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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Item type:Item, Ordinances of the Corporation of the City of Baltimore 277-83 (1801)(1801)Regulated gunpowder storage and transport to reduce fire and explosion risks. It limited private possession, required excess powder to be stored in a public magazine, imposed transport and shipping restrictions, authorized searches for violations, established a superintendent to manage the magazine, and imposed penalties for noncompliance.Item type:Item, Oliver H. Prince, Digest of the Laws of the State of Georgia 407, 409 (1822)(1806)Required "All male white inhabitants ... from the age of eighteen to forty-five years ... to appear and work upon the several roads, creeks, causeways, water- passages, and bridges" and to "carry with him one good and sufficient gun or pair of pistols, and at least nine cartridges to fit the same, or twelve loads of powder and ball, or buck shot."Item type:Item, John G. Aikin, A Digest of the Laws of the State of Alabama 391–92 (1833)(1805)Prohibited any "slave" from keeping or carrying any gun or ammunition without permission from a justice of the peace.Item type:Item, 1 Albert G. Hodges, A Digest of the Statute Laws of Kentucky 540 (1834)(1809)Authorized the arrest of individuals who willfully and maliciously stabbed, shot, or injured another.Item type:Item, 2 Albert G. Hodges, A Digest of the Statute Laws of Kentucky 1289-90 (1834)(1813)Prohibited the concealed carry of any pocket pistol, dirk, knife, or sword cane, unless traveling.Item type:Item, 2 Albert G. Hodges, A Digest of the Statute Laws of Kentucky 1167 (1834)(1815)Required all free men to bear arms for the common defense, but conscientious objectors were ordered to pay a sum equal to the value of the foregone personal services.Item type:Item, 2 Albert G. Hodges, A Digest of the Statute Laws of Kentucky 1267 (1834)(1801)Provided a six month to six year prison sentence for murder.Item type:Item, 2 Albert G. Hodges, A Digest of the Statute Laws of Kentucky 1281 (1834)(1802)§ 13 provided one- to five-year prison sentence for wounding another nonfatally with a deadly weapon. § 15 provided one- to two-year prison sentence for assault and attempted robbery.Item type:Item, 2 Albert G. Hodges, A Digest of the Statute Laws of Kentucky 1284 (1834)(1804)Provided one- to five-year prison sentence for wounding another nonfatally with a deadly weapon.Item type:Item, 1 Albert G. Hodges, A Digest of the Statute Laws of Kentucky 148–49 (1834)(1814)Authorized the governor to take and keep public arms.Item type:Item, 2 Albert G. Hodges, A Digest of the Statute Laws of Kentucky 1291 (1834)(1819)Provided that if any slave wound or attempt to kill any white person, that slave and their aiders and abettors would be punished by death.Item type:Item, Miss. Const. art. I, § 23(1817)Declared every citizen has a right to bear arms in defence of himself and the State.Item type:Item, Me. Const. of 1819, art. I, § 16(1819)Provided that every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms for the common defense, and the right shall never be questioned.Item type:Item, 1819 Ind. Acts 39(1819)An Act to Prohibit the Wearing of Concealed Weapons: Prohibited concealed carry of an dirk, pistol, sword in cane, or any other unlawful weapon. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor, fined not more than one hundred dollars.Item type:Item, An Ordinance to Prevent Shooting With Guns, or Other Fire-Arms, Georgetown Ordinances (1811)(1801)"[I]t shall not be lawful for any person to shoot with any gun, or other fire-arm, within any of the inhabited parts of Georgetown or its additions; and if any person shall, contrary to this ordinance, shoot any gun or other fire-arm, such person shall forfeit and pay five dollars for every offence, to be recovered as other fines are now by law recoverable, the one half to the use of the Corporation, and the other half to the use of the informer."Item type:Item, Laws of the Town of Alexandria § 3 (1800)(1800)To prevent accidents... Sec. 3, No person to discharge any fire arms: "Sec. III. No person shall discharge any Musket, Fowling-piece, Pistol, or other Fire Arms, within the limits of the corporation, unless in defence of his or her person or proprety, under the penalty of One Dollar for each offence."Item type:Item, 1805 Va. Acts 51(1805)An Act Concerning Free Negroes and Mulatoes: That no free negro or mulato shall be suffered to keep or carry any firelock of any kind? without first obtaining a license from the court?Item type:Item, 1806 Va. Acts 51(1806)Ch. 94: Required every "free negro or mulatto" to first obtain a license before carrying or keeping "any fire-lock of any kind, any military weapon, or any powder or lead."Item type:Item, 1819 Va. Code 423(1819)Ch. 111 §§ 7-8: Prohibited "free negro or mulatto" from keeping or carrying any kind of firelock, military weapon, powder, or lead without a license from a court.Item type:Item, 1818 Vt. Acts & Resolves 64-65(1818)An Act Regulating and Governing the Militia of This State, § 42: No noncommissioned officer, private or citizen shall unnecessarily fire a gun, single musket or pistol, in any public road, or near any house or place of parade, on the evening preceding, on the day or evening of the same, on which any troop company, battalion or regiment shall be ordered to assemble for military dutyItem type:Item, 1801 Tenn. Pub. Acts 260-261(1801)Ch. 22, § 6: Prohibited any person to ride or go armed to the terror of the people, or privately carry any dirk, large knife, pistol, or any other dangerous weapon. If the violator did not post a surety, the violation would be punished as. "breach of the peace or riot at common law."Item type:Item, The General Ordinances of the City of Charleston, South Carolina 199–200 (1895)(1815)ch. 15, §§ 566-570: Sec. 566.[1] It shall not be lawful for any person or persons to carry gunpowder without a secure and proper covering, in any wagon, cart, dray, or otherwise, through the streets, lanes, or on the wharves of this City, and any person or persons so offending, shall forfeit, for every such offence, the sum of fifty dollars. Sec. 567.[2] It shall not be lawful for any person or persons to sell any gunpowder, which may at the time be within the City of Charleston, in any quantity, without having first obtained a license to keep and sell gunpowder, the said license to be issued by the Clerk of Council, who shall receive, for the use of the City, from the person obtaining the license, the sum of one dollar for each license so issued, and every such license shall be in force for one year from the date thereof, unless previously annulled by the City Council, and no longer; and every person or persons offending herein shall forfeit and pay for the said offence the sum of one hundred dollars. Sec. 568.[3] It shall not be lawful for any merchant, factor, retailer, or dealer in gunpowder, or any person or persons whomsoever, to retain, have, or keep in his, her, or their possession, any quantity of gunpowder exceeding one pound in weight, unless the same shall be well secured in a tin canister or canisters, which said canisters shall be plainly marked or labelled on the outside thereof, with the word "Gunpowder," and shall be deposited and kept on the right side of the principal door or entrance to the store, shop, or premises wherein the same may be; and any person or persons offending against any of the provisions of this section, shall forfeit and pay, for every such offence, the sum of one hundred dollars. Sec. 569.[4] No merchant, factor, retailer, or dealer in gunpowder, or any person or persons whomsoever, within this City, shall retain, keep, or have, in his, her or their possession, at any one time, a greater quantity of gunpowder, than twenty-five pounds weight; and, on information given to the Mayor, or the same coming by any means, to his knowledge, of a greater quantity than twenty-five pounds weight, in the possession of, or within the enclosure or enclosures of any person or persons whomsoever, the Mayor is hereby required and directed to prosecute such person or persons so offending, in any court of competent jurisdiction, when, on conviction of the same, the party shall be fined in the sum of one hundred dollars. Sec. 570.[5] It shall not be lawful to establish or keep within the limits of the City, any magazine, or place for the storage of gunpowder, nor to keep any gunpowder in any place within the said limits, excepting in small quantities, as herein provided, under a penalty or fine not exceeding five hundred dollarsItem type:Item, Ordinances of the City Council of Charleston 153 (1802)(1802)No. 145, § 5: That it shall and may be lawful for the fire-masters to enter into the houses, out-houses, stables and yards of every owner or tenant of the same in Charleston, wherever they shall see occasion and enquire, search, and examine if any quantities of gun-powder ,hay, straw, fodder, pitch, tar, rosin, turpentine, hemp, oil, tallow, or other combustible matter, are lodged in any such place within the said city, which may be in danger of taking fire; and if the said fire-masters shall find there is apparent danger that fire may be communicated by such combustibles, they shall admonish the owner or the tenant of such house or houses, to remove the sameItem type:Item, Ordinances of the City Council of Charleston 114 (1802)(1802)No. 117, § 9: And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That no person or persons, shall fire any squibs, crackers, or other fireworks, except at times of public rejoicing, and at such places as the intendant for the time being may permit, by license under his hand; nor burn any chips, shavings, or other combustible matters, in any of the streets, lanes, wharves, alleys, or open or enclosed lots of the city, nor fire any gun, pistol, or fire arms, within the limits of the city, except on occasion of some military parade, and then by the order of some officer having the command, under the penalty of ten dollars, for every such offense; nor shall any person or persons, raise or fly any paper or other kite, within the said city, under the said penalty of ten dollars.]Item type:Item, 1819-21 R.I. Pub. Laws 289(1819)An Act To Prevent Certain Disorders In The Town Of Bristol, § 3: And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall, at any time hereafter, fire any gun or pistol in any of the streets, roads, lanes, buildings, or from any of the walls or fences thereto contiguous, and within the compact part of said town, without justifiable cause, such person or persons shall upon complaint and conviction thereof as aforesaid, pay a fine not less than two dollars nor more than four dollars for the first offense, and the sum of four dollars for each and every subsequent offence, to be paid and appropriated as aforesaid.Item type:Item, By-Laws and Ordinances of the City of Pittsburgh 73 (1828)(1816)Ch. 2, §§ 1-3 : That no shop-keeper or other person or persons, shall keep, at the same time, in any house, shop, cellar or warehouse, or other apartment, or in any boat within the said city, more than thirty pounds weight of gun-powder. § 2. That the aforesaid quantity of gun-powder allowed to be kept within the city, shall be deposited in a place by itself, separate from other goods and commodities, and shall be secured by lock and key, or in some other safe manner. § 3. That no person shall carry or convey in any dray, cart, wagon or other carriage, any greater quantity of gun-powder than thirty pounds weight, at any one time, in or through the city, without securing the same in a good bag or bags, or within a canvas or other safe covering completely around the said powder, sufficient to prevent the same from scattering from the said carriage.Item type:Item, By-Laws and Ordinances of the City of Pittsburgh 99 (1828)(1816)Ch. 16, § 1: That if any person or persons shall, within the said city, beat a drum, or without lawful authority, ring any public bell, after sunset, or at any time except in lawful defence of person or property, discharge any gun or fire arms, or play at or throw any metal or stone bullet, or make a bon-fire, or raise or create any false alarm of fire, he, she or they so offending, shall for every such offence, on conviction thereof, forfeit and pay the sum of four dollars32…Item type:Item, A DIGEST OF ACTS OF ASSEMBLY, RELATING TO THE INCORPORATED DISTRICT OF THE NORTHERN LIBERTIES, at 94, Ordinance of Nov. 6, 1815, § 7 (1847)(1815)Prohibited discharge of any cannon, artillery, small arms, or prove any pistol, gun, musket barrels, cannon, or illuminate any house. Violators forfeit the weapons and fined two dollars.Item type:Item, Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, from the Fourteenth Day of October, One Thousand Seven Hundred, to the Twentieth Day of March, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ten, at 182, ch. 1746, § 10 (Vol. 3, 1810)(1810)§That if any person within this commonwealth shall challenge, by word or writing, the person of another to fight at sword, rapier, pistol, or other deadly weapon, such person so challenging, shall forfeit and pay for every such offenseItem type:Item, Act Incorporating the City of Cincinnati, and the Ordinances of Said City Now in Force 44 (1828)(1818)That each and every person who shall shoot , or fire off, any rifle, musket, fowling piece, pistol, or any other fire arms, or discharge squibs, crackers, or any other fire works within the bounds of the Corporation, he or she shall, on conviction thereof before the Mayor forfeit and pay to the said Mayor for the use of the Corporation, for each and every such offence, a sum not less than Two Dollars, nor more than Ten Dollars,Item type:Item, Ohio Const. of 1802, art. VIII, §20(1802)Declared the People have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the state. That Standing armies are dangeorus in time of peace, and shall not be kept up.Item type:Item, John Haywood, A Manual of the Laws of North-Carolina, Arranged under Distinct Heads in Alphabetical Order, Oaths and Affirmations 40 (1814)(1814)The oath of a Constable, § XXIII: You shall swear that you will well and truly serve the State of North Carolina in the office of a constable, you shall see and cause the peace of the State to be well and duly preserved and kept according to your power, you shall arrest all such persons as in your sight shall right or go armed offensively, or shall commit or make any riot, affray or other breach of the peace; you shall do your best endeavor, upon complaint to you made, to apprehend all felons, and rioters, or persons riotously assembled; and if any such offender shall make resistance with force, you shall make hue and cry, and shall pursue them according to lawItem type:Item, Edward Livingston, Laws and Ordinances, Ordained and Established by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City of New York 83-84 (1803)(1803)Ch 23, § 1: That no person shall hereafter be permitted to fire or discharge any gun, pistol, fowling piece, or fire-arm, at any place on the island of New York, within the distance of four miles from the City Hall, under the penalty of five dollars upon each offender, to be recovered with costs.Item type:Item, 1811 N.H. Laws 74(1811)An Act To Regulate The Keeping And Selling, And Transporting of Gunpowder, chap. 61, §5: Banned sale or offer for sale of gunpowder in the night time, between sunsetting and sunrising; banned also dealing out any gunpowder at night.Item type:Item, 1818 Terr. of Mo. Laws 374(1818)Prohibited "slave or mulatto" from carrying a gun, powder, shot, club or other weapon and from possessing a gun or ammunition.Item type:Item, 1818 Terr. of Mo. Laws 281(1818)Militia, § 4: Each militia man shall provide himself, with-in one month from the date of his enrollment with a good musket, a sufficient bayonet and belt, or a fusil, two spare flints, a knapsack and pouch with a box there-in to contain twentyfour cartridges suited to the bore of his musket or fusil, each cartridge to contain a pro-per quantity of powder and ball: or a good rifle, knap-sack, pouch and powder horn with twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powe-derItem type:Item, 1814 Miss. Terr. Laws 16(1814)An Act To Authorize The Governor Of Mississippi Territory, To Accept Of The Services Of Citizens Exempted From Militia Duty, § 2: Immediately on the governor's acceptance of any number of volunteers, by virtue of this act, each private shall proceed to provide himself with a good rifle, musket or shot gun with four flints, twenty rounds of powder, ball, or buckshot, best suited to his gun, together with the most convenient accoutrements. The commissioned officers shall be armed with swords; and the arms and accoutrements of all such volunteers shall be exempted from executions in payment of debts and their persons, when on service, free from arrest in civil cases.Item type:Item, 1807 Miss. Terr. Laws 593(1807)Prohibition for people to purchase and trade guns and hunting articles with "any Indian."Item type:Item, 1804 Miss. Terr. Laws 90-91(1804)An Act Respecting Slaves, § 4: Prohibited any "Slave" from keeping or carrying any gun, powder, shot, club, weapon, or ammunition.Item type:Item, 1818 Miss. Laws 220(1818)Supplemental to an Act to erect the town of Netchez into a city, and to incorporate the same, § 2: That said president and select men, shall and may, from time to time, pass ordinances to regulate the keeping, carting and transporting gun powder or other combustible or dangerous materials[.]