18 The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia 117-18 (1910)

18 The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia 117-18 (1910)

Abstract

Requirement that "any Slave" have a ticket to use a firearm that must be renewed every month, subject to seizure.

Summary

This law severely restricts enslaved people from carrying or using firearms or weapons unless under direct white supervision or with written ticket, renewed monthly, from their enslaver for limited purposes, prohibits weapon use on weekends without exception, and allows anyone to seize weapons from enslaved people in violation of the rules, subject to later legal confirmation of forfeiture by a justice of the peace after notice is given to the enslaver or overseer.

Law Text

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that it shall not be Lawfull for any Slave unless in the presence of some white person to Carry and make use of Fire Arms or any Offensive Weapon whatsoever Unless such Slaves Shall have a Tickett or licence in writing from his Master Mistres or Overseer to hunt and kill game Cattle or Mischievous Birds or Beasts of Prey and that such Licence be renewed once every Month or unless there be some white person of the Age of Sixteen Years or upwards in the Company of such Slave when he is hunting or Shooting or that such Slave be actually carrying his Masters Arms to and from his Masters plantation by a Special Tickett for that purpose or unless such Slave be found in the Day time actually keeping off Birds within the plantation to which such Slave belongs lodging the same Gun at Night within the dwelling House of his Master Mistress or White Overseer Provided also that no Slave shall have Liberty to carry any Gun Cutlass Pistol or other Weapon abroad at any time between Saturday Evening after Sun Sett and Monday morning before Sun rise Notwithstanding a Licence or Tickett for so doing and in Case any person shall find any Slave using or carrying Fire Arms or other Offensive Weapons contrary to the true intention of this Act every such person may Lawfully Seize and take away such Offensive Weapon or Fire arms but before the property of such goods shall be vested in the person who shall Seize the same such person shall within forty Eight Hours next after such Seizure go before the next Justice of the peace and shall make Oath of the manner of the taking and if such Justice of the peace after such Oath shall be made or if upon any other Examination he shall be Satisfied that the said Fire Arms or other offensive Weapons shall have been Seized according to the directions and agreeable to the true intent and meaning of this Act, The said Justice shall by Certificate under his hand and Seal declare them forfeited and that the property is Lawfully vested in the person who Seized the Same Provided always that no such Certificate shall be granted by any Justice of the peace, untill the Owner or Owners of such Fire Arms or other Offensive Weapon so to be Seized as aforesaid or the Overseer or Overseers who shall or may have the charge of such Slave or Slaves from whom such Fire Arms or other Offensive Weapons shall be taken or Seized shall be duly Summoned to Shew Cause if any such they have why the same should not be Condemned as forfeited or untill forty Eight Hours after the Service of such Summons and Oath made of the Service thereof before the said Justice.