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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For questions about coverage, rights, or submissions, contact the Firearms Research Center (firearmsresearchcenter.org).

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Now showing 1 - 40 of 46

1868 Kan. Gen Stat. 378
(1868)
§ 282: Prohibited carrying a pistol, bowie-knife, dirk, or other deadly weapon while engaged in illegitimate business, under the influence of intoxicating drinks, or engaged in insurrection against the United States. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor, fined not exceeding one hundred dollars, or imprisoned not exceeding three months, or both fine and imprisonment.
1925 Wyo. Sess. Laws 110
(1925)
Every person not being a citizen of the United States, who shall own, possess, wear or carry any dirk, pistol, shot gun, rifle, or other fire arm, bowie knife, dagger, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon, shall upon conviction thereof, be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined in any sum not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or imprisoned in the county jail not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
1915 Wyo. Sess. Laws ch. 91 sec. 13
(1915)
This law requires most non-citizens (aliens) in Wyoming to obtain a $25 annual gun and fish license before possessing firearms or fishing equipment, with exemptions for certain residents, taxpayers, settlers, employees, and holders of a $50 hunting license. Violations are punishable by fines of $25–$100, with imprisonment at the rate of one day per unpaid dollar until fines and costs are paid, and unauthorized firearms or fishing equipment may be seized and confiscated by law enforcement.
1935 Wash. Sess. Laws 599
(1935)
Ch. 172, §§ 1-4: 'Short Firearm' as used in this act means any firearm with a barrel less than twelve (12) inches in length.If any person shall commit or attempt to commit a crime of violence when armed with a pistol, he may in addition to the punishment provided for the crime, be punished also as provided by this act. No person who has been convicted in this state or elsewhere of a crime of violence, shall own a pistol or have one in his possession or under his control.
1911 Wash. Sess. Laws 303
(1911)
An Act Relating to the Carrying of Firearms, Requiring Licenses of Certain Persons, and Fixing a Penalty for the Violation Thereof, ch. 52, § 1: Required noncitizens to receive a license from the state auditor, upon a certificate from the consul of the individuals' country of origin and payment of a fee, before noncitizen can possess a firearm.
1917 Utah Laws 278
(1917)
Prohibited noncitizens from owning, possessing, or having under their control and shot gun, rifle or firearm " of any make. "
1927 R.I. Pub. Laws 256, ch. 1052, §§ 1, 3
(1927)
Prohibited a person who has previously been convicted of a violent crime from owning, carrying, or possessing any firearm (including machine gun or pistol).
7 Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England 567 (1862)
(1776)
Required any male citizen age sixteen or above to take a loyalty oath and failure to do so without providing proper justificaiton results in disarmament
1909 Pa. Laws 466, No. 261, § 1
(1909)
Prohibited unnaturalized foreign born residents from hunting in the Commonwealth, or to possess a shotgun or rifle.
1931 Pa. Laws 498, No. 158, § 4-6
(1931)
Prohibited individuals convicted of violent crimes from owning, possessing or having a firearm under their control.
9 Stat. at Large of Pa. 347-8, ch. 836 (1903)
(1779)
Prohibited firearm possession for people "disaffected to the liberty and independence" of the state, empowered officers to disarm any person who did not take an oath."
1782 Pa. Acts 193, ch. 101, § 5
(1779)
Authorized the liutenant or sub-liutenant to disarm those who have not taken an oath of allegiance
9 Stat. at Large of Pa. 91, ch. 750, § 32, pt. 9 (1903)
(1777)
Any officer or private man found drunk when under arms, shall be suspended from doing duty in the battalion, company or troop on that day, and be fined at the discretion of a General or Regimental Court-Martial.
1776 Pa. Laws 11, An Ordinance Respecting the Arms of Non-Associators, § 1
(1776)
Authorized officers to collect all arms in the hands of "non associators". -
An Act for Forming and Regulating the Militia of the Province of Pennsylvania, 627, PA. CONS. STAT. (WM Stanley Ray 1898) (Law Passed 1757).
(1757)
That all arms, military accoutrements, gunpowder and ammunition of what kind soever, any papist or reputed papist within this province hath or shall have in his house or houses or elsewhere one month after the publication of this act, shall be taken from such papist or reputed papist by warrant under the hands and seals of any two justices of the peace, who are hereby empowered and required to issue a warrant for search as often as they shall receive information or have good cause to suspect the concealment of arms and ammunition in the houses of any papist or reputed papist; and the said arms, military accoutrements, gunpowder and ammunition so taken shall be delivered to the colonel of the regiment within whose district the said arms are found, by him to be safely kept for the public use. And if any such papist or reputed papist, shall have any arms, military accoutrements, gunpowder or ammunition after the time so as aforesaid limited, the same being so seized shall be forfeited: And if any such papist or reputed papist shall attempt to conceal such arms, military accoutrements, gunpowder and ammunition as aforesaid, or refuse to declare and manifest the same to the said justices of the peace or to any other person authorized by warrant to search for, seize and take the same, every such person so offending shall be imprisoned by warrant from the said justices for the space of three months, without bail or mainprize."
1925 Or. Gen. and Special Laws 469-75
(1925)
it shall be unlawful for any person within this state to carry concealed upon his person or within any vehicle which is under his control or direction any pistol, revolver or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person without having a license to carry such firearm, as hereinafter provided in section 8 hereof
1933 Or. Laws 488, ch. 315, § 2
(1933)
Prohibited a unnaturalized person and person convicted of a felony against another person or the government from owning or possessing a pistol, revolver, other firearm, or machine gun. Punishable by imprisonment for 1-5 years.
1917 Or. Gen. and Special Laws 804, ch. 377, § 1-11
(1917)
No person shall carry in any city, town, or municipal corporation of this State any pistol, revolver or other firearm concealed upon his or her person, or of a size which may be concealed upon his or her person, without a license or permit therefor, issued to him or her by a chief of police or sheriff of such city, town or municipal corporation, or in such manner as may be prescribed by ordinance of such city, town or municipal corporation. This section, however, shall not apply to sheriffs and their deputies, constables, marshals, police officers or any other duly appointed peace officers, nor to any person or persons summoned by such officers to assist in making arrest or preserving the peace while said person or persons are engaged in assisting such officers; nor to duly authorized military organizations when parading, nor to members thereof when going to and from places of meeting of their respective organizations.
1915 N.D. Laws 225
(1915)
Ch. 161, § 67: Prohibited noncitizens from owning or possessing any shotgun or rifle; violators subject to fine, imprisonment, confiscation of weapon.
1923 N.D. Laws 380-83
(1923)
Ch. 266, § 2: Commiting Crime When Armed. If any person shall commit or attempt to commit a crime when armed with a pistol or revolver, and having no permit to carry the same, he shall be in addition to the punishment provided for the crime, be punished by imprisonment for not less than ten years.
1777 N.C. Sess. Laws 41, 43-44
(1777)
Ch. 6, § 9: That all persons failing or refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance, and permitted by the County Courts, as immediately aforesaid, to remain in the State, shall be adjudged incapable and disabled in Law to have, occupy or enjoy, any Office, Appointment, License, or Election of Trust or Profit, civil or military, within this State, and shall not be capable of being elected to, or aiding by their Votes to elect another to be a Member of Assembly, and shall not by themselves, or by Deputy, Attorney or Trustee, execute any such Office, Trust or Appointment, and shall be disabled to prosecute any Suit at Law or Equity, or to be Guardians, Executors or Administrators, or capable of any Legacy, or Deed of Gift of Lands, and shall be disabled from taking any Lands by Descent or Purchase, or conveying Lands to others for any Term longer than for one Year, and shall not keep Guns or other Arms within his or their House, but the same may be seized by a written Order of a Justice of the County in which he or they reside; and after the Expiration of the said Sixty Days, he or they shall not be permitted to depart this State without Permission first had and obtained from the Governor and Council; and in Case of being suffered to depart, shall give Bond and sufficient Security, if such shall be required, not to be aiding to the Enemies of this State during his or their Absence; and in Case of their Departure without such Permission had, he or they shall forfeit all their Goods and Chattels, Lands and Tenements, to the Use of the state?"
1923 N.Y. Laws 140-41
(1923)
An Act to Amend the Conservation Law in Relation to Aliens, ch. 110, § 2: Prohibited noncitizens from owning or possessing any shotgun or rifle without a special license.
1881 N.Y. Code of Crim. Proc. 126, 126-127, ch. 2, § 512, no. 1
(1881)
Prohibited habitual criminals from possessing firearms
1923 N.H. Laws 138-141
(1923)
Provided that sections 1-13 of the act should not apply to antique pistols or revolvers used as such
1925 Nev. Stat. 54
(1925)
Ch. 47, § 1 ; Prohibited the manufacture, importation, sells, gives, lends, or possesses a blackjack, slung-shot, billy, sandclub, sandbag, or metal knuckles. Also prohibited the conceal carry of any explosive substance, dirk, or dagger. Violators guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment not less than one but no more than five years.
1913 Mont. Laws 53
(1913)
An Act to Provide that Aliens Shall Pay a Gun License, and Providing a Penalty for Failure to Obtain License; to Provide for and Regulate the Duties of the Game and Fish Warden and His Deputies, and to Provide for the Disposition of the Fines so Collected, ch. 38, § 1: Required noncitizens to obtain a license (costing $25) from the Game and Fish Warden before possessing a firearm; license valid for one year; provision does not apply to: (1) individuals who have purchased hunting license; (2) state residents owning at least 160 acres of land; (3) settlers on public land beginning to acquire land under federal law; or (4) persons engaged in tending or herding sheep or other animals.
The Charter and Code of the Ordinances of Yazoo City 172-75 (1908)
(1906)
Section 291 penalized the use of live pigeons for target shooting. Sections 293-300 regulate concealed weapons and their sale or use. Carrying a concealed deadly weapon is a misdemeanor punishable by a $25–$100 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, and the weapon is forfeited and destroyed. Exceptions include self-defense, travelers, peace officers, mail carriers, and certain workers. Dealers must record weapon and ammunition sales. Selling or lending weapons to minors or intoxicated people is prohibited. Additional penalties apply to parents allowing young sons to carry weapons, weapons in public schools, and displaying or using deadly weapons in a threatening manner.
1917 Minn. Laws 839-40
(1917)
An Act . . . Making It Unlawful for Any Such Foreign Born Resident to Either Own or Be Possessed of a Shot-gun or Rifle or Other Firearms of Any Make, ch. 500, § 1: Prohibited noncitizens from possessing firearms " of any make. "
1931 Mich. Pub. Acts 671, § 237
(1931)
The Michigan Penal Code, ch. 37, §237: Any person under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any exhilarating or stupefying drug who shall carry, have in possession or under control, or use in any manner or discharge any fire-arm within this state, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
1921 Mich. Pub. Acts 21
(1921)
An Act to Give Additional Protection to Wild Birds and Animals and Game within the State of Michigan, Prohibiting the Hunting for or Capture or Killing of Such Wild Birds, or Animals, or Game, by Unnaturalized Foreign-born Residents, Forbidding the Ownership or Possession of Shotgun, or Rifle, or Pistol, or Firearms of Any Kind, by Any Unnaturalized Foreign-born Resident, within the State, and Prescribing Penalties for Violation of its Provisions, § 1: Prohibited ownership or possession of firearms by noncitizens; violators subject to fine, imprisonment, and confiscation and resale of weapon by state.
Records Of The Colony Of New Plymouth In New England 242 (David Pulsifier ed., 1861)
(1861)
It is enacted by the Court that no Indians that are servants to the English shall be permitted to use guns for fowling or other exercise; as being judged that it may prove prejudicial in time to the English; and therefore that no one shall be permitted so to do on pain of forfeiting every such gun so used to the use of the Colony.
1787 Mass. Acts 555
(1787)
Act of Feb. 16, 1787, ch. VI: Required persons against the Government to deliver their arms to a justice of the peace and "subscribe the oath of allegiance to this Commonwealth."
1775-76 Mass. Acts 31-32, 35
(1776)
Act of Mar. 14, 1776, ch. VII: Recommended the disarming of persons who are "notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who refuse to associate to defend by arms the United American Colonies."
1888 Md. Code 522-23
(1884)
Ch. 187, § 742: Prohibited the carrying of a pistol, dirk knife, Bowie knife, slingshot, billy, brass, iron or any other metal knuckles, razor, or any other deadly weapon if arrested for being drunk and disorderly. Punishable by fine of $5-25, and confiscation of the weapon.
1777 N.J. Laws 90
(1777)
Ch. 40, 20: That the President and Council aforesaid be, and they hereby are empowered and directed to deprive and take from such Persons as they shall judge disaffected and dangerous to the present Government, all the Arms, Accoutrements and Ammunition which they own or possess; and the said President and Council are hereby authorized to pay for such Arms, Accoutrements and Ammunition, or any of them, such Sum as shall be ascertained by two or more Appraisers under Oath, which said Arms, Accoutrements and Ammunition shall be delivered, for the Use of the State, to the Commanding Officer of the Battalion in whose District such disaffected Person resides."
14 Car. 2, c.3 (1662)
(1662)
Ordered deputy lieutenants to seize arms from any person "judge[d] dangerous to the Peace of the Kingdom."
1921 N.M. Laws 201-02
(1921)
Ch. 113, §§ 1-4: Prohibited the use, possession, or control of any shotgun or rifle by noncitizen; violators subject to fine, imprisonment, and confiscation and resale of shotgun or rifle
8 Stat. at Large, from the Twelfth Year of King Charles II, to the Last Year of King James II 40 (Danby Pickering ed. 1763)
(1662)
1662 Militia Act: Ordered the king's agents to search for and seize all arms in the custody or possession of any person "judge[ d] dangerous to the peace of the kingdom."
1915 N.J. Laws 662-63
(1915)
Ch. 355, 1: Prohibited noncitizens from owning or possessing a shotgun or rifle. Punishable by fine and confiscation and resale of firearm. Not applicable to noncitizens owning at least $2,000 worth of property in the state.
The Revised Laws of Hawaii 790-94 (1925)
(1925)
Chapter 128 imposed a comprehensive firearm and ammunition registration and permitting system in the Territory of Hawaii. Residents, businesses, and other possessors were required to report firearms and ammunition to the county sheriff, including the type, manufacturer, and factory number when available. Sheriffs maintained records and periodically forwarded copies to the governor. Firearms and ammunition dealers faced additional reporting requirements concerning their inventory, imports, and every sale or transfer. Retail purchasers generally had to obtain a written permit from the sheriff before acquiring a firearm or pistol/revolver ammunition. Dealers had to record the transaction, obtain the purchaser’s signature, report it to the sheriff, and could not deliver the item on the same day as the transaction. Violations were misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $500, imprisonment up to one year, or both; informants could receive half of an imposed fine. Aliens faced additional restrictions: obtaining a permit required written recommendations from two responsible citizens, and generally required an annual $5 license, although business-related firearm use could qualify for a fee exemption. Aliens possessing firearms or ammunition without complying with these requirements faced misdemeanor penalties. Registration records were generally confidential, accessible only at the governor’s request or by court order. Violations of the chapter could result in fines up to $500, while sheriffs improperly disclosing records faced fines up to $25. Federal, territorial, militia, county, and municipal authorities carrying arms in their official capacities were exempt from the reporting requirements.

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