And whereas great damages are frequently done, by slaves being permitted to hunt or range with dogs or guns: For prevention whereof, it shall not be lawful for any slave, on any pretence whatsoever, to go, range, or hunt on any person’s land other than his masters [sic], with dog or gun, or any weapon, unless there be a white man in his company; under the penalty of twenty shillings to be paid by his master, for every offense unto the owner of the land whereon such slave shall range or hunt[.]

Malicious Mischief. § 13. And whereas an ill custom has prevailed in this province, of firing guns in the night time; for the prevention thereof for the future, Be it enacted, That if any person shall fire or shoot off any gun or pistol in the night time after dark and before day light, without necessity, every such person shall forfeit the sum of forty shillings current money, for each gun so fired as aforesaid; to be recovered by warrant from any one justice of the peace of the county where the offence is committed, according to the direction of …

XLI. And Whereas an ill custom has prevailed in this Province, of firing guns in the night time; for the prevention thereof for the future, be it enacted that if any person shall fire or shoot off any gun or pistol in the night time after dark and before day-light without necessity every such person shall forfeit the sum of 40s. current money for each gun so fired as aforesaid; to be recovered by warrant from any one justice of the peace of the county where the offense is committed, according to the direction of the act for the trial …

[N]o non-commissioned officer or private soldier, shall upon any muster day, or the evening of the same day, discharge and fire off a musket or gun in any public road, or near thereto, or in, or near to any house, or on, or near to the place of parade, unless leave therefore be first had from a commissioned officer, on penalty of forfeiting for each offence so committed, the sum of one dollar, to be recovered by action before any Justice of the Peace within the county where such offense shall be committed, by any person who will sue therefor, …

It shall not be lawful for any slave, unless in the presence of some white person, to carry or make use of firearms or any offensive weapon whatsoever, unless such negro or slave shall have a ticket or license in writing from his master, mistress or overseer, to hunt and kill game, cattle, or mischievous birds or beasts of prey, and that such license be renewed once every month, or unless there be some white person of the age of 16 or upwards, in the company of such slave when he is hunting or shooting; or that such slave be …

[T]hat if any Person or Persons shall presume, at any Time after the Publication hereof, to carry any Gun, or hunt on the improved or inclosed Lands in any Plantation, other than his own unless he have Licence or Permission from the Owner of such Lands or Plantation . . . And if any person whatsoever, who is not owner of one hundred acres of land, or otherwise qualified, in the same manner as persons are or ought to be electing representatives to serve in general assembly shall at any time after the publication hereof, carry any gun, or hunt …

A letter from Governor Clinton to the Lords of Trade. . . . I have taken every other precaution in my power to guard against my surprise by sending circular orders to the respective Colonels of Militia and to the Captains of his Majesty’s Companies posted in this province to inspect the Arms and Accoutrements of their men, and see that they are in good order and fit for immediate service, and that as often as conveniently may be they do exercise the men in arms keeping strict discipline, whereby they may be able not only to repel the French …

Whereas by the brefore recited act, it is, among other things, enacted, That it shall not be lawful for any person to kill or destroy any deer, running wild in the woods or unfenced grounds in this government, by guns, or any other ways or means whatsoever, between the fifteenth day of February, and the fifteenth day of July, yearly, and in each year, after the ratification of the said act; and that any person convicted of the same, shall forfeit and pay the sum of five pounds, current money . . .

§ 1. That no person or persons, from and after the publication of this act, shall presume to discharge or fire off any cannon laden with shot, from any wharf or vessel . . . (within certain areas) § 2. That no person shall . . . discharge any gun or pistol, charged with shot or ball, in the town of Boston, or in any part of the Harbor . . . And for the more effectual conviction of any person or persons so offending, it shall be lawful for any person to seize and take into custody any gun …

That if any persons or persons whatsoever, within any county town, or within any other town or borough, in this province, already built and settled, or hereafter to be built and settled . .. shall fire any gun or other fire-arm, or shall make or cause to be made, or sell or utter, or offer or expose for sale, any squibs, rockets or other fire-works, … within any of the said towns or boroughs without the Governor’s special license for the same, every such person or persons, so offending shall be subject to the like penalties and forfeitures, and to …

That if any Negro or Mulatto Slave or Slaves shall be seen or found from his or their Masters [sic] House, after the Hour of Nine at Night except on their Masters [sic] or Mistresses [sic] particular Business, or shall be seen to hunt, or carrying a Gun on the Lord’s Day; the Constable or Constables of such Town or Precinct, on Information or Knowledge thereof, shall and are hereby required and directed, to apprehend and carry such Negro and Mulatto Slaves before the next Justice of the Peace, who shall order such Negro or Mulatto Slave or Slaves, if …

To prevent any violence or force being used at the said elections, no person shall come armed to any of them, and no muster of the militia shall be made on that day; nor shall any battalion or company give in their votes immediately succeeding each other, if any other voter, who offers to vote, objects thereto; nor shall any battalion or company, in the pay of the continent, or of this or any other State, be suffered to remain at the time and place of holding the said elections, nor within one mile of the said places respectively, for …

[Ordinances of the District of Southwark,] An Act for the More Effectual Preventing [of] Accidents, etc. § 1. Be it enacted, That if any person shall fire any gun or other fire-arm, or shall make, or cause to be made, or sell or utter, or offer to expose to sale, any squibs, rockets or other fire-works, or shall cast, throw or fire any squibs, rockets or other fire-works, within any of the said towns or boroughs, without the Governor’s special license for the same, every such person or persons, so offending, shall be subject to the like penalties and forfeitures, …

If any persons to the number of twelve or more, being armed with clubs or other weapons. . . shall be unlawfully, riotously, or tumultuously assembled . . . (Read riot act, if don’t disperse) . . . It shall be lawful for every officer . . . to seize such persons, and carry them before a justice of the peace; and if such persons shall be killed or hurt by reason of their resisting . . . officers and their assistants shall be indemnified and held guiltless.

… That the Captain or Chief Officer of each military foot company, shall instruct and employ his Company in military exercises six days in a year . . . and on each of said days he shall make a strict enquiry into the state of the arms and ammunition of his Company . . . that every person from the age of sixteen to sixty, not exempted by law, shall appear with arms and ammunition according to law, and attend his duty each of the aforesaid days. . .

I. WHEREAS it is necessary, in this time of danger, that the militia of this Colony should be well regulated and disciplined, Be it therefore enacted, by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly… that from and after the passing of this Act every … officer, bearing any commission in the militia of this Colony, shall be an inhabitant of, and resident in, the County of which he is or shall be commissioned…IV. …that every person so as aforesaid enlisted (except free mulattoes, negroes, and Indians) shall be armed in the manner following, that is to say: …

That every foreign ship or vessel above thirty tons, coming into any port or part of this province from over the sea to trade or traffick [sic], all or the major part of the owners whereof are not actually inhabitants of this province, shall, every voyage they make, pay two shillings in money per ton, or one pound of good gunpowder, for the supply of his Majesty’s fort and fortifications within this province, to be received by the treasurer, or such other person or persons as shall be appointed to receive the same.

[N]o person or persons whatever in any town or garrison within this province, shall during the time of war, or of keeping a military watch in such town or garrison, presume to discharge or shoot off any gun or guns after sun-setting, or before the sun’s-rising, unless in case of alarm, approach of an enemy, or other necessary defense; on pain that every person so offending, and being thereof convicted before one or more of his Majesty’s justices of the peace for this province, shall forfeit and pay the sum of five shillings, for each gun so discharged; one moiety …

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That no person whatsoever shall presume to shoot at or kill with a firearm any pigeon, dove, partridge, or other fowl in the open streets of the city of Philadelphia, or in the gardens, orchards and enclosures adjoining upon and belonging to any of the dwelling houses within the limits of the said city, upon the forfeiture of five shillings for every such offense.

An Act to Prevent the hunting of deer, and other wild beasts, beyond the limits of the lands purchased of the Indians by the Proprietaries of this Province, and Against Killing Deer out of Season (1760), § VI. And whereas diverse abuses, damages and inconveniences, have arisen by persons carrying , guns and presuming to hunt on other peoples lands: For remedy whereof, for the future, Be it enacted, That if any person or persons shall presume, at any time after the publication of this act, to carry any gun, or hunt on any enclosed or improved lands of any …

Ordinances of Philadelphia, Act of April 9, 1760, § 7. No person whatsoever shall presume to shoot at, or kill with a fire arm, any pigeon, dove, partridge, or other fowl, in the open streets of the city of Philadelphia, or in the gardens, orchards and inclosures, adjoining upon and belonging to any of the dwelling-houses within the limits of the said city, or suburbs thereof, or any of the boroughs or towns within this province, upon the forfeiture of forty shillings for every such offence, to be convicted in manner aforesaid. – [That is, upon the view of any …

An Act providing for the inspection of Gun-powder. Whereas gun-powder imported from abroad and manufactured within this state, hath frequently been found to vary much in its strength, and sometimes of inferior qualities, and its defects not discovered until brought into actual use: and whereas the modes heretofore used to prove the force thereof have been found uncertain and variable: and whereas Joseph Leacock, of the city of Philadelphia, hath invented an engine, called a pendulum powder proof, with a graduated arch and catch-pall, by which it is conceived that the force of gun-powder may be proved by experiment and …

And be it further Enacted by the Authority Aforesaid, That every person who shall import gunpowder into the town of Newport aforesaid shall cause the same to be conveyed immediately to the powder house at the North Easterly part of town, before the vessel in which the said Powder shall be imported, be brought to any Wharf; upon the penalty of paying into the Town-Treasury of the said Town of Newport, a Fine of Ten Shillings Lawful Money, for every cask which shall not be conveyed to the Powder House as aforesaid. That every other person who shall have Gun-powder …

That it shall not be lawful for any Person or Persons within this Province, to sell or give to any Indian Woman or Child, any Gun-powder, Shot, or Lead, whatsoever, nor to any Indian Man within this Province, more than the Quantity of one Pound of Gun-powder, and Six Pounds of Shot or Lead, at any one Time, and not those, or lesser Quantities of Powder or Lead oftener than once in Six Months, under the Penalty of Five Pounds Current Money, for every pound of gunpowder. . .

Ordinances of the City of New York, § VI. And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That if any Children, Youth, apprentices, Servants, or other persons, do fire and discharge any gun, pistol, leaden-gun, rockets, crackers, squibs, or other fire works, at any mark, or at random against any fence, pales or other place in any street, lane or alley, or within any orchard, garden or other inclosure, or in any place where persons frequent to walk, such person so offending shall forfeit for every such offense, the sum of forty shillings, current money of New York; and …