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.
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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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Item type:Item, Item type:Item, 2026-10-01 Attribution Test #4(2026-10-01)Item type:Item, Alabama TEST submission(2026)Item type:Item, The Charter and Ordinances of the City of Portland 364-69, 371-72 (1911)(1911)These Portland laws regulated firearms, gunpowder, explosives, and other dangerous substances. They required licenses for selling or possessing larger quantities of gunpowder, established safe storage and transportation requirements, and restricted fireworks, blasting, silencers, and toy pistols. Gunpowder generally had to be securely stored, covered during transportation, and kept within specified quantity limits. Firearms could not generally be discharged within city limits. Carrying concealed or threateningly displaying deadly weapons was prohibited without a license, with exceptions for certain law enforcement officers. Violations could result in fines, imprisonment, seizure or forfeiture of weapons or explosives, and other penalties.Item type:Item, Chas. Ben. Darwin, Ordinances of the City of Burlington 112 (1856)(1855)Prohibited the discharge of firearms within the city.Item type:Item, Del Cary Smith, Ordinances of the City of Port Townsend 25 (1890)(1890)Sections 3-5 prohibited carrying concealed weapons, brandishing firearms or other deadly weapons, and challenging another to fight (dueling).Item type:Item, Revised Code of Ordinances of the City of McKinney 6 (1899)(1899)Prohibited the public discharge of firearms in McKinney.Item type:Item, Compilation of the Ordinances of the City of St. Augustine 53 (1884)(1878-04-28)Imposed a $25 license tax on dealers of pistols, bowie-knives, and dirks.Item type:Item, The General Orders of the Board of Supervisors Providing Regulations for the Government of the City and County of San Francisco 95 (1881)(1880)Imposed license rates for sellers and keepers of gunpowder and shooting galleries.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, 1827 N.H. Laws 231-32(1827)Required local tax collectors to collect assessed taxes, and provide advance notice before seizing property for nonpayment, and authorized distraint and public auction of a delinquent taxpayer’s goods after specified notice periods and procedures if taxes remain unpaid.Item type:Item, 1874-75 Va. Acts 282-83(1874)Ch. 239, § 6, sched. B(18): Included the value of all "rifles, muskets, and other fire-arms, bowie-knives, dirks, and all weapons of a similar kind" in list of taxable personal property, imposing a tax payable of 50 cents per 100 dollars of value.Item type:Item, The Charter and General Ordinances of the Town of Lexington 108 (1892)(1873)Prohibited the discharge of firearms and other weapons in public streets and alleys, punishable by a fine of one to five dollars.Item type:Item, The Charter and General Ordinances of the Town of Lexington 87 (1892)(1869)Penalized carrying concealed weapons (including pistols and bowie knives) with fines and forfeiture, except for officers on duty. Further prohibited supplying cigarettes or specified weapons to minors under sixteen, punishable by fines.Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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."Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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."Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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..."Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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."Item type:Item, 1785-99 Md. Laws 455(1793)Raised the minimum age to eighteen and lowered the maximum age to forty-five.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, 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."Item type:Item, Dick Act of 1903, ch. 196, § 1, 32 Stat. 775, 775(1903)This militia consisted of all able-bodied male citizens between 18 and 45 years of age, and also aliens who have declared intent to naturalize. The "organized militia" was the National Guard of the several States. Everyone else was part of the "reserve militia," which later statutes labeled the "unorganized militia."Item type:Item, Gun Control Act of 1968, Pub. L. No. 99-308, 100 Stat. 449, 450(1968)Required all persons "engaged in the business" of selling firearms to obtain a Federal Firearms License. An FFL may not deliver a handgun to a person under 21, or a rifle or shotgun to a person under 18.Item type:Item, 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."Item type:Item, 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.Item type:Item, 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."Item type:Item, William Stanley, Charter and Ordinances of the City of Leavenworth 42 (1859)(1859)§§ 1-2: Prohibited the carry of concealed weapons. Prohibited any person guilty of carrying a pistol, dirk, bowie-knife, colt, slung-shot, metal knuckles, or any other deadly weapon. Violators fined not less than five, nor more than two hundred dollars.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, 1841 Ala. Laws 148-49(1841)§ 4: Prohibited the concealed carrying of "a bowie knife, or knife or instrument of the like kind or description, by whatever name called, dirk or any other deadly weapon, pistol or any species of firearms, or air gun," unless the person is threatened with an attack or is traveling or "setting out on a journey." Punished by a fine of $50-100.Item type:Item, 1867 Ala. Code 169(1867)§ 434, pt. 10: Tax of $2 on pistols or revolvers in the possession of private persons, excluding dealers, and a tax of $3 on "all bowie knives, or knives of the like description." Non-payment was punishable by seizure and, unless payment was made within 10 days with a penalty of an additional 50%, subject to sale by public auction.Item type:Item, Item type:Item, 1876 Ala. Code 929–30(1871)§ 4406: Prohibited hunting wild hogs with a dog and gun without giving notice to "at least three freeholders in the neighborhood." Violators fined not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars. § 4407: Prohibited hunting deer by fire and with a gun. Violators fined not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars.Item type:Item, 1862 Ala. Laws 8(Ala. Statutes, 1862)Wartime tax of 5% on net profits of various businesses, including establishments that produced guns, pistols, pikes, and Bowie knives.Item type:Item, National Firearms Act, Pub. L. No. 73-474, 48 Stat. 1236 (1934).(1934)Requires registration and taxation of certain firearms such as machine guns, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and suppressors, and regulates their manufacture, transfer, and possession under federal law.Item type:Item, 1882 Wyo. Sess. Laws 174(1882)Prohibited the exhibition of any kind of firearm, bowie knife, dirk, dagger, slung shot, or other deadly weapon in a rude, angry, or threatening manner not necessary for self defense of his person, his family, or property. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than ten but no more than five hundred dollars, or imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months or by both such fine and imprisonment.