An Act to Prevent the Sale of Pistols, ch. 96, §§ 1–6, 1879 Tenn. Pub. Acts 135, 135–136 (The American Book and Job Printing Office).

“CHAPTER XCVI.
AN ACT to Prevent the Sale of Pistols.

    Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That it shall be a misdemeanor for any person to sell, or offer to sell, or to bring into the State for the purpose of selling, giving away, or otherwise disposing of belt or pocket pistols, or revolvers, or any other kind of pistols, except army or navy pistol; Provided that this Act shall not be enforced against any persons now having license to sell such articles until the expiration of such present license.
    Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That any person guilty of a violation of this Act, shall be subject to presentment or indictment, and on conviction, shall pay a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars, and be imprisoned at the discretion of the court.
    Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Criminal and Circuit Judges, and other Judges whose courts have criminal jurisdiction, to give this Act specially in charge to the grand jury at each term of the court.
    Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the grand juries to send for witnesses, in all cases where they have good reason to believe, that the provisions of this Act have been violated. And upon satisfactory evidence of its violation, they shall make presentments of the same without a prosecutor.
    Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That all laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act be, and the same are hereby repealed.
    Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect from and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it.
    Passed March 14, 1879.”