1631

1631 Va. Acts 173, Acts Of February 24th, 1631, Act L available at https://archive.org/details/statutesatlargeb01virg

Virginia

No commander of any plantation, shall either himself or suffer others to spend powder unnecessarily, that is to say, in drinking or entertainments. (edited for clarity).
Firing Weapons

1631

1631 Va. Acts 173, Acts Of February 24th, 1631, Acts XLVII, XLVIII, LI, available at https://archive.org/details/statutesatlargeb01virg

Virginia

Act XLVII: No man shall go or send abroade without a sufficient party well armed. Act XLVIII: No man shall go to work in the grounds without their arms, and a sentinel upon them. Act LI: All men that are fitting to bear arms, shall bring their pieces to the church upon pain of every offence, of the mayster allow not thereof to pay 2 lb. of tobacco, to be disposed by the church-wardens, who shall levy it by distress, and the servants be punished. (The Statutes at large: being a collection of all the laws of Virginia, from the …
Militia Regulations

1632

1632 Va. Acts 198, Acts of September 4th, 1632, Act XLIV available at https://archive.org/details/statutesatlargeb01virg

Virginia

No commander of any plantation, shall either himself or suffer others to spend powder unnecessarily, that is to say in drinking or entertainment. (edited for clarity).
Firing Weapons

1632

1632 Va. Acts 198, Acts of September 4th, 1632, Act XLV, available at https://archive.org/details/statutesatlargeb01virg

Virginia

All men that are fitting to bear arms, shall bring their pieces to the church upon pain for every offence, if the default be in the master, to pay 2lb of tobacco, to be disposed by the church-wardens, who shall levy it by distress, and the servants shall be punished [ ] commander. (The Statutes at large: being a collection of all the laws of Virginia, from the first session of the legislature in the year 1619).
Militia Regulations

1633

1633 Va. Acts 219, Acts Made by the Grand Assembly, Holden At James City, August 21st, 1633, An Act That No Arms or Ammunition Be Sold To The Indians, Act X, https://archive.org/details/statutesatlargeb01virg

Virginia

It is ordered and appointed, That if any person or persons shall sell or barter any guns, powder, shot, or any arms or ammunition unto any Indian or Indians within this territory, the said person or persons shall forfeit to public uses all the goods and chattels that he or they then have to their own use, and shall also suffer imprisonment during life, the one half of which forfeiture shall be to him or them that shall inform and the other half to public uses.
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1633

The Charters And General Laws Of The Colony And Province Of Massachusetts Bay Page 133, Image 140 (1814) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Massachusetts

Laws of the Colony of Massachusetts 1633, 37. § 2. And it is ordered, that no person whatsoever, shall henceforth buy land of any Indian without license first had and obtained of the general court, and if any offend herein, such land so bought shall be forfeited to the country. Nor shall any person sell, give or barter, directly or indirectly, any gun or guns, powder, bullets, shot, lead, to any Indian whatsoever, or to any person inhabiting out of this jurisdiction: Nor shall any amend or repair any gun belonging to any Indian, nor shall sell any armor or …
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1636

1636-1748 R.I. Pub. Laws 31, At A General Assembly Held For Rhode Island Colony At Newport 6th of May, 1679

Rhode Island

That if any person or persons shall presume to sport game or play at any manner of game or games or shooting out any gun or shall set tipling & drinking in any tavern alhouse ordinary or vitling house on the first day of the week more than neccesity requireth and upon examination of the fact it shall be judged by any Justice of the Peace and the Person or Persons so offending as aforesaid. Upon conviction before one Justice of Peace Shall by the said Justice of the Peace be sentenced for every the aforesaid offences to set in …
Sensitive Places and Times

1639

1639 Va. Acts 226, Acts of January 6th, 1639, Act X, available at https://archive.org/details/statutesatlargeb01virg

Virginia

All persons except negroes to be provided with arms and ammunition or be fined at pleasure of the Governor and Council.
Race and Slavery Based

1639

1639 N.J. Laws 18, Ordinance of the Director and Council of New Netherland, Prohibiting the Sale of Firearms, etc. to Indians . . .

New Jersey

Whereas the Director General and Council of New Netherland have observed that many persons, both Servants of the Company and Inhabitants, have contrary to the orders and commands of their High Mightiness the Lords States General and the Incorporated West India Company, presumed to sell to the Indians in these parts, Guns, Powder and Lead, which hath already caused much mischief, and if no means be adopted by Us here to prevent the same would hereafter entail nothing else than greater evil; Therefore every inhabitant of New Netherland, be his state, quality or condition what it may, is most expressely …
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1639

1639 Va. Acts 228, Act of January 6th, 1639, Act XXI, https://archive.org/details/statutesatlargeb01virg

Virginia

Not to shoot or hunt on other men’s land that is seated and bounds marked under penalty of 40s. but may pursue deer and shoot on their own land.
Hunting

1640

1640 N.Y. Laws 23, Ordinance of the Director and Council of New Netherland, Providing for the Arming and Mustering of the Militia in Case of Danger,

New York

The Hon. Director and Council have considered it advisable to ordain that the Inhabitants residing at and around Fort Amsterdam, of what state, quality or condition soever they be, shall each provide himself with a good gun and keep the same in good repair and at all times ready and in order; and as they live at a distance from one another, every warned person is placed under his corporal in order that in time of danger he may appear at his post with his gun. Should it happen, which God forbid, that any mischief occur either from enemies or …
Militia Regulations

1642

William Waller Hening, 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., 13 vols. Page 263, Image 287 (Vol. 1, 1823) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Virginia

[Act XLI, (1642-43). It is enacted and confirmed that masters of every family shall bring with them to church on Sundays one fixed and serviceable gun with sufficient powder and shot upon penalty of ten pounds of Tobacco for every master of a family so offending to be disposed of by the church wardens who shall levy it by distress, and servants being commanded and yet omitting shall receive twenty lashes on his or her bare shoulders, by order from the county courts where he or they shall live.]
Registration and Taxation

1642

1642 N.Y. Laws 33, Ordinance Of The Director And Council Of New Netherland Against Drawing A Knife And Inflicting A Wound Therewith

New York

. . . No one shall presume to draw a knife much less to would any person, under the penalty of fl.50, to be paid immediately, or, in default, to work three months with the Negroes in chains; this, without any respect of person. Let every one take heed against damage and be warned.
Brandishing

1642

1642 Va. Acts 255, Acts of March 2nd, 1642, Act XXIII, available at https://archive.org/details/statutesatlargeb01virg

Virginia

Be it also enacted and confirmed, that what person or persons soever shall sell or barter with any Indian or Indians for piece, powder and shot and being thereof lawfully convicted, shall forfeit his whole estate . . . and if any person shall barter or trade with the Indians for any other commodities such person shall suffer imprisonment at the discretion of the Governor and Counsel. . . What person or persons soever within the colony, shall lend any Indian either piece, powder and shot, it shall be lawful for any person meeting with any such Indian so furnished, …
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1642

1642 Va. Acts 261, Acts of March 2nd, 1642, Act XXXV, available at https://archive.org/details/statutesatlargeb01virg

Virginia

Be it further enacted and confirmed, for the better observation of the Sabbath and for the restraint of diverse abuses committed in the colony by unlawful shooting on the Sabbath day as aforesaid, unless it shall be for the safety of his or their plantations or corn fields or for defense against the Indians, he or they so offending shall forfeit for his or their first offense being thereof lawfully convicted . . . the quantity of twenty pounds…
Firing Weapons

1642

1642 Va. Acts 248, Acts of March 2nd, 1642, Act XI, available at https://archive.org/details/statutesatlargeb01virg

Virginia

Whereas the rights and interests of the inhabitants are very much infringed by hunting and shooting of diverse men upon their neighbors lands and dividends contrary to the privileges granted to them by their patents, whereby many injuries do daily happen to the great damage of the owners of the land whereon such hunting or shooting is used, It is therefore enacted and confirmed that if any planter or person shall hunt or shoot upon or within the precincts or limits of his neighbor or other divident without leave first obtained for his so doing, and having been warned by …
Hunting

1642

1642 Va. Acts 263, Acts of March 2nd 1642, Act XLI, available at https://archive.org/details/statutesatlargeb01virg

Virginia

It is enacted and confirmed that masters of every family shall bring with them to church on Sundays one fixed and serviceable gun with sufficient powder and shot upon penalty of ten pound of tobacco for every master of a family so offending to be disposed of by the churchwardens who shall levy it by distress, and servants being commanded and yet omitting shall receive twenty lashes on his or their bare shoulders, by order form the county courts where he or they shall live.
Militia Regulations

1643

Laws And Ordinances Of New Netherland, 1638-1674 Page 35, Image 67 (A1868) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

New York

Ordinance of the Director and Council of New Netherland Regulating the Burgher Guard, § 4 (1643). After the watch is duly performed, and daylight is come, and the reveille beaten, whosoever discharges any gun or musket, without orders of his Corporal, shall pay one guilder.
Firing Weapons

1762

1762 R.I. Pub. Laws 132

Rhode Island

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no person whatsoever shall fire a gun or other fireworks within one hundred yards of the said powder house, upon the penalty of paying a fine of ten shillings lawful money, for every such offence, to be recovered by the Town Treasurer, fo rthe use of the said Town.
Sensitive Places and Times

1645

1645 N.Y. Laws 47, By The Director And council Of New Netherland Further Prohibiting The Sale Of Firearms, etc., To Indians

New York

Whereas the Director General and Council of New Netherland having long ere this noticed the dangerous practice of selling Guns, Powder and Lead to the Indians, and moreover published at the time an Ordinance prohibiting the same on pain of Death, notwithstanding which some persons have yet undertaken to barter all sorts of ammunition among the Heathen, purchasing the same secretly here and then transporting it up the River and elsewhere, to the serious injury of this Country, the strengthening of the Indians and the destruction of the Christians, as We are now, also, informed with certainty, that our enemies …
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1651

1651 Va. Acts 365, Articles At The Surrender Of The Country, art. 13, available at https://archive.org/details/statutesatlargeb01virg

Virginia

Articles Agreed On And Concluded At James City In Virginia For The Surrendering And Settling Of That Plantation Under The Obedience And Government Of The Commonwealth Of England . . . Art. 13: That all ammunition, powder and arms, other than for private use shall be delivered up, security being given to make satisfaction for it.
Registration and Taxation

1651

William Henry Whitmore, The Colonial Laws of Massachusetts: Reprinted From the Edition of 1672, with the Supplements Through 1686: Containing Also, a Bibliographical Preface and Introduction, Treating of All the Printed Laws From 1649 to 1686: Together with the Body of Liberties of 1641, and the Records of the Court of Assistants, 1641-1644 Page 126, Image 330 (1890) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Massachusetts

Prescriptions, (1651) § 2. And it is further ordered; that no person (except for the defence of themselves and their vessels at Sea) shall transport any gunpowder out of this jurisdiction, without license first obtained from some two of the Magistrates, upon penalty of forfeiting all such powder as shall be transporting or transported, or the value thereof.
Manufacturing, Inspection and Sale of Gunpowder and Firearms

1652

Laws And Ordinances Of New Netherland 1638-1674 Page 138, image 170 (1868) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

New York

[Ordinances of New Amsterdam,] Ordinance of the Director and Council of New Netherland against Firing at Partridges or other Game within the Limits of New Amsterdam. Whereas, many guns are daily discharged and fired at Partridges and other game within the jurisdiction of this city New Amsterdam and in the vicinity of the Fort, by which firing People or Cattle might perhaps be struck and injured, against which practice complaints have already been made, Therefore the Honorable Director General and Council, in order to prevent accidents, expressly forbid and interdict all persons henceforward firing within the jurisdiction of this city …
Firing Weapons

1652

1652 N.Y. Laws 138, Ordinance Of The Director And Council Of New Netherland Against Firing At Partridges Or Other Game Within The Limits Of New Amsterdam

New York

. . . the Hon. Director General and Council, in order to prevent accidents, expressly forbid and interdict all person henceforward firing within the jurisdiction of this city or about the Fort, with any guns at Partridges or other Game that may by chance fly within the city, on pain of forfeiting the gun and a fine at the discretion of the Judge to be applied . . .
Hunting

1652

1652 N.Y. Laws 128 Ordinance of the Director and Council of New Netherland Against Illegal Trade In Powder, Lead And Guns In New Netherland By Private Persons

New York

An act prohibited the Illegal Trade in Powder, Lead and Guns, however the exact text has been lost to history.
Registration and Taxation