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.

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Now showing 1 - 40 of 85

Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, and Constitutions 11 (John Holt ed., 1763)
(1763)
Prohibited the discharge of firearms within the city of New York.
Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, and Constitutions 39-40 (John Holt ed., 1763)
(1763)
Limits gunpowder stored within New York City, requires excess powder to be kept in licensed public magazines, regulates storage, transport, fees, and inspections, and imposes fines for violations to reduce fire and explosion risks.
1793 Mass. Acts 289-90
(1763)
Requires free, able-bodied white male citizens ages eighteen to forty-five to enroll in the state militia and prove eligibility if questioned.
9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 281 (1823)
(1777)
Required "all free born male inhabitants of this state, above the age of sixteen years" to "renounce and refuse all allegiance to George the third" and swear to "be faithful and bear true allegiance to the commonwealth of Virginia, as a free and independent state."
9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 267-68 (1823)
(1777)
Applied to "all free male persons, hired servants [not indentured], and apprentices, between the ages of sixteen and fifty years." "The county lieutenant, colonels, lieutenant colonels, and major" had to appear "with a sword." Every captain and lieutenant needed a "firelock and bayonet, a cartouch box, a sword, and three charges of powder and ball." Ensigns needed a sword. Non-commissioned officers and privates had to have a rifle and tomahawk, or good fire-lock and bayonet, with a pouch and horn, or a cartouch or cartridge box, and with three charges of powder and ball; and, moreover, each of the said officers and soldiers shall constantly keep one pound of powder and four pounds of ball, to be produced whenever called for by his commanding officer.
9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 16, 28 (1823)
(1775)
Established militia age limits of 16 and 50. Every militiaman had to "furnish himself with a good rifle, if to be had, or otherwise with a tomahawk, common firelock, bayonet, pouch, or cartouch box, three charges of powder and ball, and appear with the same at the place appointed for mustering, and shall constantly keep by him one pound of powder and four pounds of ball."
7 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 534, 537 (1823)
(1762)
Ensured that "every person so exempted shall always keep in his house or place of abode such arms, accoutrements, and ammunition, as are by the [1757] act required to be kept by the militia."
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 665-75 (David J. McCord ed., 1841)
(1778)
Applied to "all male free inhabitants ... from the age of sixteen to sixty years." Every militiaman had to "constantly keep in good repair, at his place of abode ... one good musket and bayonet, or a good substantial smooth bore gun and bayonet, a cross belt and cartouch box" that could hold thirty-six rounds, "twelve rounds of good cartridges," plus "half a pound of spare powder and twenty-four spare rounds of leaden bullets or buck-shot," a cover for the gunlock, wax, worm picker, and "one screw driver or substantial knife." Instead of the musket plus bayonet, a militiaman could choose "one good rifle-gun and tomahawk or cutlass."
Vermont State Papers, Being a Collection of Records and Documents, Connected with the Assumption and Establishment of Government by the People of Vermont 305 (1823)
(1779)
Provided that "all male persons, from sixteen years of age to fifty, shall bear arms." The firearm could be "a well fixed firelock, the barrel not less than three feet and a half long, or other good fire-arms." The edged arm was to be "a good sword, cutlass, tomahawk or bayonet." For cleaning, a soldier or "other householder" needed "a worm, and priming-wire, fit for each gun." Suitable ammunition storage for a solider could be with "a cartouch box, or powder-horn and bullet-pouch." Adequate supplies were at least a pound of gun powder, four pounds of bullets, "and six good flints."
1777 N.C. Sess. Laws 1
(1777)
The Militia of every County shall consist of all the effective men from sixteen to fifty years of age.
1760 N.C. Sess. Laws 518
(1760)
"[T]hat all Freemen and Servants within this Province, between the Age of Sixteen and Sixty ... there be mustered, trained, and exercised in Arms, and be provided with a well-fixed Gun, shall forfeit and Pay, if at a private Muster, Six Shillings, if at a general Muster Ten Shillings; and shall also be provided with a Cartouch-Box, a Sword, Cutlass or Hanger, and have at least Nine charges of Powder (made into Cartridges) and sizeable Bullets or Swan Shot, and Three spare-flints, a Worm, a Picker..."
1776-77 N.J. Laws 26
(1777)
[A]ll able-bodied Men, not being Slaves … between the Ages of sixteen and fifty Years … and [] capable of bearing Arms" constituted the militia.
1886 N.Y. Laws 94
(1778)
Established "a night watch in the counties of Ulster, Tryon,Charlotte, Dutchess, and Albany." Service on the watch was required of "every able bodied male inhabitant, Indians and slaves excepted…from sixteen years of age till sixty."
4 Laws of New Hampshire, Revolutionary Period 39-42 (Henry Harrison Metcalf ed., 1916)
(1776)
An Act for forming and regulating the Militia within the State of New Hampshire in New England, and for repealing all the Laws heretofore made for that purpose: Retained the recently established age limits of 16 to 50. Any "good Fire Arm" was acceptable. Also mandatory was a "good Ramrod." The latter was used to ram the bullet down the muzzle, into the firing chamber. It was essential to the use of a muzzle-loading gun. While some militia statutes specified a ramrod, many left it to implication. By requiring that a gun be "well fixed" or "good," the less specific statutes implicitly required all appropriate accoutrements, including the ramrod. For gun cleaning, the worm and priming wire had long been mandated. The new laws had an additional item: a brush. Two types of edged weapons were needed. First, "a Bayonet fitted to his Gun." In close quarters fighting, an infantryman would attach the bayonet to the front of his gun. Then the gun would be used as a spear. Since there was a bayonet, there had to be "a Scabbard and Belt therefor." Besides the bayonet, one additional edged weapon was mandatory: "a Cutting Sword, or a Tomahawk or Hatchet." The ammunition items were: "Pouch containing a Cartridge Box, that will hold fifteen Rounds of Cartridges at least, a Hundred Buck Shot, a Jack Knife and Tow for Wadding, six Flints, one Pound of Powder, forty Leaden Balls fitted to his Gun." Finally, field supplies: "Knapsack and Blanket, a Canteen or Wooden Bottle sufficient to hold one Quart." Persons who were self-sufficient had to supply themselves with the required items. As for others, "all Parents, Masters, and Guardians, shall furnish and equip those of the Militia which are under their Care and Command
78 Proceedings of the Conventions of the Province of Maryland, 1774-1776, at 20 (1836); see also 1777 Md. Laws ch. 17
(1775)
Required "[t]hat every able bodied effective freeman within this province, between sixteen and fifty years of age ... enroll himself in some company of militia." Further retained the new maximum of 50 years and excluded non-whites.
1778 Del. Acts, Mar. Adjourned Sess. 3-5
(1778)
Included "each and every able-bodied, effective, Male white Person between the Ages of Eighteen and Fifty." Militiamen had to provide their own "Musket or Firelock with a Bayonet," plus the cartridge box, cartridges, priming wire, brush, and six flints. For 18-to-20-year-olds who could not afford the mandatory arms, the parents had to provide them, if the parents could afford them.
1778 Del. Acts, Mar. Adjourned Sess. 1-3
(1778)
Another law punished people who bought from militiamen the arms or accoutrements that militiamen were supposed to always keep. If the illicit buyer were a man 18 to 50, the punishment could include six months' service in the militia.
Vt. Const. ch. 1, § XV
(1777)
Declared a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state.
E. Wayne Carp, To Starve The Army At Pleasure: Continental Army Administration and American Political Culture, 1775-1783, at 66-67 (1984)
(1776)
George Washington ordered the quartermaster general to stamp all Continental Army tools with the insignia "CXIII" to limit embezzlement of military equipment.
Vermont State Papers, Being a Collection of Records and Documents, Connected with the Assumption and Establishment of Government by the People of Vermont 305 (1823)
(1779)
Provided that "all male persons, from sixteen years of age to fifty, shall bear arms." The firearm could be "a well fixed firelock, the barrel not less than three feet and a half long, or other good fire-arms." The edged arm was to be "a good sword, cutlass, tomahawk or bayonet." For cleaning, a soldier or "other householder" needed "a worm, and priming-wire, fit for each gun." Suitable ammunition storage for a solider could be with "a cartouch box, or powder-horn and bullet-pouch." Adequate supplies were at least a pound of gun powder, four pounds of bullets, "and six good flints."
1779 R.I. Laws, Oct. Reg. Sess. 32
(1779)
"[E]ach and every effective Man as aforesaid [had to] provide, and at all times be furnished, at his own Expence (excepting such Persons as the Town-Councils of the Towns in which they respectively dwell or reside shall adjudge unable to purchase the same) with one good Musquet, and a Bayonet fitted thereto, with a Sheath and Belt, or Strap, for the same, one Ram-rod, Worm, Priming-wire and Brush, and one Cartouch-Box."
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 666-72 (David J. McCord ed., 1841)
(1778)
Applied to "all male free inhabitants . . . from the age of sixteen to sixty years."391 Every militiaman had to "constantly keep in good repair, at his place of abode . . . one good musket and bayonet, or a good substantial smooth bore gun and bayonet, a cross belt and cartouch box" that could hold thirty-six rounds, "twelve rounds of good cartridges," plus "half a pound of spare powder and twenty-four spare rounds of leaden bullets or buck-shot," a cover for the gunlock, wax, worm picker, and "one screw driver or substantial knife." Instead of the musket plus bayonet, a militiaman could choose "one good rifle-gun and tomahawk or cutlass.
1760 N.C. Sess. Laws 521
(1760)
Every trooper (horseman) needed "Holsters, Housing, Breast-Plate and Crupper, a Case of good Pistols, a good Broad Sword, Twelve Charges of Powder, Twelve sizeable Bullets, a Pair of Shoe-Boots, with suitable Spurs, and a Carbine well fixed, with a good Belt, Swivel and Bucket."
1770 N.C. Sess. Laws 787-88
(1770)
Eliminated a conscientious objector exemption and ordered "all Male Persons of the people called Quakers, between the age of Sixteen and Sixty" to enlist in the militia. Additionally, the act provided that "the Father or where there is no Father living, the Mother of each and every Person under the age of Twenty One Years, shall be liable to the Payment of the Fines becoming due from their respective sons so under age."
1779 N.C. Sess. Laws 191-2
(1779)
[E]ach Militia Soldier [had to] be furnished with a Good Gun, Shot bag a Cartouch Box or powder Horn, a Cutlass or Tomahawk.
1777 N.C. Sess. Laws 1
(1777)
The Militia of every County shall consist of all the effective men from sixteen to fifty years of age.
78 Proceedings of the Conventions of the Province of Maryland, 1774-1776, at 20 (1836); see also 1777 Md. Laws ch. 17
(1775)
Required "[t]hat every able bodied effective freeman within this province, between sixteen and fifty years of age . . . enroll himself in some company of militia." Further retained the new maximum of 50 years and excluded non-whites.
9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 281-82 (1821)
(1777)
Act of May 5, 1777, ch. 3: An act to oblige the free male inhabitants of this state above a certain age to give assurance of Allegiance to the same, and for other purposes. WHEREAS allegiance and protection are reciprocal, and those who will not bear the former are not entitled to the benefits of the later, Therefore Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that all free born male inhabitants of this state, above the age of sixteen years, except imported servants during the time of their service, shall, on or before the tenth day of October next, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation before some one of the justices of the peace of the county, city, or borough, where they shall respectively inhabit; and the said justice shall give a certificate thereof to every such person, and the said oath or affirmation shall be as followeth, viz . . . And the justices tendering such oath or affirmation are hereby directed to deliver a list of the names of such recusants to the county lieutenant, or chief commanding officer of the militia, who is hereby authorised and directed forthwith to cause such recusants to be disarmed
9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 281–82 (1821)
(1777)
Act of May 5, 1777, ch. 3: Required any "free male inhabitants of this state above a certain age" to take an oath of allegiance to the state.
1779 Vt. Acts & Resolves 59
(1779)
An Act for Forming and Regulating the Militia; and for Encouragement of Military Skill, for the Better Defense of This State: That every listed soldier and other householder, shall always be provided with, and have in constant readiness, a well fixed firelock, the barrel not less than three feet and a half long, or other good firearms, to the satisfaction of the commissioned officers of the company to which he doth belong, or in the limits of which he dwells; a good sword, cutlass, tomahawk or bayonet; a worm, and priming wire, fit for each gun
Vermont State Papers 307 (1823)
(1779)
Required every listed soldier and other householder to be provided and have in constant readiness: a firearm, blade weapon, gunpowder, bullets, and cleaning equipment.
4 Stat. at Large of S.C. 343-44 (1838)
(1776)
An Act to Prevent Sedition, and Punish Insurgents and Disturbers of the Public Peace, § 1: Prohibited any person to "take up arms with a hostile intent."
4 Stat. at Large of S.C. 319–20 (1838)
(1770)
Creating a public powder magazine and directing "That persons living in Charlestown shall store their gunpowder, except the quantity which by law they are allowed to keep in their houses…" were to be stored in the public magazines. There is no mention what that quantity was
1762 R.I. Pub. Laws 132
(1762)
An Act of June 1762: That every person who shall import gunpowder into the town of Newport aforesaid shall cause the same to be conveyed immediately to the powder house at the North Easterly part of town, before the vessel in which the said Powder shall be imported, be brought to any Wharf; upon the penalty of paying into the Town-Treasury of the said Town of Newport, a Fine of Ten Shillings Lawful Money, for every cask which shall not be conveyed to the Powder House as aforesaid
7 Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England 567 (1862)
(1776)
Required any male citizen age sixteen or above to take a loyalty oath and failure to do so without providing proper justificaiton results in disarmament
By-Laws and Ordinances of the City of Pittsburgh 28-29 (1828)
(1774)
Ch. 703, § 1 : Prohibited on any thirty-first day of December, or first or second day of January, in every year, wantonly, and without reasonable occasion, discharge and fire off any hand-gun, pistol or other fire-arms, or shall cast, throw or fire any squibs, rockets or other fire-works, within the inhabited parts of this province, to the disturbance of any of his majesty's subjects there inhabiting and being
A Digest of the Ordinances of the Corporation of the City of Philadelphia, at 87, Firing of Guns, &c., Act of April 9, 1760, § 7. (1828)
(1760)
No person whatsoever shall presume to shoot at, or kill with a fire arm, any pigeon, dove, partridge, or other fowl, in the open streets of the city of Philadelphia, or in the gardens, orchards and inclosures, adjoining upon and belonging to any of the dwelling-houses within the limits of the said city, or suburbs thereof, or any of the boroughs or towns within this province,
9 Stat. at Large of Pa. 336-37, ch. 833, § 9 (1903)
(1779)
That if any person within this commonwealth shall challenge the person of another to fight at sword, pistol, rapier or other dangerous weapon, such person so challenging shall forfeit and pay for every such offense (being lawfully convicted by the testimony of one or more credible witnesses, or by the confession of the party offending,) the sum of five hundred pounds, or suffer twelve months imprisonment without bail or mainprise
1776 PA. CONST., Declaration of Rights, § XIII
(1776)
Declared a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state.
1763 Pa. Laws 306, An Act to prohibit the Selling of Guns, Gun-Powder, or other Warlike Stores, to the Indians, § 1
(1763)
Prohibited the giving, selling, bartering guns, ammunition, or warlike equipment to "any Indian," punishable by fine or imprisonment.

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