“ACT XLVI.

ALL trade with the Savages prohibited, as well publique as private.

ACT XLVII.

NOE man shall goe or send abroade without a sufficient party well armed.

ACT XLVIII.

NOE man shall goe to worke in the grounds without theire armes, and a centinell uppon them.”

Full Text: 1631, VA, Acts 46-48

William Waller Hening, ed., The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, From the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619. Published Pursuant to an Act of the General Assembly of Virginia, Passed on the Fifth Day of February One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eight, vol. 1 (New York, NY: R. & W. & G. BARTOW, 1823), 173. Acts 46-48. Dated by closest dated prior act, viz., Act 37, to March 2, 1631.

“Sec. 555. Amount of gunpowder allowed to be kept—Application to the mayor for permission to keep same—Duty of chief engineer of fire department—Penalty—Proviso.

No person shall keep, in any house or store, any quantity of gunpowder exceeding two kegs or vessels thereof, of the weight of twenty-five pounds each, and before such person shall have this privilege, he shall make an application, in writing, to the mayor, for permission to do so, to be approved by the chief engineer of the fire department. The chief engineer shall keep a list of all permits granted, and, for any violation of this section, such person shall pay a fine of twenty dollars, one-half of which shall go to the informer; and the person offending shall not be permitted to keep the said amount of powder thereafter without the consent of the councils; provided, that nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent any person from keeping, in any one house, as much as two pounds of powder for such private purposes as may be proper. Ord. 1894.

Sec. 556. How powder to be transported—Penalty.

No person shall carry, in any dray, or other carriage, or in any other manner, any quantity of gunpowder exceeding two pounds, in or through the city, unless the same shall be secured in good bags, and covered with a sail or other cloth, under the penalty of five dollars for every barrel, half barrel, cask, or keg so carried; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent any person or company from transporting (directly, and without stopping or switching) powder through the city in sealed cars. One-half of all fines and penalties incurred under this ordinance shall go to the informer and the other half to the city. Ord. 1894.

Sec. 557. Arrival of powder to be reported.

All arrivals of powder in the city shall be reported to the chief of the fire department by the powder inspector[.] Ord. 1894.”

1894, Norfolk, VA, General Ordinances, Chapter 61—Powder, §§ 555-557

H. N. Poulson and R. E. Steed, eds., The Ordinances of the City of Norfolk, VA (Date of Enactments Including May 29th, 1902) With the Amended Charter, Acts of Assembly Relating to City Government and an Appendix (Norfolk, VA: Burke & Gregory, 1902), 260. General Ordinances, Chapter 61—Powder, §§ 555-557. Ord. 1894.

“…No person shall discharge a fire arm or bring any dog in the park…”

1899, Norfolk, VA, General Ordinances, Chapter 62, § 561

H. N. Poulson and R. E. Steed, eds., The Ordinances of the City of Norfolk, VA (Date of Enactments Including May 29th, 1902) With the Amended Charter, Acts of Assembly Relating to City Government and an Appendix (Norfolk, VA: Burke & Gregory, 1902), 262. General Ordinances, Chapter 62—Public Park, § 561—Rules and Regulations for the Public Park as Provided by Councils. February 14, 1899.

“Sec. 1. If any person carry about his person, hid from common observation, any pistol, dirk, bowie-knife, razor, slung-shot, or any weapon of the like kind, he shall be fined not less than twenty nor more than one hundred dollars, and such pistol, dirk, bowie knife, razor,  slungshot, or any weapon of the like kind, may be seized by an officer, and, upon the conviction of the offender, the same shall be forfeited and sold, and the proceeds accounted for and paid over by the police justice to the city of Norfolk; provided, that this ordinance shall not apply to any police officer, town or city sergeant, constable, sheriff, conservator of the peace. or collecting officer, while in the discharge of his official duty.”

1894, Norfolk, VA, Chapter 8—Carrying Concealed Weapons

The Ordinances of the City of Norfolk, VA, With the Amended Charter, Acts of Assembly Relating to City Government and an Appendix (Norfolk, VA: W.T. Baron, 1894), 60. Chapter 8—Carrying Concealed Weapons. Undated.

“12. No person, firm or incorporated company shall keep in any house in the city any loaded shell or shot, or any explosive material of any sort, not authorized by ordinance. And any person, firm or incorporated company violating the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than twenty nor more than one hundred dollars; and each day on which the same is so kept in the city shall be a distinct offence and punishable as such.”

1869, VA, Ordinances of the City of Richmond, Title 7 Nuisances, Ch. 46 Concerning Nuisances Not in Streets, §12

The Charter and Ordinances of the City of Richmond (Richmond, VA: V. L. Fore, Printer, 1315 Main Street, 1869), 238-239. Title 7 Nuisances, Ch. 46 Concerning Nuisances Not in Streets, §12. Passed 13 Dec. 1869.

“13. And be it further Ordained, That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to fire or discharge any Gun, Pistol, Fowling-Piece or Fire-Arms, or to make any other unusual noise within the limits of this City, whereby the inhabitants thereof may be alarmed, except in cases of necessity or in the performance of some public and lawful act of duty, nor to discharge or set-off any Rocket, Cracker, Torpedo, Squib or Balloon, containing any substance in a state of combustion, or other Fire-works within the said City, without permission first had and obtained in writing, from the Mayor of the City, under the penalty of six dollars and sixty-six cents for each offence, if free; and if the offender be an infant, the penalty shall be paid by his, or her parent, master or guardian; and if a slave, upon conviction before any Magistrate of this City, shall receive twenty lashes. Provided always, That nothing in this section shall be construed to extend to any Military exercises or reviews.”

1831, VA, An Ordinance, reducing into one, the several Ordinances

Ordinances of the Corporation of the City of Richmond, and the Acts of Assembly Relating Hereto (Richmond, VA: John Warrock, 1831), 116. Chap. XXVI, §13.

“1. Not more than fifty pounds of powder shall be transported in the city at one time, except by a military company, or in a vehicle constructed as the Engineer of the city shall prescribe.
2. The master of a vessel or steamer arriving in the port of Richmond with more than fifty pounds of powder on board, shall forthwith report the fact to the Harbor-Master, and take such berth as he shall assign.
3. The head man of a boat arriving in the city by the canal or river with more than fifty pounds of powder on board, shall forthwith report the fact to a police officer, and take such berth in the basin or canal as he shall direct. No fire shall be used on board of a boat having such quantity of powder on board.
4. When any person delivers more than fifty pounds of powder to a vessel, steamer or canal boat, he shall notify forthwith the Harbor-Master of such delivery to a vessel or steamer, and a police officer of such delivery to a canal boat. And the Harbor-Master shall assign a proper berth to the vessel or steamer, and the police officer shall do the same to the canal boat.
5. No person shall keep in the city longer than twenty-four hours more than two pounds of powder, except in tin canisters, or more than twenty-five pounds elsewhere than in a magazine, which shall be approved by the Council.
6. Violations of sections one, two, three, four and five by any person mentioned therein, shall be punished by a fine of not less than five nor more than fifty dollars.
7. The Committee on public grounds and buildings shall have supervision of the powder kept in or near the city, and may prescribe such regulations for the reception, storage, delivery and transportation of powder as the public safety requires. The Engineer of the city shall inspect annually the vehicles used for the transportation of powder, and report their condition to the said committee, who may require such changes and repairs to be made in the same as they deem necessary.”

1869, VA, The Ordinances of the City of Richmond, Ch. 62, Concerning Powder, §1-7

The Charter and Ordinances of the City of Richmond (Richmond, VA: V.L. Fore, Printer, 1315 Main Street, 1869), 226-227. Ch. 62, Concerning Powder, §1-7.

“It shall not be lawful for any person or persons or firm, for any purpose whatsoever, to store or keep within the limits of this city a larger quantity of powder than twenty-five pounds. All powder shall be kept well secured in a close tin or other metallic canister ; provided that larger quantities may be kept in such magazine or other place as the council may provide or designate for the storage of powder, subject to such regulations and charges as the council may prescribe.”

Revised Ordinances of the City Winchester, Together With the City Charter, and Other Acts of the General Assembly Relating to Cities and Towns (Winchester, VA: Winchester News, 1875), 68-69.

1875, VA, Ordinance XXI. Gunpowder To be kept in metallic canisters in limited quantities

“7. And be it further Ordained, That no person or persons within the City of Richmond, shall retain in his, her or their possession at any time, more than twenty-five pounds of Powder. And every person who shall retain more than the said quantity in his, her or their possession for the space of twelve hours, shall forfeit and pay for every twelve hours, the sum of twenty-four shillings, to be recovered and appropriated as other fines and penalties are. The Powder so retained, shall be kept in Tin Canisters and not otherwise. And every person who shall keep in his, her or their possession for the space of twelve hours, two pounds of powder or more, in any other manner than herein before directed, shall forfeit and pay for every such offence, the sum of ten shillings: and for every twenty-four hours that the said Powder shall remain after the expiration of the said twelve hours, the farther sum of ten shillings, to be recovered and appropriated as herein before directed.”

1828, VA, An Ordinance, for the Government of the Powder Magazine of this City, and for other purposes

Ordinances of the Corporation of the City of Richmond, and the Acts of Assembly Relating Hereto (Richmond, VA: John Warrock, 1831), 65. Chapter X, §7.

“Sec. III. No person shall discharge any Musket, Fowling-piece, Pistol, or other Fire Arms, within the limits of the corporation, unless in defence of his or her person or proprety, under the penalty of One Dollar for each offence.”

1800, VA, Laws of the Mayor and Commonalty of the Town of Alexandria

Laws of the Mayor and Commonalty of the Town of Alexandria to Which Are Prefixed Acts of the Legislature of Virginia Respecting the Town of Alexandria (Alexandria, VA: John and James D. Westcott, 1800), 19-20.

Regulations of the Society.

29. Students are strictly forbidden to keep, or to have about their person, any dirk, sword or pistol. Firing squibs or crackers in and about College or elsewhere is also strictly forbidden.

Full Text: Google Books 

No Student shall, within the precincts of the University, introduce, keep or use any spirituous or vinous liquors, keep or use weapons or arms of any kind, or gunpowder, keep a servant, horse or dog, appear in school with a stick, or any weapon, nor, while in school, be covered without permission of the Professor, nor use tobacco by smoking or chewing, on pain of any of the minor punishments, at the discretion of the Faculty, or of the board of Censors, approved by the Faculty.

Full Text: Perma.cc

Sec. 135. Acts prohibited in Park.

All persons are forbidden to enter or leave the park except by the gateways; to climb or walk upon any of the walls or fence, to turn cattle, horses, goats or swine into the park; to carry firearms, or to throw stones or other missiles within it; to cut, break, or in any way injure or deface the trees, benches, shrubs, plants, turf, or any of the buildings, fences, bridges, or other constructions upon the park; or to converse with, or in any way hinder those engaged in its construction. 

Full Text: HathiTrust

§ 1. Where used in this act; (a) “Machine gun” applies to and includes a weapon of any description by whatever name known, loaded or unloaded, from which more than seven shots or bullets may be rapidly, or automatically, or semi-automatically discharged from a magazine, by a single function of the firing device, and also applies to and includes weapons, loaded or unloaded, from which more than sixteen shots or bullets may be rapidly, automatically, semi-automatically or otherwise discharged without reloading. (b) “Crime of violence” applies to and includes any of the following crimes or an attempt to commit any of the same, namely, murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, rape, . . .§ 2. Possession or use of machine gun in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of a crime of violence is hereby declared to be a crime punishable by death or by imprisonment in the State penitentiary for a term not less than twenty years. § 3. Unlawful possession or use of a machine gun for offensive or aggressive purpose is hereby declared to be a crime punishable by imprisonment in the State penitentiary for a term of not less than ten years. § 4. Possession or use of a machine gun shall be presumed to be for offensive or aggressive purpose; (a) When the machine gun is on premises not owned or rented, for bona fide permanent residence or business occupancy, by the person in whose possession the machine gun may be found; or (b) When in the possession of , or used by, an unnaturalized foreign born person, or a person who has been convicted of a crime of violence in any court of record, state or federal, of the United States of America, its territories or insular possessions; or (c) When the machine gun is of the kind described in section eight and has not been registered as in said section required; or (d) When empty or loaded pistol shells of thirty (thirty one-hundredths inch or seven and sixty-three one hundredths millimeter ) or larger caliber which have been or are susceptible to use in the machine gun are found in the immediate vicinity thereof. § 5. The presence of a machine gun in any room, boat, or vehicle shall be prima facie evidence of the possession or use of the machine gun by each person occupying the room, boat, or vehicle where the weapon is found. § 6. (excludes military police etc. ) § 7. Every manufacturer or dealer shall keep a register of all machine guns manufactured or handled by him. This register shall show the model and serial number, date of manufacture, sale, load, gift, delivery or receipt, of every machine gun, the name, address, and occupation of the person to whom the machine gun was sold, loaned, given or delivered, or from whom it was received; and the purpose for which it was acquired by the person to whom the machine gun was sold. . .

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall be the duty of every person residing in this State and owning a pistol or revolver therein, to pay on or before the first day of January of each year a license tax of one dollar on each pistol or revolver so owned, or in the event that such pistol or revolver shall be acquired by any such person on or after the first day of February, such license tax shall be forthwith paid thereon. The application for the license shall give the name of the owner, and the number, make and calibre [sic] of such pistol or revolver, which shall be set forth in the license. All pistol or revolver licenses shall run from the first day of January to the first day of the following January. Such license taxes shall be paid to the treasurer of the city or county whrein the said owner resides, and the said treasurer shall not receive more for handling the funds arising from the tax imposed by this act than he receives for handling other State funds. The treasurers shall not receive compensation for their services in issuing the license cards herein provided for. Upon payment of the tax provided for in this section the person paying the same shall be entitled to a license card therefor, showing the year for which the license is paid, the county or city issuing the card, the serial number of the license, and the number, calibre [sic], make and owner of the pistol or revolver. When the license card is issued the treasurer shall record the name of the owner of the pistol or revolver, and the number, calibre [sic] and make thereof with the number of the license, in a book prepared for the purpose. The license cards and book shall be furnished by the boards herein provided and shall be paid out of the funds derived from the pistol and revolver licenses. If any such card should be lost the owner of the card shall pay to the treasurer twenty-five cents for a duplicate card.
2. It shall be the duty of every retailer selling a pistol or revolver in this State, at the time of such sale, to keep a record of the name and address of the purchaser and the number, make and calibre [sic] of the pistol or revolver, and to report once a month to the treasurer of his county or city the names of such purchasers, if any, together with the number, make and calibre [sic] of each pistol or revolver purchased; and all persons receiving or having in their possession a pistol or revolver for the purpose of repairing the same shall report to the treasurer of his county or city once a month giving the name and address of the owner and the calibre [sic], make and serial number of such pistol or revolver.
3. It shall be unlawful for any retailer in this State to sell ammunition for any pistol or revolver to any person unless the person desiring to make such purchase displays the license card for the current year provided for in this act.
4. Any person violating any provision of this act or using a license card not issued to him, for the purpose of purchasing ammunition, or using a license card for the purchase of pistol or revolver ammunition unless the ammunition is intended to be used for the weapon mentioned in the license card shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined not less than twenty-five nor more than fifty dollars, or sentenced to the State convict road force for not less than thirty or not more than sixty days, or both, in the discretion of the tribunal trying the case.
5. The provisions of this act shall not apply to any officer authorized by law to carry a pistol or revolver nor to the pistol or revolver of such officer when such pistol or revolver is carried in discharge of his official duty, except that every officer shall list his pistol or revolver with the treasurer of his county or city annually by January first; nor to a pistol of an obsolete type kept as a souvenir, memento or relic, such as cap and ball type, etcetera, or souvenir used or captured by any person or relative in any war. But such pistol shall be registered as herein provided, upon satisfactory proof to the officer issuing such license that the pistol in question comes properly within this exception, in which case, no license tax shall be charged.
6. The tax hereby imposed shall be in lieu of all other taxes on such pistols and revolvers; but nothing in this act shall be construed to apply to such weapons in the stocks of licensed wholesaler or retailers.
7. All funds arising from pistol and revolver licenses, except as hereinbefore provided, shall be kept separate from other funds and shall be paid into the State treasury to establish a fund known as the diseased and crippled children’s hospital fund, which shall be used for the purpose of establishing and maintaining within the State at such place or places as may be selected by the board hereinafter provided for, a hospital or hospitals for the care, treatment and vocational training of diseased and crippled children resident in Virginia, or for any such rehabilitation work that the board may deem wise.
Each treasurer shall between the first and fifteenth of July and between the first and fifteenth of January report to the auditor of public accounts collections, which he is required to make by this act, and shall at the same time pay into the State treasury the amount collected less the commissions which he is authorized to retain for collecting same as provided for in this act, and the auditor of public accounts shall keep said funds separate from other funds to be designated and known as “the diseased and cripple children’s hospital fund.”
8. The adminsitration of the aid fund shall be under the direction of a board of seven physicians to be appointed by the governor. . . . [Description of board and its functions].
9. The State treasurer shall make payments from the fund hereinabove created on warrants from the auditor of pulic accounts, issued on vouchers certified by the chairman of the board hereinabove created on authority of the board.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to hunt, pursue, kill, or destroy in any way, any wild game or to enter with dog or gun or both with intent to hunt, kill, pursue, destroy any wild game upon any of those tracts of land in Shenandoah county in what is known as the Massanutten purchase area to which the government of the United States of America has acquired the legal title under the Week’s law for the acquisition of lands upon the head waters . . .

If any person carry about his person, hid from common observation, any pistol, dirk, bowie knife, razor, slungshot, or any weapon of like kind he shall be fined not less than twenty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, or be committed to jail not more than thirty days, or both, in the discretion of the court, or jury, trying the case: and such pistol, dirk, bowie knife, razor, slungshot, or any weapon of like kind, shall be forfeited to the Commonwealth and may be seized by an officer as forfeited. Upon conviction of the offender the said weapon shall be sold by the officer and the proceeds accounted for and paid over as provided in section twenty-one hundred and ninety; provided, that this section shall not apply to any police officer, town or city sergeant, constable, sheriff, conservator of the peace, collecting officer while in the discharge of his official duty: provided the judge of any circuit or hustings court in term time, upon a written application and satisfactory proof of the good character and necessity of the applicant to carry concealed weapon may grant such permission for one year; the order making same shall be entered in the order book of such court.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or association, to sell, barter, exchange, furnish, or dispose of by purchase, gift, or in any other manner, any toy gun, pistol, rifle, or other toy firearm, if the same shall, by means of powder or other explosive discharge blank or ball charges, to any person under the age of twelve years. Any firm, corporation, or association violating the provisions of this act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, or confined in jail for a period not less than thirty, nor more than ninety days, either or both. 2. Each sale of any of the articles hereinbefore specified to any person under the age mentioned shall constitute a separate offense, and any person over the age of twelve years who shall purchase, accept, or in any manner acquire any of the toy articles of the kind hereinbefore enumerated for any person under the age of twelve years, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred dollars, or confined in jail for a period not less than thirty days nor more than six months, either or both.

. . . It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot at, kill or capture any wild water fowl or wild turkey at any time during the night in this State. . . or to shoot at any game on land or water in this State with a gun larger than an eight bore. . . The possession of any of said guns, sneak boats, nets, traps, reflectors, or other unlawful appliances shall be prima facie evidence of the guilt of the person in whose possession they are found.

Eighteenth. The aggregate value of all shot-guns, rifles, muskets, and other fire-arms, bowie knives, dirks, and all weapons of a similar kind: provided, that all fire-arms issued by the State to members of volunteer companies, or for purposes of police, shall not be listed for taxation (along with other tangible property taxed at twenty cents per 100.00)

To direct the location of all building for storing gunpowder, fire-crackers, or other fireworks manufactured or prepared therefrom, kerosene oil, nitroglycerine, camphene, burning fluid, or other combustible material; to regulate the exhibition of fireworks, the discharge of fire-arms, the use of candles and lights in barns, stables, or other buildings, and to regulate or restrain the making of bonfires in streets and yards.

The council shall have, subject to the provisions of this act, the control and management of the fiscal and municipal affairs of the town; of all property, real and personal, belonging to said town; and may make such ordinances, orders, and by-laws and regulations as it may deem necessary to carry out the following powers, which are hereby conferred on it . . . to regulate or prevent the storing of gunpowder . . .

[Ordinances of Lynchburg, Public Safety,] Revised Ordinance, § 14. No person shall set off any fireworks or explode any popcrackers within the city limits. No person shall discharge any gun, pistol or other fire-arm within the city limits. No person shall, without the written consent of the Mayor, fire a cannon in the city, nor shall any cannon be fired within one hundred yards of any dwelling-house without the consent of the owner or occupant of such house. For violations of this section, the penalty shall be not less than one dollar nor more than ten dollars for each offence.

Offences Against the Peace, § 3780. Carrying Concealed Weapons, How Punished. Forfeiture and Sale of Weapons. If any person carry about his person, hid from common observation, any pistol, dirk, bowie-knife, razor, slung-shot, or any weapon of the like kind, he shall be fined not less than twenty nor more than one hundred dollars, and such pistol, dirk, bowie-knife, razor, slung-shot, or any weapon of the like kind, shall be forfeited to the commonwealth and may be seized by an officer as forfeited; and upon the conviction of the offender the same shall be sold and the proceeds accounted for and paid over as provided in section twenty-one hundred and ninety: Provided, that this section shall not apply to any police officer, town or city sergeant, constable, sheriff, conservator of the peace, or collecting officer, while in the discharge of his official duty.

[Ordinances of Lynchburg,] Public Safety, § 19. No person shall carry gunpowder, blasting powder, dynamite or other explosives on a vehicle in any part of the city unless the same shall be secured in kegs, boxes, or canisters, so that no part thereof can fall out or escape.