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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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 60

The Compact with the Charter and Laws of the Colony of New Plymouth 1, 8-12 (William Brigham ed., 1836)
(1620)
Authorized the colony's council to appoint officials, enact laws consistent with English law, impose martial law during emergencies, recruit settlers, transport supplies duty-free, and use military force to defend the colony and exclude unauthorized inhabitants.
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."
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."
7 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 93-94 (1823)
(1757)
Restored the minimum militia age to 18 and set the maximum age at 60. Soldiers had to furnish themselves with "a firelock well fixed, a bayonet fitted to the same," and keep an extra pound of powder and "four pounds of ball" at home.
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."
5 Stat. at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682-1801, at 197-200 (1898)
(1755)
"No youth under the age of twenty-one years nor any bought servant or indented apprentice shall be admitted to enroll himself or be capable of being enrolled in the said companies or regiments without the consent of his or their parents or guardians, masters or mistresses, in writing under their hands first had and obtained."
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.
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."
8 Stat. at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, at 492 (1902)
(1755)
Provided "that it be recommended to all male white persons within this province, between the ages of sixteen and fifty years, who have not already associated, and are not conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms, to join the said [militia] association immediately."
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.
8 Stat. at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, at 539 (1902)
(1755)
Imposed a special tax on "every male white person capable of bearing arms, between the ages of sixteen and fifty years" who had not joined a militia.
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 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."
1 The Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution 231-32 (1896)
(1691)
Lowered the minimum militia age, so that "noe person whatsoever from fiftieen to Sixty years of Age remaine unlisted." For every foot soldier, "a well fixed muskett or fuzee" for officers, "a good pike or Sword or lance and pistoll." At home, every foot soldier was to have "one pound of good powder and three pound of Sizeable bulletts," and every Trooper (horseman) had to "have at his usuall place of abode a well fixed Carabine with belt and Swivell and two pounds of fine powder with Six pounds of Sizeable bulletts."
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."
The Compact with the Charter and Laws of the Colony of New Plymouth 31 (William Brigham ed., 1836)
(1632)
"[E]very freeman or other inhabitant must provide for himselfe and each under him able to beare arms a musket and other serviceable peece with bandeleroes and other apurtanances," plus two pounds of powder and 10 pounds of bullets.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 502 (1980)
(1757)
Kept the age for militia between the Age of Sixteen and Fifty Years.
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.
52 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1755-1756, at 457 (1935)
(1756)
And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that as much Gunpowder and lead as can conveniently be spared Shall be taken out of the Publick Magazine and transmitted in due proportions and as the Same may be needed first to the Colonels and Commanding Officers of the Frontier Counties of this Province then to the Colonels and Commanding Officers of the other Counties respectively to be distributed by them in just and equal Proportions to and among the Persons under their Command so as that no more than one pound of Gunpowder and three pounds of Lead be delivered to any one Person and in Case that after such Distribution any Surplus shall remain the Said Colonels or Commanding Officers are hereby required to retain and keep the Same in their Possession to be disposed of as hereinafter directed And be it further Enacted that if any private Man of the Militia of this Province shall in the Course of his Duty by the Command of his Superiour Officer expend any part of the Quantity of Powder and Lead by this Act directed to be brought by every Person to the Place of Muster it Shall and may be lawful for such Superiour Officer and he is hereby required to deliver to such Person a certificate of the Number of Charges so expended directed to the Colonels and Commanding Officers of the County in which Such Person resides and such Colonels and Commanding Officers or any of them in whose hands any Surplus shall be as aforesaid shall immediately on such Certificates being produced deliver to Such Person the Quantity of Gunpowder and Lead therein Mentioned. Provided always that no Gunpowder shall at any Time be expended in training unless by the Order and Direction of the Colonel or Commanding Officer of the County.
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 502-11 (1980)
(1757)
Required most men aged 16 to 50 to enroll in the colony's militia, maintain specified arms and ammunition, and attend three annual training musters. Absences, appearing unarmed, or failing to keep required equipment resulted in fines, enforceable through seizure and sale of property. Captains were required to inspect arms regularly. Selling alcohol to militia members during musters was prohibited and punishable by fine. During invasions, rebellions, or alarms, militia members were subject to court-martial discipline for disobedience or nonappearance, though punishments could not include death or mutilation.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 425-36 (1980)
(1756)
Established a colonel to command New Jersey's frontier forces and required him to oversee discipline, training, and military readiness. He was obligated to conduct regular inspections of forts and posts, maintain at least eighty men on patrol, keep detailed records of enlistments, discharges, deaths, and military activities, and submit periodic reports to the governor and legislature. The colonel was also required to take loyalty oaths and swear to maintain accurate muster rolls and payroll records to prevent fraud and ensure proper compensation of soldiers.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 385-90 (1980)
(1756)
Authorized New Jersey to raise 250 volunteer freemen to defend the Sussex County frontier against Native American attacks. The volunteers were organized into three companies, received pay and limited protection from civil debt collection, and could be supplied with colony-owned muskets if necessary. The law prohibited enlisting minors, slaves, servants, or apprentices without permission and imposed substantial penalties on officers who violated those restrictions. It also appropriated funds for soldiers' wages, provisions, ammunition, and other military supplies, and established procedures for managing and disposing of unused stores.
3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 307-19 (1980)
(1755)
Authorized New Jersey to raise 500 free men and allied Native Americans for a military expedition against French encroachments. Volunteers received enlistment bonuses, military pay, and temporary protection from most civil debt collection, while safeguards prevented them from using enlistment to defraud creditors. Further, prohibited enlisting men under 21, slaves, servants, or apprentices without written permission from their parents, guardians, or masters. Justices could order their release, and officers who unlawfully enlisted or detained them faced substantial fines: £500 for minors, £100 for slaves, and £20 for servants or apprentices.
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.
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..."
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."
1756 R.I. Laws, Feb Sess. 73
(1756)
Made the parents of militiamen under 21 liable for unpaid fines for neglect of duty.
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.
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."
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.
8 The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, at 539 (1902)
(1755)
Imposed a special tax on "every male white person capable of bearing arms, between the ages of sixteen and fifty years" who had not joined a militia.
5 The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682-1801, at 197-200 (1898)
(1755)
"No youth under the age of twenty-one years nor any bought servant or indented apprentice shall be admitted to enroll himself or be capable of being enrolled in the said companies or regiments without the consent of his or their parents or guardians, masters or mistresses, in writing under their hands first had and obtained."

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