sufficiently armed with one good sufficient Musket or Fuzee well fixed, a Sword or Bayonet, a Cartouch-Box or Powder-Horn," plus bullets and powder.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 5 (1980)
(1746)
Required most men aged 16 to 50 to enroll in the colonial militia, provide their own weapons and ammunition, attend regular training musters, and obey military officers. Violators faced fines and, if unpaid, up to three days' imprisonment.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 15-20 (1980)
(1746)
Encouraged 500 freemen and allied Native Americans to enlist for a campaign against French Canada by offering a £6 bonus, temporary protection from most civil debt collection, and military pay. It prohibited enlisting minors, slaves, servants, or apprentices without permission and imposed substantial penalties for unlawful enlistment.
1 Albert G. Hodges, A Digest of the Statute Laws of Kentucky 787 (1834)
(1738)
Designated deer hunting seasons and penalties for out-of-season harvests.
9 Stat. at Large of S.C. 633 (1841)
(1721)
"Acts relating to the Militia," Stateutes at Large of South Carolina No. 440: Required that master or mistress provide "every white male servant or servants… at the term and exdpirtation of his or their srvice be freed and discharged shall be provided with such good and sufficient arms, ammunition, and accoutrments, as by this act is directed..."
23 W. Clark, State Records of North Carolina 63 (1904)
(1715)
Ch. 46, An Act Concerning Servants & Slaves: Directed "that every Christian Servant shall be allowed by their Master or Mistress at the expitation of his or her time of srvice Three Barrells of Indyan Corn & two new Suits of Apparrel of the Value of Five ounds at leasr or in liey of one suit of Apparrel a good well-fixed Gun, if he bwe a Manservant."
4 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 78 (1823)
(1720)
Appropriated one thousand pounds to distribute "to each christian titheable [subject to taxation], one firelock, musket, one socket, bayonet fitted thereto, one cartouch box, eight pounds bullet, two pounds powder, until the whole one thousand pounds be laid out."
3 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 335-38 (1823)
(1705)
The militia included "all male persons whatsoever, from sixteen to sixty years of age . . . to serve in horse or foot." An infantryman needed "a firelock, muskett or fusee well fixed, a good sword," cartridge box, and ammunition. He had to bring six rounds of ammunition to muster. Additionally, he had to "have at his place of abode two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shott, and bring the same into the field with him when thereunto specially required." A horseman needed the usual tack and ammunition accoutrements along with a pair of pistols and a sword. He had to bring eight rounds of ammunition to muster. At his usual place of abode, he also had to keep a well fixed carabine, two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shot. The act made it unlawful for creditors to seize a militiaman's arms as payment for debts. If a creditor nevertheless took someone's militia equipment, the seizure would "be unlawful and void." Any "officer or person that presumes to make or serve the same" (e.g., a sheriff serving a writ of attachment) would "be lyable to the suit of the party grieved, wherein double damages shall be given upon recovery."
3 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 205-07 (1823)
(1701)
Provided 500-acre land grants, with the proviso that the grantee keep "upon the said land one christian man between sixteen and sixty years of age perfect of limb, able and fitt for service." Such men should be "continually provided with a well fixt musquett or fuzee, a good pistoll, sharp simeter, tomahauk and five pounds of good clean pistoll powder and twenty pounds of sizable leaden bulletts or swan or goose shott to be kept within the fort directed by this act besides the powder and shott for his necessary or usefull shooting at game..."
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.
2 Laws of New Hampshire: Province Period 284-85 (Albert Stillman Batchellor ed., 1913)
(1704)
"All Male Persons from Sixteen Years of Age to Sixty [] shall bear Arms." The primary arms mandate applied to "every Listed Souldier and Housholder (except Troopers)." In other words, the head of a house was required to have the specified arms, even if the head were not militia-eligible. These arms were "a well fix'd, Firelock Musket, of Musket or Bastard-Musket bore, the Barrel not less than three foot and a half long; or other good Fire-Arms, to the satisfaction of the Commission Officers of the Company." Now, the mandatory equipment included gun cleaning tools: "a Worm and Priming Wire fit for his Gun." Mandatory edged arms were "a good Sword or Cutlash." As for horsemen, they needed "a Carbine, the Barrel not less than Two Foot and half long, with a Belt and Swivel, a Case of good Pistols with a Sword or Cutlash, a Flask or Cartouch Box, One Pound of good Powder, Three Pound of sizeable Bullets, Twenty Flints, and a good pair of Boots, and Spurs.
9 The Statutes at Large of South Carolina: Containing the Acts Relating to Roads, Bridges and Ferries, With an Appendix, Containing the Militia Acts Prior to 1794, at 645-47 (David J. McCord ed., 1841)
(1747)
Affirmed that it was "lawful to . . . call together all male persons in this Province, from the age of sixteen to sixty years." It also made "every person liable to appear and bear arms . . . keep in his house, or at his usual place of residence, and bring with him to such muster, exercise or training, one gun or musket, fit for service, a cover for his lock, one cartridge box," twelve cartridges, horn or flask filled with at least a quarter pound of gun powder, a shot pouch with appropriate bullets, "one girdle or belt, one ball of wax . . . to defend his arms in rain, one worm and picker, four spare flints, a bayonet, sword or hatchet.
9 The Statutes at Large of South Carolina: Containing the Acts Relating to Roads, Bridges and Ferries, With an Appendix, Containing the Militia Acts Prior to 1794, at 617 (David J. McCord ed., 1841)
(1703)
Included "all and every the inhabitants from the age of sixteen years to sixty." It required "each person or soldier" to appear "with a good sufficient gun, well fixed, a good cover for their lock, one good cartridge box, with at least twenty cartridges of good powder and ball, and one good belt or girdle, one ball of wax sticking at the end of the cartridge box, to defend the arms in rain, one worm, one wier and four good spare flints, also a sword, bayonet or hatchet.
5 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 17 (1819) (enacted 1738)
(1738)
An act for the better Regulation of the Militia: "That every person, so as aforesaid listed, free mulattos, negros and Indians,) and placed or ranked in horse or foot, shall be armed and accoutred in manner following: that is to say, Every horse-man shall be furnished with a serviceable Isorse, a good saddle, with breast-plate, crupper, curb-bridle, carbine or fuzee, and bucket, holsters, a case of pistols, cutting sword or cutlass, double cartouch-box, and six charges of powder,- and constantly appear with the same, at the time and place appointed for muster and exercise; and shall keep at his place of abode, one pound of powder, and four pounds of ball, and bring the same into the field with him, when thereunto required. And every footman shall be furnished with a firelock, musket, or fuzee, well fixed, a bayonet fitted to the same, or a cutting sword or cutlass, a cartouch-box, and three charges of powder"
5 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 62 (1819) (enacted 1738)
(1738)
Ch. 14, § 8: "That whosoever shall, hereafter, use any firehunting, or the killing of any deer by such means on any patented land; every person present at such fire hunting, shall forfeit and pay twenty shillings for every such offence: And if any Indian be found fire-hunting, as aforesaid, it shall and may be lawful, for the owner of such land, or his or her overseer, to take away the gun of such Indian, and the same to keep to his own use.'"
4 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 131 (1823)
(1723)
Ch. 4, § 14: "And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That no negro, mulatto,or Indian whatsoewver; (except as is hereafter excepted,) shall hereafter presume to keep, or carry any gun, powder, shot, any club, or other weapon whatsoever, offensive or defensive; but that every gun, and all powder and shot,whipped. and every such club or weapon. as aforesaid, found or taken in the hands, custody, or possession of any such negro, mulatto, or Indian, shall be taken away..."
5 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 61 (1819) (enacted 1738)
(1738)
Ch. 14, § 2: "That from and fter the passing of this act, it shall not be lawful for any person whatsoever, to hunt, shoot or kill, any bark, between the first day of December, and the last day of July, which shall be in any year; nor to hunt, shoot, or kill, any doe or fawn, between the first day of January, and the last day of September, in any year. And if any person whatsoever shall presume to hunt, shoot, or kill, or destroy, any such bucks, doe, or fawn, running wild in the woods, within the times herein before respectively limitted; or shall buy or receive the samee of any Indian, or other person; every such person so offending s?II forfeit and pay the sum of twenty shillings current money, for every buck, doe, or fawn, so killed, bought, or received;"
3 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 403 (1823)
(1705)
Ch. 49: An act concerning Servants and Slaves: Directed masters at completion of indenture to provide to male servants "one well fixed musket or fuzee, of the value of twenty shillings, at least"
The Statutes at Large of South Carolina: Edited Under Authority of the Legislature 417 (1840)
(1743)
"every white male inhabitant of this Province... who shall, on any Sunday or Christmas day in the year, go and resort to any church or any other public place of divine worship within this Province, and shall not carry with him a gun or a pair of horse pistols, in good order and fit for service, with at least six charges of gun-powder and ball, and shall not carry the same into the church or other place of divine worship as aforesaid, every such person shall forfeit and pay the sum of twenty shillings, current money, for every neglect of the same."
1740 S.C. Acts 174
(1740)
An Act for the Better Ordering and Governing of Negroes and other Slaves in this Province, § 41: And Whereas an ill custom has prevailed in this Province, of firing guns in the night time; for the prevention thereof for the future, be it enacted that if any person shall fire or shoot off any gun or pistol in the night time after dark and before day-light without necessity every such person shall forfeit the sum of 40s. current money for each gun so fired as aforesaid
7 Stat. at Large of S.C. 417–19 (1840) (enacted 1740, re-enacted 1743)
(1740)
Required ever white male inhabitant liable for militia service to carry a gun or pair of horse pistols in good order and fit for service to church. Also required at least six charges of gun powder and ball. Violators liable for twenty shillings on each violation.
1740 S.C. Acts 11–12
(1740)
An Act for the Better Ordering and Governing of Negroes and other Slaves in this Province, § 23: Prohibited any "negro or slave" from possessing or using firearms or weapons without a ticket or license from their master, punishable by seizure of weapons.
Acts and Laws of His Majesties Colony of Rhode-Island, and Providence Plantations in America 86-87 (1179 [1719])
(1718)
That every Listed Soldier of the said Militia, shall be always provided with one good Musket, or Fuzee, the Barrel whereof not to be less than three foot and an half in length, to the satisfaction of the Commission Officers of the Company; also one pound of good Gunpowder, thirty Bullets, fit for his Gun, six good Flints, fit for Service; one good Sword, or Baionet, a Cartouch Box, ready
1731 R.I. Pub. Laws 240-241
(1731)
Restricted the firing of any gun, pistol, squib, rocket, or firework on any street or in any tarvern after dark. Violators fined five shillings on first offense, ten shillings on second offense, twenty shillings for offenses beyond the second.
3 Stat. at Large of Pa. 253-254, ch. 245, § IV
(1721)
Restricted the firing of guns or other firearms within the city. Violators fined five shillings or two days jail time.
1725 Pa. Laws 31, An Act For The Better Securing Of The City Of Philadelphia From The Danger Of Gunpowder, § 2.
(1725)
No person whatever within the precincts of the city of Philadelphia aforesaid, nor within Two Miles thereof, shall, from and after the Time the Powder Store aforesaid is so erected and finished presume to keep in any House, Shop, Cellar, Store, or Place of the said City, nor within Two Miles thereof, other than the Powder Store aforesaid, any more or greater Quantity, at any one Time, than Twelve Pounds of Gun-powder, under the Penalty of Ten Pounds for every such Offence.
The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, at, 46-49, ch. 456, §§ 1-8
(1721)
That if any person or persons shall presume, at any time after the sixteenth day of November, in this present year on thousand seven hundred and twenty one, to carry any gun or hunt on the improved or inclosed lands of any plantation other than his own, unless he have license or permission from the owner of such lands or plantation, and shall thereof convicted ether upon view of any justice of the peace within this province, or by the oath or affirmation of any one or more witnesses, before any justice of the peace, he shall for every such offense forfeit the sum of ten shillings.

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