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 461

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.
Chas. Ben. Darwin, Ordinances of the City of Burlington 112 (1856)
(1855)
Prohibited the discharge of firearms within the city.
Revised Code of Ordinances of the City of McKinney 6 (1899)
(1899)
Prohibited the public discharge of firearms in McKinney.
Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, and Constitutions 11 (John Holt ed., 1763)
(1763)
Prohibited the discharge of firearms within the city of New York.
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.
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.
Ordinances, ch. 1, tit. 1, § 3, THE BOTTINEAU PIONEER, Dec. 13, 1888, at 4 (Bottineau, North Dakota)
(1888)
Any person found armed within the corporate limits of the village of Bottineau with a dirk, dagger, sword, pistol or pistols, or other offensive or dangerous weapons, without reasonable cause to fear an assault or other injury or violence to his person or to his family or property, shall, upon conviction before said justice, be punished by a fine not exceeding ten dollars, or by imprisonment in the village jail not exceeding term of thirty days.
E.B. O'Callaghan, Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, 1638-1674, at 205 (1868); N.Y. Col. MSS, VI 207, XVI 62
(1665)
Ordinance Of The Director General And Council Of New Netherland To Prevent Firing Of Guns, Planting May Poles And Other Irregularities Within This Province: The director General and Council expressly forbid from this time forth all firing of Guns . . .on a penalty of 12 guilders for the first offense; double for the second offense, and for the third an arbitrary correction . . .
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."
A. McMicken, The Revised Ordinances of the City of Rawlins 115-116 (1893)
(1893)
If any person shall within this city fire or discharge any cannon, gun, fowling piece, pistol or firearms of any description, or fire, explode, or set off any squib, cracker, or anything containing powder or other combustible or explosive material, without permission of the Board of Trustees, or the written permission of the mayor (which permission shall limit the time of the firing and shall be subject to be revoked by the mayor or Board of Trustees at any time after the same has been granted) every such person shall, on conviction, be fined in a sum of not less than five dollars and not exceeding one hundred dollars.
Revised Ordinances and Charter of the City of Laramie 90 (1900)
(1900)
Any person who shall, within this city, fire or discharge any cannon, gun, fowling piece, pistol, revolver or firearm of any description, without permission from the council, or written permission from the mayor, or who shall, upon the street, sidewalks or alleys of the City of Laramie, fire, explode or set off any squib, cracker or other thing containing powder or other combustible material, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction be fined in a sum not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars, for each and every offense
1879 Wyo. Terr. Sess. Laws 97
(1879)
It shall be unlawful for any person in this territory to fire any rifle, revolver, or other fire arm of any description whatever, from any window, door, or other part of any railroad car or train, engine or tender, or along the line of railroad during the passing of any train or engine, or when any person is passing in the vicinity of the person having such fire arm, and any person so offending, shall, on conviction, be fined in a sum not exceeding twenty ($20.00) dollars, and for a second offense, confined in the county jail for a term not exceeding sixty (60) days.
Charter and Ordinances of the City of Superior 390 (1896)
(1896)
Section 18 prohibited carrying pistols, slingshots, knuckles, bowie knives, daggers, or other dangerous weapons within Superior, except by authorized officers, punishable by a $10–$100 fine. Section 19 prohibited discharging firearms or fireworks without mayoral permission, punishable by a $1–$50 fine, with exceptions for lawful defense, law enforcement, and gun-club shotgun practice.
1883 Wis. Sess. Laws 841
(1883)
Any person who shall be found in or upon any street, alley or public ground within said city, or within any saloon, shop, store, grocery, hall, church, school house, barn, building or other place within said city . . . shall use toward or in the presence of another, violent or insulting language or be guilty of any breach of the peace, or firing of any gun or pistol, or fighting or threatening to fight, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by fine not exceeding twenty-five ($25) dollars and costs of prosecution, or imprisonment in the county jail not more than ninety days, or both, in the discretion of the court.
Charter and Ordinances of the City of Milwaukee 126 (1852)
(1852)
No person shall fire or set off any squib, cracker, or gun-powder, or fire-work, or build any bonfire within one hundred feet of any building in this city, under the penalty of five dollars for each and every offence; and the Mayor, Marshal or any Aldermen or Fire Warden may restrain or prohibit any fire work or bonfire in any part of the city, whenever, in their opinion there shall be danger therefrom.
Charter and Ordinances of the City of La Crosse 177 (1888)
(1888)
It shall be unlawful for any person to use firearms or to shoot off a gun or pistol or to hunt game or birds within the limits of any cemetery in the city of La Crosse; or to rob or disturb birds' nests therein, or to enter any cemetery except by the gate, and then only at such times as the same may be open to the public; or to enter the same as a thoroughfare in going from one place to another. Any person violating any provisions of this section, shall upon conviction, be fined in a sum not more than ten dollars, and in case of a second conviction shall be imprisoned not more than sixty days nor less than ten days.
Charter and Ordinances of the City of La Crosse, with the Rules of the Common Council, at 202, Ordinance no. 27 (1888)
(1881)
No person shall fire or discharge any cannon, gun, fowling piece, pistol or firearms of any description, or fire, explode or set off any squib, cracker or other thing containing powder or other combustible or explosive material, or set off or exhibit any fireworks within the limits of the city of La Crosse
Ordinances of the City of Kenosha, Ordinance no. 8, §1 & §5 (1858)
(1858)
That no person shall fire or discharge any cannon, rifle, gun, pistol, or fire arms of any description, or fire, explode, or set off any squib, cracker, or other thing containing powder or other combustible or explosive material in any street, alley, or public ground within this city south of a line running through Lemon street from the lake to the west line of the corporation, and east of West Main Street. § 5 No person shall be allowed to keep any gunpowder in any occupied building within the limits of this city without permission of the council;— and no person shall keep in any such building a greater quantity than ten pounds; which shall be kept in a close tin canister or canisters.
Charter and General Ordinances of Madison 292–93 (1917)
(1917)
Every person, firm, association or corporation engaged in the business of selling firearms at retail in the city of Madison, shall at the close of business on each day during which any such person, firm, association or corporation shall sell any firearms, make a report to the chief of police, giving a brief description of each firearm sold and the name and address of the purchaser. It shall be unlawful for any person, except policemen or any officer authorized to serve process, to carry or wear concealed about his person, any pistol or revolver, slung shot, cross-knuckles, knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, or bowie knife, dirk knife, or dirk or dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon, within the limits of the city of Madison. No person shall fire or discharge any cannon, or fire arm of any description, or any air gun, or fire, explode, or set off any squib, cracker or other thing containing powder. No person shall sell or place on sale, or give away or fire or explode any toy, cap or cartridge pistol or any fire cracker exceeding § inch in diameter and 2 inches in length; nor any so-called "dago bomb" or any similar bomb unless used for exhibition purposes and then only by an experienced agent."
Charter and Ordinances of the City of La Crosse 202 (1888)
(1881)
Prohibited discharge of any cannon, gun, fowling piece, pistol, firearms, squibs, cracker, any of other thing containing powder or explosive material, or set off any fireworks. Violators fined not less than one but no more than twenty-five dollars.
The Municipal Code of Berlin §§ 258–61 (1890)
(1890)
Any person who shall fire or discharge any gun, pistol, fowling piece, or other fire arm, within the limits of the City of Berlin except in the necessary defense of his person or property, shall pay a fine of not less than one dollar, nor more than ten dollars for each offense. Any person who shall sell, loan or furnish to any minor, any gun, pistol, fowling piece or other firearm within this City, shall pay a fine of not less than five dollars, nor more than twenty-five dol ars[sic] for each such offense.
1883 Wis. Sess. Laws 370
(1883)
To prohibit, restrain or regulate the discharge of fire-arms and the explosion of gunpowder and guncotton, and the firing of firecrackers and fireworks of any kind within the city.
1915 W. Va. Acts 404
(1915)
Reg. Sess., Municipal Charters, ch. 11, § 16, pt. 25: To regulate the keeping, handling and transportation of explosives and dangerous combustibles within the municipality; and to regulate or prohibit the use of fire crackers, sky rockets, toy pistols, air rifles or guns, within the said municipality.
1905 W. Va. Acts 70
(1905)
Ch. 3, § 46: The council shall have power to pass ordinances prohibiting the firing of guns, crackers, roman candles, sky-rockets, or any other fireworks, or the throwing of fire balls, or the firing of any other combination of gunpowder or other combustible or dangerous material within the city. . .
J. Nelson Wisner, Ordinances and By-Laws of the Corporation of Martinsburg 25 (1875)
(1857)
Prohibited firing or discharging firearms or fireworks within the town or within 200 yards of its limits, except in specified circumstances. Violators faced a $1–$5 fine.
1901 W. Va. Acts 197
(1901)
An Act to Amend and Re-Enact Sections Two and Thirteen of Chapter Sixty-Two of the Code of One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-Nine, ch. 89, § 1: No person shall shoot in the public road at any time, nor when shooting on the lands of another shall discharge any firearms on any lawn, pleasure ground or orchard or other ground which is directly appurtenant to or within gunshot of an occupied dwelling house. The penalty for violating this section shall be a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than twenty-five dollars, or imprisonment not more than twenty days, or both, at the discretion of the court, and pay the cost of the prosecution.
Charter and Ordinances of the City of Olympia: Also General Laws of Washington Territory, Relative to the Government of Incorporated Cities and Towns 80 (1886)
(1886)
Section 2 prohibited drawing, exhibiting, or attempting to use a deadly weapon against another person within Olympia; violations carried a $25–$50 fine. Section 3 prohibited carrying a deadly weapon concealed on one’s person within Olympia; violations carried a $5–$10 fine. Section 4 prohibited discharging any gun, pistol, or firearm within a specified area of Olympia; violations were punishable by a $5–$20 fine, 5–10 days’ imprisonment, or both.
An Ordinance Relating to Offenses and Disorderly Conduct, Olympia City Council, Ordinance No. 152, § 5 (Washington, 1882).
(1882)
No. 152, § 5: That any person or persons who shall fire or explode any fire crackers boom5 torpedoes, or any other explosives within the City of Olympia without first obtaining Permission from the City Council shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars of or by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten days, or by both such fine and imprisonment Provided that this section shall not apply to using fire works on5 the public squares, The [???]6 and Marshville Bridges and all boats or crafts upon the waters of the sound within the corporate limits of the City..."
1883 Wash. Sess. Laws 139-40
(1883)
An Act to Incorporate the City of Whatcom, Ch. 2, § 8: The city of Whatcom shall have the power to prevent injury or annoyance from anything dangerous, offensive, or unhealthy . . . to regulate and prohibit the carrying of deadly weapons in a concealed manner; to regulate and prohibit the use of guns, pistols and firearms, fire-crackers, bombs and detonating works of all descriptions[.]
1888 Wash. Terr. Sess. Laws 100
(1888)
Act of Jan. 31, 1888, § 1: Every person who shall in a reckless, careless or negligent manner discharge, in the vicinity of an inhabitated dwelling house, or in the streets of an incorporated city, or unincorporated town, any firearm, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding thirty days, or both such fine and imprisonment.
An Ordinance Relating to Offenses and Disorderly Conduct, § 4, Olympia City Council (1882)
(1882)
Ordinance No. 152, § 4: Any person, who shall within the following... [seems to contain a detailed description of local landmarks outlining a specific area]4...fire off or discharge any gun pistol or fire arm of any kind, shall be liable to a fine of not less than five or more than twenty dollars or by imprisonment for not less than five nor more than ten days or by both-such fine or imprisonment.
Ordinance No. 8, §§ 1 & 5, Washtucna Town Council (1903)
(1903)
All persons (Except police officers and other persons whose duty it is to execute process or warrants or make arrests) who shall carry upon their persons any concealed weapons consisting of a revolver, pistol or other firearms (except by written permit from the Town Marshal) or any knife (other than an ordinary pocket knife) or any dirk or dagger, sling-shot or metal knuckles, or any instrument by the use of which injury can be inflicted upon the person or property of any other person All persons (except peace officers as aforesaid) who shall draw, exhibit or attempt to use any deadly weapon upon, to or against another person, in said Town, with intent to do bodily injury to such person; All persons (except peace officers as aforesaid and persons practicing at target shooting in a shooting gallery duly licensed) who shall, within the Town limits, fire off and discharge any gun, pistol or firearm of any kind or bomb...
Ordinance No. A-17, § 2, Wilbur Town Council (1894)
(1894)
If any person shall within the corporate limits of the Town of Wilbur, fire or discharge any gun, rifle, fowling piece, pistol or any other firearm, they shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not exceeding twenty five dollars ($25.00) together with the cost of prosecution.
Ordinance No. A 236, §§ 1 (Pts. 1, 7, 12, 21, & 31), 9, 10, 26, 37, & 39, Yakima City Council (1917)
(1917)
Any person in said city, except police officers and other persons who are authorized by law or have obtained proper authority so to do from the Chief of Police of said city, who shall carry or wear in any manner concealed upon his or her person, any dirk, dagger, stilletto, bowie-knife, sword-cane, gun, pistol, revolver sling-shot, metal knuckles, or any other dangerous weapon or instrument which may be used to inflict injury upon the person of another. Any person in said city, except police officers and other persons whose duty it is to make arrestes, who shall draw, exhibit or attempt to use, any deadly weapon with intent to do bodily injury to another, or with the intention of intimidating such other person.-Any person in said city, except police officers engaged in the lawful discharge of their duty, and persons practicing at target shooting in a duly licensed shooting gallery, who shall fire off or discharge any gun, pistol or fire arm of any kind within the city limits...or who shall sell or give, or permit to be sold or given away to any person under the age of twenty one-years any intoxicating liquor, cigar, cigarette, cigarette paper or wrapping, or tobacco in any form; or who shall sell, or give, or permit to be sold or given to any person under the age of eighteen years, any revolver, or pistol
Ordinance No. 3, § 1, Washougal Town Council (1908)
(1909)
All persons (except police officers and other persons whose duty it is to execute process or warrants or make arrests] who shall carry upon his or her person any concealed weapon consisting of a revolver, pistol or other firearms or any knife (other than an ordinary pocket knife) or any dirk or dagger, sling shot or metal knuckles, or any instrument by use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person or property of any other person in said town. And, all persons (except police officers as aforesaid and persons practicing at shooting in a shooting gallery duly licensed) who shall, within the town limits, fire off or discharge any gun, pistol or firearm of any kind, or any bomb, shall be deemed and are disorderly persons and guilty of a misdemeanor
Ordinance No. 377, §§ 2-4, Wenatchee City Council (1911)
(1911)
It shall be unlawful for any person to carry upon his person any concealed weapon, consisting of either a revolver, pistol or other firearm or any knife (other than an ordinary pock§et knife) or any dirk or dagger, sling shot or metal knuckle or any instrument by the use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person or property of another person, provided, that this section shall not ap§ply to police officers and other persons whose duty it is to execute process or warrants or to make arrests.It shall be unlawful for any person to draw any species of firearm or any dirk, dagger, knife or other dangerous or deadly weapon in the presence of another with intent to intimidate, an§noy or injure another person. FIRING ARMS OR EXPLOSIVES. It shall be unlawful for any person to fire or discharge any cannon, gun, pistol, revolver, or any firearm of any description, or fire, or explode, or set off any squib, cire cracker, torpedo or other thing containing powder or other explosive material, except on days of public celebration or jubilee, and then only in the manner provided by the Ordinances of the City of Wenatchee.
Ordinance No. 79, §§ 2, 3, & 15, Yakima City Council (1910)
(1910)
It shall be unlawful for any person to fire or discharge any pistol, gun, rifle, cannon, or any description of firearms within the corporate limits of said city. It shall be unlawful for any person not being a police officer or not having a permit from the mayor, to carry concealed about his person, any pistol, sling shot, brass or iron knuckle, or other dangerous or deadly weapon.
Ordinance No. 3, § 1, Ridgefield Town Council (1909)
(1909)
All persons (except police officers and other persons whose duty it is to execute process or warrants or make arrests) who shall carry upon his or her person any concealed weapon consisting of a revolver, pistol or other firearms or knife (other than an ordinary pocket knife) or dirk, sling shot, or metal knuckles, or any instrument by use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person or property of any other person in said town; And, all persons (except police officers as aforesaid and persons practicing in a shooting gallery duly licensed) who shall, within the town limits fire off or discharge any gun, pistol or fire arm of any kind, except by permit from the mayor or any bomb, shall be deemed and are disorderly persons, and guilty of a misdemeanor.
Ordinances of the City of Tacoma, Washington 334 (Albert R. Heilig ed., 1892)
(1892)
Classified carrying, brandishing, or otherwise using or attempting to use certain deadly weapons, intentionally displaying or using a deadly weapon against another person, and discharging firearms or bombs within city limits as misdemeanors. Police could arrest violators without warrants, and convictions carried fines up to $100.
Ordinance No. 2, §§ 2-3 & 7, Soap Lake Town Council (1919)
(1919)
That it shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any firearm or other dangerous weapon, at any place within the incorporated limits of the Town of Soap Lake.It shall be unlawful for any person to carry any firearm or other dangerous weapon, or to exhibit, flourish or to use the same in any manner having a tendency to put any other person in terror or fear; upon any of the public highways or other public places within the incorporated limits of the Town of Soap Lake...

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