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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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 143

Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, and Constitutions 11 (John Holt ed., 1763)
(1763)
Prohibited the discharge of firearms within the city of New York.
1781 Del. Acts 1, 3
(1781)
Required most taxpaying men ages 18–50 to purchase and maintain militia arms and equipment at their own expense, imposing fines for noncompliance while exempting certain occupations and individuals.
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."
11 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 476-78 (1823)
(1784)
Increased its militia's minimum age to 18, and kept the maximum age at 50. Militiamen were required to appear "armed, equipped, and accoutred" according to rank. "The county lieutenants, lieutenant colonels commandant, and majors, with a sword; the captains, lieutenants, and ensigns, with a sword and espontoon." Noncommissioned officers and privates needed to supply themselves "with a good clean musket, carrying an ounce ball, and three feet eight inches long in the barrel, with a good bayonet and iron ramrod well fitted thereto." Plus also "a cartridge box properly made, to contain and secure twenty cartridges" and "a good knapsack and canteen."
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."
1786 Vt. Acts & Laws 6
(1786)
Kept the minimum militia age at 16, but lowered the maximum age to 45. The gun mandate was changed to "a good musket or firelock." The bayonet was now mandatory. Made separate provisions for horsemen; each dragoon had to provide "a case of good pistols, a sword or cutlass not less than three and one half feet in length," plus a pound of gunpowder, "three pounds of sizeable bullets," and eight flints. Since horsemen would have at least two guns (the pair of handguns) they needed a bigger supply of 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 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."
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 689-90 (David J. McCord ed., 1841)
(1784)
"Excused from militia duty, except in times of alarm ... all persons under the age of eighteen years or above the age of fifty years."
1782 N.C. Sess. Laws 413-14
(1782)
Created a draft for the Continental Army. Subject to the draft were "all the inhabitants ... between the ages of sixteen and fifty." To prevent the widespread community practice of filling draft ranks with the most vulnerable and least motivated, the act specified that "no British or Hessian deserter who hath not been a resident of this State twelve months, or orphan or apprentice under eighteen years of age, Indian, sailor or negro slave, shall be received as a substitute for any class volunteer or draft whatever."
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.
10 Stat. at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, at 191 (1904)
(1780)
Every militia company had to "provide or hire one able-bodied man not less than eighteen or more than forty-five years of age" to serve in the Pennsylvania Volunteers.
1792 N.Y. Laws 227
(1786)
Defined the New York militia as "every able- bodied male person, being a citizen of this state, or of any of the United States, and residing in this state (except such persons as are herein after excepted) and who are of the age of sixteen, and under the age of forty-five years." The arms were "a good musket or firelock," 24 bullets, "a sufficient bayonet" and other standard items."
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.
1780 N.J. Laws 42-43
(1780)
And Be It Enacted, That the Captain or Commanding Officer of each Company shall keep a true and perfect List or Roll of all effective Men between the Ages of sixteen and fifty Years, residing within the District of such Company ... And Be It Enacted, That every Person enrolled as aforesaid shall constantly keep himself furnished with a good Musket, well fitted with a Bayonet, a Worm, a Cartridge-Box, twenty-three Rounds of Cartridges sized to his Musket, a Priming Wire, Brush, six Flints, a Knapsack and Canteen, under the Forfeiture of Seven Shillings and Sixpence for Want of a Musket, and One Shilling for Want of any other of the aforesaid Articles, whenever called out to Training or Service ... Provided always, That if any Person be furnished as aforesaid with a good Rifle-Gun, the Apparatus necessary for the same, and a Tomahawk, it shall be accepted in Lieu of the Musket and the Bayonet and other Articles belonging thereto. Further required that "each Person enrolled…also keep at his Place of Abode one Pound of good merchantable Gunpowder and three Pounds of Ball sized to his Musket or Rifle
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."
1 Thomas & E.T. Andrews, The Perpetual Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from the Establishment of its Constitution in the Year 1780 to the End of the Year 1800, at 340-47 (1801)
(1788)
Every militiaman "not under the control of parents, masters or guardians, and being of sufficient ability therefore in the judgment of the selectmen of the town in which he shall dwell," had to "equip himself, and be constantly provided with a good fire-arm," plus a ramrod, cleaning tools, a bayonet and scabbard, a cartridge box to hold "fifteen cartridges at least," plus six flints, one pound of powder, forty leaden balls suitable for this firearm, a haversack, blanket, and canteen." Officers and cavalrymen had to provide themselves with horses plus associated equipment, and a carbine (a shorter, lighter-weight long gun, well-suited for use while mounted). Militiamen who failed to equip themselves with the required arms could be fined.
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
4 Laws of New Hampshire, Revolutionary Period 273 (Henry Harrison Metcalf ed., 1916)
(1780)
An Act for Forming & Regulating The Militia within this State, and for Repealing All the Laws heretofore made for that Purpose: Militiamen had to attend musters and drills, and sometimes had to march off to fight in distant locations. Further, all males under 70 who were capable of bearing arms were put on the "alarm list." This meant that they had to have all the same arms and gear as militiamen
18 Archives of Maryland: Muster Rolls and Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution 1775-1783, at 373-74 (1900)
(1781)
An Act to raise two battalions of militia for reinforcing the continental army, and to complete the number of select militia: Ordered local governments to draft one or two men to serve the Continental Army. Allowed lieutenants to play favorites: "to ease the good people, from the draught, every free male idle person, above 16 years of age, who is able bodied, and hath no visible means of an honest livelihood, may be adjudged a vagrant by the lieutenant, and by such adjudication he is to be considered as an enlisted soldier.
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.
U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 15
(1789)
Gave Congress power "To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions."
Articles of Confederation of 1781, art. IX
(1781)
Under a federal requisition, the state legislature had the duty to "raise the men and cloath, arm and equip them in a soldier like manner," with the Confederation Congress paying the expense.
U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 16
(1789)
Gave Congress the power to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress.
Articles of Confederation of 1781, art. VI
(1781)
Every state was obliged to "always keep up a well regulated and disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and accoutered."
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.
Acts and Laws of the State of Connecticut in America 144-50 (1786)
(1788)
"[A]ll male Persons, from sixteen Years of Age to Forty-five, shall constitute the Military Force of this State." Although not part of "the military force," all "Householders under fifty-five Years of Age" had to "be furnished at their own Expence" with the same arms as the militia. These arms were "a well fixed Musket, the Barrel not less than three Feet and an Half long, and a Bayonet fitted thereto, with a Sheath and Belt or Strap for the same." Militiamen, males under fifty-five, and householders also needed a ramrod, worm, priming-wire, and cartridge box with "fifteen rounds of Cartridges, made with good Musket Powder and Ball, fitting his Gun." Also needed were "six good Flints" and "one Canteen holding not less than three Pints." Light-Dragoons (horsemen) had to have "a Case of good Pistols…one Pound of good Powder, three Pounds of sizable Bullets, twelve Flints, a good pair of Boots and Spurs."
Vt. Const. ch. 1, § XV
(1777)
Declared a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state.
1788-1801 Ohio Laws 42, An Act for Suppressing and Prohibiting Every Species of Gaming for Money or Other Property, and for Making Void All Contracts and Payments Made in Furtherance Thereof,§ ch. 13, § 4.
(1788)
[I]f any person shall presume to discharge or fire,§or cause to be discharged or fire, any gun or other fire arms at any mark or object, or upon any pretence whatever, unless he or she shall at the same time be with such gun or fire-arms a the distance of at least one quarter of a mile from the nearest building of any such city, town, village or station, such person shall for every such offense, forfeit and pay to the use of the county in which the same shall be committed, a sum not exceeding five dollars, nor less than one dollar.
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."
1786 Vt. Acts, Oct. Sess. 6
(1786)
Kept the minimum militia age at 16, but lowered the maximum age to 45. The gun mandate was changed to "a good musket or firelock." The bayonet was now mandatory. Made separate provisions for horsemen; each dragoon had to provide "a case of good pistols, a sword or cutlass not less than three and one half feet in length," plus a pound of gunpowder, "three pounds of sizeable bullets," and eight flints.656 Since horsemen would have at least two guns (the pair of handguns) they needed a bigger supply of 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."
1781 R.I. Laws, Feb. Adjourned Sess. 8
(1781)
Raised a militia force of 1,200 men, with the statutory guarantee that the term of service would be only one month, and they were "not to be marched out of" the state.623 The number of men each county raised depended on the number of militia-aged men (16 to 50) within that county.624 "[E]ach of the non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers" had to "furnish himself with a good Musket, Bayonet, Cartouch- Box, Knapsack, and Blanket."

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