“CHAPTER XVII.

OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, AND MORAL CONDUCT…

…9. Any student convicted of sending or receiving a challenge to fight a duel, or who shall carry such challenge, or be a second in a duel, or in any wise aid or abet it, shall immediately be dismissed by the faculty, and as soon as practicable expelled by the trustees.”

“CHAPTER XIX.

MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS…

…10. No student shall keep for his use or pleasure any horse or riding beast; nor shall any student keep a dog, or gun, or fire-arms and ammunition of any kind, nor any sword, dirk, sword-cane, or any deadly weapon whatever.”

Full Text: 1819, College of NJ

Laws of the College of New Jersey; Revised, Amended, and Adopted by the Board of Trustees, April 14th, 1819 (Trenton, NJ: George Sherman, 1819), 21-26. Chapter 17—Of Religious Worship and Moral Conduct, § 9; Chapter 19—Miscellaneous Regulations, § 10. Adopted April 14th, 1819.

N.B. “The College of New Jersey” here refers to what is now Princeton University¹ not the current College of New Jersey.

“Art. 1. It shall not be lawful for any person to enter into a public ball-room with any cane, stick, sword or any other weapon, and every person having either a cane, stick, sword or any other weapon, shall, before he enter the ball-room, deposite the same at the office which shall be at the door of the entrance of said ball-room, where there will be a person appointed to receive and take care of such articles which he shall carefully keep, affixing to each article a number, a check of which he shall give to the owner ; and said articles shall not be returned to the persons respectively depositing them, until said persons are quitting the balls and produce their checks.”

“Art. 1. Nul ne pourra entrer dans la salle d’un bal public avec aucune canne, bâton, épée, sabre ou autre arme : et toutes personnes ayant des cannes, bâtons ou armes quelconques seront tenues, avant d’entrer au bal, de les déposer au bureau établi à la porte d’entrée du dit bal, et dans lequel se trouvera un préposé qui, après les avoir reçues, les gardera avec soin et donnera au propriétaire un numéro pareil à celui qu’il aura attaché à chaque canne, bâton ou arme quelconque, et ces objets ne seront rendus à ceux qui les auront déposés que lorsqu’ils quitteront le bal et sur le vu du numéro qu’ils auront reçu.”

1817, LA, An Ordinance respecting public Balls

Donatien Augustin, A general digest of the ordinances and resolutions of the corporation of New-Orleans, (New Orleans, LA: J. Bayon, 1831), 370-373.

“ARTICLE 10. It shall not be lawful for any person to have or keep within the city and suburbs, or within two miles of the same, (except the public magazine, or place of depot appointed for that purpose) any quantity of gunpowder, at any one time exceeding one hundred pound weight, in any one place, house, store or out-house, which said quantity of one hundred pounds shall be separated in several stone jugs or tin canisters, each of which shall not contain more than ten pounds of powder, and shall be provided with a safe and sufficient stopper; and if any person or persons shall keep any greater quantity of gunpowder, at one time, than one hundred pounds, in any one place, house, store or out-house, or if the same gunpowder, so kept as aforesaid, shall not be separated in the manner herein above directed, he, she or they shall forfeit all such gunpowder so kept contrary to the true intent and meaning of this ordinance, or so permitted to be kept, and which shall not be separated as aforesaid, and shall also forfeit and pay a fine of not less than twenty-five, nor more than one hundred dollars, to be recovered with costs of suit, by the Mayor or any other competent magistrate; one half to the informer, and the other half for the use of the city.

ARTICLE 11. The Mayor, or any justice of the peace within the limits of the city, is hereby authorised, as often as he shall be informed upon oath, or affirmation, of probable cause to suspect any person or persons whomsoever, of concealing or keeping within the city or precincts, to the distance of two miles from the said city, any quantity of gunpowder, over and above one hundred pounds weight, as aforesaid, or of concealing or keeping in any boat, ship or other vessel within the port of New-Orleans, any quantity of gunpowder, over and above ten pounds weight, (ships of war only excepted) to issue a search warrant to be executed in the house, store, shop, or other place, or any boat, ship or other vessel designated to him, to examine into the truth of such allegation, in order that every such offender be proceeded against in the manner above specified ; or in conformity with the ordinance respecting the said port, as the case may be.

ARTICLE 12. No person shall hereafter be permitted to fire or discharge any gun, pistol, fowling piece or fire arm, nor to discharge or let off any rocket, cracker, squib or other fire-works, in any street, court-yard, lot, walk or public way, within the city or suburbs, or from the door or window of any house or other building, or near any house or other inhabited part of the said city or suburbs, on any account whatever, particularly on the occasion of festivals or public rejoicings, under the penalty of from five to ten dollars upon each offender, if the person so offending be free, and of thirty lashes, if the offender be a slave; provided always, that nothing contained in this ordinance shall be construed to extend to the reviews or exercises of any military company; and if any person or persons shall let off any fire-works, or shall make any bonfire, without having first obtained the permission of the Mayor of this city, who will appoint a place for so doing, every such person or persons shall pay the fine aforesaid.”

1840, LA, An Ordinance for preventing and extinguishing Fires

John Calhoun, Digest of the Ordinances and Resolutions of the Second Municipality of New Orleans in Force May 1, 1840, (New Orleans, LA: F. Cook & A. Levy, 1840), 46-47.

And be it further ordained that no student shall be allowed to keep any gun, pistol, Dagger, Dirk sword cane or any other offensive weapon in College or elsewhere, neither shall they or either of them be allowed to be possessed of the same out of the college in any case whatsoever.

Full Text: Perma.cc

You shall swear that you will well and truly serve the State of North Carolina in the office of a constable, you shall see and cause the peace of the State to be well and duly preserved and kept according to your power, you shall arrest all such persons as in your sight shall right or go armed offensively, or shall commit or make any riot, affray or other breach of the peace; you shall do your best endeavor, upon complaint to you made, to apprehend all felons, and rioters, or persons riotously assembled; and if any such offender shall make resistance with force, you shall make hue and cry, and shall pursue them according to law: You shall faithfully, and without delay, execute and return all lawful precepts to you directed: You shall well and duly, according to your knowledge, power and ability, do and execute all other things belonging to the office of a constable, so long as you shall continue in this office. So help you God.

An Act to prevent the discharging of fire-arms within the towns and villages, and other public places within this State, and for other purposes.

SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Delaware, in General Assembly met, That from and after the first day of June next, if any person or persons shall presume to fire or discharge any gun, ordnance, musket, fowling-piece, fusee or pistol, within any of the towns or villages of this State, or within the limits thereof; of where the limits cannot be ascertained, within one quarter of a mile of the center of such town or village, shall fire or discharge any gun, ordnance, musket, fowling piece, fusee or pistol, within or on any of the greens, streets, alleys or lanes of any of the towns and villages within this State, whereon any buildings are or shall be erected, or within one hundred yards of any mill-dam, over or across where any of the main public or State roads may go or pass; every person or persons so offending, shall be fined or punished as hereinafter directed.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any free white person or persons, or the child or children of any such person or persons, shall fire or discharge any gun, ordnance, musket, fowling-piece, fusee or pistol, within any, or at any of the places or limits aforesaid, every such person or persons, or the child or children of every such person or persons, shall forfeit and pay for every such offence, any sum, not exceeding five dollars, to be recovered from the person or persons, or from the parent of such child or children, before any justice of the peace of this State, on his own view, or on the oath or affirmation of any one or more credible witnesses, to be recovered as debts under forty shillings are recoverable by the laws of the State.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any free negro or mulatto, or the child or children of any such free negro or mulatto, or any manumitted negro or mulatto, or any servant or servants, slave or slaves, apprentice or apprentices, of any person or persons whatsoever, shall fire or discharge any gun, ordnance, musket, fusee, fowling-piece or pistol, within the limits herein before described, and be thereof convicted by the view of any one justice of the peace, or on the oath or affirmation of one or more credible witnesses, every person so offending, shall forfeit and pay any sum, not exceeding five dollars: Provided nevertheless, That in all and every case where the money is not immediately paid on such conviction, into the hands of the justice before whom such conviction is had, it shall and may be lawful, and the said justice is hereby directed and commanded to commit such person or persons to the fail of his county, there to remain, until the forfeitures and costs are paid.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all fines and forfeitures incurred under this law, shall be paid over for the use of the poor of the county where the offence shall have been committed.

SEC. 5. Provided nevertheless, and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That nothing in this act shall extend, or be construed to prevent any such firing, on any day or days of public rejoicing, or where it is authorized by any law of this State, or where it shall be deemed by the justice before whom the information is lodged, that the necessity of the case required the same.

1812 Del. Laws 522, An Act to Prevent the Discharging of Fire-Arms Within the Towns and Villages, and Other Public Places Within this State, and for Other Purposes. § 1-5.

Each militia man shall provide himself, with-in one month from the date of his enrollment with a good musket, a sufficient bayonet and belt, or a fusil, two spare flints, a knapsack and pouch with a box there-in to contain twentyfour cartridges suited to the bore of his musket or fusil, each cartridge to contain a pro-per quantity of powder and ball: or a good rifle, knap-sack, pouch and powder horn with twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powe-der. Every enrolled person shall appear so armed, ac-toutred and provided when called out to muster or into service; except that it shall not be necessary to appear on the parade with knapsacks when called out for ex-ercise only. The commissioned officers of infantry when on duty for parade, exercise, inspection or service shall wear the uniform of the United States, and be severally armed with a sword or hanger; and the pla-toon officers. in addition to the sword or hanger, shall also be provided with an espontoon. And every officer ‘whose duty requires him to be mounted shall be armed with a sword or hanger and a pair of pistols. Every person so providing himself with arms, ammunition and accoutrements required as aforesaid shall hold the same exempt of suits, distresses, executions or sales for debt or damages or for the payment of taxes.

That it shall not be lawful for any person whatever without license from the Governor or some sub-agent appointed by him to purchase or receive by gift or other wise of any of the before mentioned Indians, any horse mare, gun tomohaw, knife, blanket, shrouding, calico, saddle, bridle, or any goods wares or merchandize whatever, that all such sales or gifts shall be considered as fraudulent on the part of the buyer or receiver and that any whit eperson or free person of coulour whatever so buying or receiving any such articles of any one of those Indians shall be liable to pay a fine of twenty dollars to be recovered before a justice of the peace . . . .”

Be it further enacted, That if any person or persons, shall purchase or receive of any Indian in the way of barter, or trade a gun or other article commonly used in hunting, or any instrument of husbandry or cooking utensil, or clothing or horse, shall forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding fifty dollars nor less than ten, to the use of the territory . . . .

any person who shall hereafter wilfully and maliciously, or by agree- ment fight a duel or single combat with any engine instrument or weapon, the probable consequence of which might be the death of either party, and in so doing shall kill his antagonist or any other person or persons, or inflict such wound as that the person injured shall die thereof within three months thereafter, such offender, his aiders, abettors and councellors being thereof duly convicted shall be guilty of murder and suffer death by being hanged by the neck any law custom or usage of this territory to the contrary notwithstanding.

§ 3. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall, at any time hereafter, fire any gun or pistol in any of the streets, roads, lanes, buildings, or from any of the walls or fences thereto contiguous, and within the compact part of said town, without justifiable cause, such person or persons shall upon complaint and conviction thereof as aforesaid, pay a fine not less than two dollars nor more than four dollars for the first offense, and the sum of four dollars for each and every subsequent offence, to be paid and appropriated as aforesaid.

[An Ordinance to Prevent Nuisances, Etc.] § 7. Be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That any negro or mulatto, shall be punished with thirty-nine stripes on the bare back, if found with deadly weapons, other than the legal implements of his, or her business, when engaged therein; and it is hereby made the duty of the town constable, and permitted to any other citizen, to disarm and imprison such negro or mulatto, as may be found with a belt or butcher-knife, dirk, sword, or pistol, and make complaint to any magistrate within this Borough, to award the aforesaid punishment.

[Ordinances of the City of Cincinnati,] An Ordinance to Prohibit Shooting within the Bounds of the Corporation. Be it and it is hereby ordained by the Town Council of the town of Cincinnati, That each and every person who shall shoot , or fire off, any rifle, musket, fowling piece, pistol, or any other fire arms, or discharge squibs, crackers, or any other fire works within the bounds of the Corporation, he or she shall, on conviction thereof before the Mayor forfeit and pay to the said Mayor for the use of the Corporation, for each and every such offence, a sum not less than Two Dollars, nor more than Ten Dollars, to be collected in the same manner that other fines are collected. Provided always, That nothing contained in this Ordinance shall be so construed as to operate on persons who may discharge fire arms while performing military exercises, salutes at the arrival and departure of vessels on the river, necessary discharges of loaded arms or ordinance, squibs, crackers, or other fire works, in the proper situations, in commemoration of extraordinary events.

That no non-commissioned officer, private or citizen shall unnecessarily fire a gun, single musket or pistol in any public road or near any house, or place of parade,on the evening preceding, on the day or evening of the same, on which any troop company, battalion or regiment shall be ordered to assemble for military duty…

Slaves, § 3. No slave or mulatto whatsoever, shall keep or carry a gun, powder, shot, club or other weapon whatsoever, offensive or defensive; but all and every gun weapon and ammunition found in the possession or custody of any negro or mulatto, may be seized by any person and upon due proof made before any justice of the peace of the district [county] where such seizure shall be, shall by his order be forfeited to the seizor, for his own use, and moreover, every such offender shall have and receive by order of such justice any number of lashes not exceeding thirty nine on his or her bare back well laid on for every such offence. § 4. Every free negro or mulatto, being a housekeeper may be permitted to keep one gun, powder and shot; and all negroes or mulattoes bond or free, living at any frontier plantation, may be permitted to keep and use guns, powder shot and weapons, offensive and defensive, by license from a justice of the peace of the district [county] wherein such plantation lies, to be obtained upon the application of free negroes or mulattoes or of the owners of such as are slaves.

That said president and select men, shall and may, from time to time, pass ordinances to regulate the keeping, carting and transporting gun powder or other combustible or dangerous materials[.]

No noncommissioned officer, private or citizen shall unnecessarily fire a gun, single musket or pistol, in any public road, or near any house or place of parade, on the evening preceding, on the day or evening of the same, on which any troop company, battalion or regiment shall be ordered to assemble for military duty, unless embodied under the command of some commissioned officer; and if any non-commissioned officer, private or citizen, shall fire a musket, single gun or pistol, except as aforesaid, on the day or evening as aforesaid, without being embodied as aforesaid, he shall forfeit and pay a fine of two dollars for each and every such offence . . .

[Ordinances of the Town of Columbia, An Ordinance for Prohibiting the Firing of Guns in the Town of Columbia (1817). Whereas the practice of firing small arms within the town of Columbia is extremely dangerous to the lives; as well as the property of the inhabitants thereof, and ought to be strictly prohibited: Be it ordained by the Intendent and Municipal Wardens of the towns aforesaid, in council assembled, and it is hereby ordained by the authority of the same, That hereafter it shall not be lawful for any person to fire or discharge any gun, pistol or other small arms within the limits bounded by Henderson, Blossom, Lincoln and Upper streets; and if any person shall wantonly, knowingly, and willfully fire or discharge any gun, pistol, or other small arms within the said limits, such person shall forfeit and pay to the use of the town aforesaid, a sum not exceeding five dollars, for each and every such offence, to be sued for and recovered according to law. And whereas, offences of this kind may be committed by minors or other disorderly persons, who have no ostensible property whereof the said penalty can be levied. Be it therefore ordained by the authority aforesaid, That any gun, pistol or other small arms, fired or discharged by any such person in breach of this ordinance, shall be liable for the payment of the penalty or penalties aforesaid; and it shall be lawful for the intendant, either of the Wardens or constables, who shall see such person offending against this ordinance, to seize and take into possession the gun or pistol, or other small arms so fired or discharged, and despite the same with the Intendant or either of the Wardens; and if the person charged with the said offense, and convicted thereof, shall not within ten days after conviction pay the penalty incurred and the costs of prosecution, the same shall be sold to discharge the said penalty and costs: Provided nevertheless, That nothing in this ordinance contained shall extend to prohibit or restrain the usual exercises or duties of the military on muster or parade days, or in performance of patrol or other duties enjoined by law, or to prohibit or restrain any of the inhabitants of said town from shooting any mad dog, or any other dangerous animal found within the same, or from firing guns on the fourth of July, Christmas and New-Years days, or on any other day of general rejoicing of said town.]

Ordinances of the City of New Orleans, § 12. No person shall hereafter be permitted to fire or discharge any gun, pistol, fowling piece or firearm, nor to discharge or let off any rocket, cracker, squib or other fire-works, in any street, court yard, lot, walk or public way, within the city or suburbs, or from the door or window of any house or other building, or near any house or other inhabited part of said city or suburbs, on any account whatever particularly on the occasion of festivals or public rejoicings, under the penalty of from five to ten dollars upon each offender, if the person so offending be free, and of thirty lashes if the offender be a slave; Provided always, that nothing contained in this ordinance shall be construed to extend to the reviews or exercises of any military company; and if any person or persons shall let off any fireworks, or shall make any bonfire or persons shall let off any fireworks, or shall make any bonfire without having first obtained the permission of the Mayor of this city, who will appoint the place for so doing every such person or persons shall pay the fine aforesaid.

. . . [T]he mayor and city council of the city of New Orleans shall have full power and authority . . . [T]o prevent gun powder being stowed within the walls and suburbs in such quantity as to endanger the public safety . . . .

That if any person shall by word, message, letter, or any other way, challenge another to fight a duel, with a rapier, or small sword, back sword, pistol, or other dangerous weapon, or shall accept a challenge, although no duel be fought, or knowingly be the bearer of such challenge, or shall any way abet, prompt, encourage, persuade, seduce or cause any person to fight a duel, or to challenge another to fight such a duel, every person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction, shall be punished by fine, not exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisonment at hard labor, not exceeding two years, or both. And further, if any person shall engage in and fight a duel with another, with a rapier, small sword, back sword, pistol, or other dangerous weapon, although death does not thereby ensue, or shall be a second in any such duel, then and in such case, every person so offending shall be judged to be guilty of a high misdemeanor, an on conviction shall be punished by fine, not exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisonment at hard labor, not exceeding four years, or both.

[Ordinances of the City of Pittsburgh,] An Ordinance Containing Regulations as to Gun-Powder, § 1. That no shop-keeper or other person or persons, shall keep, at the same time, in any house, shop, cellar or warehouse, or other apartment, or in any boat within the said city, more than thirty pounds weight of gun-powder. § 2. That the aforesaid quantity of gun-powder allowed to be kept within the city, shall be deposited in a place by itself, separate from other goods and commodities, and shall be secured by lock and key, or in some other safe manner. § 3. That no person shall carry or convey in any dray, cart, wagon or other carriage, any greater quantity of gun-powder than thirty pounds weight, at any one time, in or through the city, without securing the same in a good bag or bags, or within a canvas or other safe covering completely around the said powder, sufficient to prevent the same from scattering from the said carriage. §4. That if any person or persons shall offend against or violate any of the sections contained in this ordinance, he, she or they, so offending, shall, upon conviction thereof, pay a fine of fifty dollars.

Offences Against the Public Peace, Penal Code. 1816. § 4. If any person in this state shall deliberately challenge, by word or writing, the person of another, to fight at sword, pistol, or other deadly weapon, or if any person so challenged shall accept the said challenge, in either case, such person so giving or sending, or receiving any such challenge, and being convicted thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, and imprisoned in the common jail of the county, or on the recommendation of the jury, undergo an imprisonment in the penitentiary, at hard labour or labour, for any time not less than three months, nor longer than one year.

Offences Against the Public Peace, (1816) § 19. If any person shall be apprehended, having upon him or her any picklock, key, crow, jack, bit or other implement, with intent feloniously to break and enter into any dwelling-house, ware-house, store, shop, coach-house, stable, or out-house, or shall have upon him any pistol, hanger, cutlass, bludgeon, or other offensive weapon, with intent feloniously to assault any person, or shall be found in or upon any dwelling-house, ware-house, store, shop, coach-house, stable, or out-house, with intent to steal any goods or chattels; every such person shall be deemed a rogue and vagabond, and on conviction, shall be sentenced to undergo an imprisonment in the common jail of the county, or in the penitentiary, at hard labour, for such period of time as the jury shall recommend to the court.

…from and after the passing of this act, all musket barrels and pistol barrels, manufactured within this Commonwealth, shall, before the same shall be sold, and before the same shall be stocked, be proved by the person appointed according to the provisions of an act . . . with a charge of powder equal in weight to the ball which fits the bore of the barrel to be proved . . . § 2. That if any person of persons, from and after the passing of this act, shall manufacture, within this Commonwealth, any musket or pistol, or shall sell and deliver, or shall knowingly purchase any musket or pistol, without having the barrels first proved according to the provisions of the first section of this act, marked and stamped according the provisions of the first section of the act to which this is an addition . . .