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.
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Now showing 1 - 40 of 117

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.
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."
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 358 (David J. McCord ed., 1841)
(1792)
"[A]ll free negroes and Indians, (nations of Indians in amity with the State excepted,) Moors, mulattoes and mestizoes, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, shall be obliged to serve in the said 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 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."
1786 Vt. Acts & Laws 8
(1793)
Every non-commissioned officer and private had to "constantly keep himself provided with a good musket, with an iron or steel rod, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, a priming wire and brush, and a knapsack; a cartridge box and pouch, with a box therein, sufficient to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges suited to the bore of his musket."Horsemen were required to provide themselves with "a pair of pistols, and sabre, and cartridgebox to contain twelve cartridges for pistols."665 Cavalry officers needed "a pair of pistols, and sword."
14 Stat. at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, at 457-58 (1909)
(1793)
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That in order that the militia may be properly armed, equipped and accoutred, every citizen enrolled and notified of this enrollment in manner aforesaid, except as is hereinbefore excepted, shall, within six months after receiving such notice, provide himself with the arms, ammunition and accoutrement hereinafter mentioned, viz.: Every non-commissioned officer and private of the infantry (including grenadiers and light infantry and of the artillery) shall have a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints and a knapsack, a pouch with a box therein, to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball, or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch and powder horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle and a quarter of a pound of powder; the commissioned officers of infantry shall be armed with a sword or hanger and an espontoon, and those of artillery with a sword or hanger, a fuzee, bayonet and belt, and a cartridge box to contain twelve cartridges. The commissioned officers of the several troops of horse shall furnish themselves with good horses, of at least fourteen hands and an half high, and shall be armed with a sword and a pair of pistols, the holsters of which shall be covered with bearskin caps; each light-horseman or dragoon shall furnish himself with a serviceable horse, of at least fourteen hands and an half high, a good saddle, bridle, mail pillion and valise holsters, and a breast plate and crupper, a pair of boots and spurs, a pair of pistols, a sabre and a cartouch box, to contain twelve cartridges for pistols; the artillery and horse shall be uniformly clothed in regimentals, to be furnished at their own expense, the color and fashion to be determined by the brigadier commanding the brigade to which they belong; every militiaman shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided when called out to exercise or into service (except that when called out on company days to exercise only he may appear without a knapsack) and every man so enrolled as aforesaid, and providing himself with the arms, ammunition and accoutrements required as aforesaid, shall hold the same exempted from all suits, distresses, executions, or sales for debt or the payment of taxes. Each battalion and regiment shall be provided with the state and regimental colors by the field officers, and each company with a drum and fife or bugle horn by the commissioned officers of the company; the expenses of such colors, drums, fifes or bugle horns to be repaid to the officers out of the fines incurred by this act.
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."
1792 N.C. Sess. Laws 33-34
(1792)
The minimum age remained 18, while the maximum dropped to 45. The mandatory arms paralleled the federal statute. Each infantryman was required to "provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, a knapsack, a pouch with a box therein to contain not less than 24 cartridges suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball ; or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch and powder-horn, 20 balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder."
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."
1797 N.J. Laws 219-20
(1797)
Required the assessor of each town to compare the list of 18-to-45-year-olds in the community to the list of persons enrolled for military duty, and to ensure that everyone 18 and older who was not exempted was keeping the proper arms and fulfilling his militia duties.
1792 N.J. Laws 850
(1792)
Raised the minimum age to 18, and lowered the maximum age to 45. Further, "every non-commissioned Officer and Private of the Infantry (including Grenadiers, Light Infantry and Artillery) until supplied with Ordinance and Field Artillery, shall have a good Musket or Firelock, a sufficient Bayonet and Belt, two spare Flints and a Knapsack, a Pouch with a Box not less than twenty-four Cartridges suited to the Bore of his Musket or Firelock, each Cartridge containing a proper Quantity of Powder and Ball; or with a good Rifle, Knapsack, Pouch and Powder-Horn, twenty Balls suited to the Bore of his Rifle, and a Quarter of a Pound of Powder; and shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided, when called out to exercise or into Service.
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
6 Laws of New Hampshire, Second Constitutional Period 84-85, 88-89 (N.H. Sec'y of State ed., 1917)
(1792)
The militia consisted of "every free, able bodied white male citizen of this State resident therein who is, or shall be of the age of eighteen years and under the age of Forty years." Commissioned officers had to have "a pair of Pistols, the holsters of which to be covered with bear-skin Caps." Commissioned officers might have an espontoon, but field officers would not. Again, "parents, Masters, or Guardians" had to furnish their charges with "Arms and Accoutrements." And again they were "liable for the neglect and non appearance of such persons ... under their care. Also required"[t]he Commisioned Officers to furnish themselves with good horses of at least fourteen hands and one half high, and to be armed with a Sword, and a pair of Pistols; the holsters of which to be covered with bear-skin Caps..." and "That each Non-Commissioned Officer and Soldier ... shall within one year from and after the passing this Act, furnish himself with a good firelock, Bayonet and Belt, a Cartouch box that will contain twenty four Cartridges, two good flints, a Knapsack and Canteen - and that the commisioned Officers belonging to Companies of foot, shall be severally armed with a Sword or hanger, and an Wspontoon, and that the filed Officers be armed with a sword or hanger..."
1799 N.J. Laws 609
(1799)
Eliminated non-whites from the militia. Persons who were granted militia exemptions (e.g., physicians, clergy) had to pay a three-dollar annual fee. In case the militia were "called into actual service," exempted persons too would be liable to serve.
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 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
1785-99 Md. Laws 845
(1798)
Required that "one complete company of infantry annexed to each regiment within this state, to be furnished with arms and accoutrements at the expense of the state … composed of men between the ages of twenty-one and thirty years."
1785-99 Md. Laws 455
(1793)
Raised the minimum age to eighteen and lowered the maximum age to forty-five.
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.
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.
19 The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia 348-49 (Pt. 2, 1911)
(1791)
Required males between 16 and 50 to serve in the militia and provide their own arms. The arms requirement was "one rifle musket, fowling- piece or fusee fit for action, with a cartridge box or powder-horn answerable for that purpose with six cartridges or powder and lead equal thereto and three flints."
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."
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.
2 Del. Laws 1134 (1797)
(1793)
Included "each and every free able bodied white male citizen of this state, who is or shall be of the age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years." However, "all young men under the age of twenty-one years, and all servants purchased bona fide, and for a valuable consideration, [were] exempted from furnishing the necessary arms, ammunition and accoutrements ... and [were] exempted from militia duties and fines during such minority or servitude, except in cases of rebellion, or an actual or threatened invasion."
Uniform Militia Act of 1792, ch. 33, § 1, 1 Stat. 271, 271-72
(1792)
That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia, by the Captain or Commanding Officer of the company, within whose bounds such citizen shall reside, and that within twelve months after the passing of this Act. And it shall at all time hereafter be the duty of every such Captain or Commanding Officer of a company, to enroll every such citizen as aforesaid, and also those who shall, from time to time, arrive at the age of 18 years, or being at the age of 18 years, and under the age of 45 years (except as before excepted) shall come to reside within his bounds; and shall without delay notify such citizen of the said enrollment, by the proper non-commissioned Officer of the company, by whom such notice may be proved. That every citizen, so enrolled and notified, shall, within six months thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch, with a box therein, to contain not less than twenty four cartridges, suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball; or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch, and powder- horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder; and shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided, when called out to exercise or into service, except, that when called out on company days to exercise only, he may appear without a knapsack. That the commissioned Officers shall severally be armed with a sword or hanger, and espontoon; and that from and after five years from the passing of this Act, all muskets from arming the militia as is herein required, shall be of bores sufficient for balls of the eighteenth part of a pound; and every citizen so enrolled, and providing himself with the arms, ammunition and accoutrements, required as aforesaid, shall hold the same exempted from all suits, distresses, executions or sales, for debt or for the payment of taxes.
2 Del. Laws 1225 (1797)
(1796)
Revised the organization and regulation of the militia, and again included able-bodied white males from 18 to 45. The act also forbade volunteer militias, because there were "a number of free able bodied white men in this state, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, who neglect and refuse to muster and do militia duty, in the companies in which they have been enrolled ... and yet meet together with arms in bodies distinguished and known by the name of Volunteer Companies."
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."
1 Albert G. Hodges, A Digest of the Statute Laws of Kentucky 578-79 (1834)
(1799)
Prohibited dueling
Tenn. Const. of 1796, art. XI, § 26
(1796)
Provided that the freemen of the state have a right to keep and bear arms for their common defense.
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.
Act of May 8, 1792, 1 Stat. 271
(1792)
The first Militia Act, used by Congress to mandate who must be enrolled within the militia.
1786 Vt. Acts, Oct. Sess. 30
(1793)
Every non-commissioned officer and private had to "constantly keep himself provided with a good musket, with an iron or steel rod, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, a priming wire and brush, and a knapsack; a cartridge box and pouch, with a box therein, sufficient to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges suited to the bore of his musket."664 Horsemen were required to provide themselves with "a pair of pistols, and sabre, and cartridge box to contain twelve cartridges for pistols."665 Cavalry officers needed "a pair of pistols, and sword."
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.
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."
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."
1886 N.Y. Laws 232
(1780)
Required "all the male inhabitants (slaves excepted) of the age of sixteen years and upwards" to provide themselves with "a good musket or firelock" plus seventeen rounds of ammunition.
16 The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, at 297 (1911)
(1799)
Explicitly allowed "sons who are not subject to the militia law may be admitted as substitutes for their fathers."

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