1806 Md. Laws 44
Abstract
An Act to Restrain the Evil Practices Arising From Negroes Keeping Dogs, and to Prohibit Them From Carrying Guns or Offensive Weapons, ch. 81: Prohibited "any negro or mulatto" from keeping a dog or gun, except any "free negro or mulatto" who has a license for such purpose.
Summary
This law restricts Blacks (both enslaved and free) from possessing firearms and dogs. Enslaved people and free Black people without a license are prohibited from keeping guns at all, while licensed free Black individuals are limited and must renew annual permission from a justice of the peace. It also allows unlicensed dogs owned by Black people to be killed without legal consequence. Additionally, free Black individuals are barred from carrying firearms or other weapons in public unless they carry a special certificate of “good character,” which is also time-limited and revocable.
Law Text
Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That after the first day of May next, it shall not be lawful for any negro or mulatto within this state to keep any dog, bitch or gun , except he be a free negro or mulatto, and in that case he may be permitted to keep one dog, provided such free negro or mulatto shall obtain a license from a justice of the peace for that purpose, and that the said license shall be in force for one year, and no longer, and if any dog or bitch owned by any negro, not possessed of such license, shall be seen going at large, it shall be lawful for any person to kill the same, and in case of any suit instituted therefor, the person or persons killing the said dog or bitch may plead the general issue, and give this act in evidence.
II. And be it enacted, That after the first day of May next, it shall not be lawful for any free negro or mulatto to go at large with any gun, or other offensive weapon; and in case any free negro or mulatto shall be seen going at large carrying a gun, or other offensive weapon, he shall be liable to be carried before any magistrate, in virtue of a warrant to be issued by any justice of the peace, directed to a constable of the county, and on conviction of having violated the provisions of this section of the act, such offender shall thereupon forfeit, to the use of the informant, such gun, or other offensive weapon, which shall thus have been found in his or her possession, and be subject to the payment of the costs which shall have accrued in such prosecution; provided, that nothing in this act shall extend to prevent any free negro or mulatto from carrying a gun, or other offensive weapon, who shall, at the time of his carrying the same, have a certificate from a justice of the peace, that he is an orderly and peaceable person, which certificate shall be in force for one year from the date thereof and no longer.
Description
Categories
ENSLAVED PERSONS & OTHER MINORITIES