The Laws of King Aethelbert, No. 18.

English Law

If a man furnish weapons to another where there is strife though no evil be done, let him make a bot with VI shillings
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1403

4 Hen 4, c. 29

English Law

It is ordained and established, that from henceforth no Man be armed nor bear defensible armor to Merchant Towns Churches nor Congregations in the same, nor in the Highways, in affray of the Peace or the King’s Liege people, upon pain of imprisonment, and to make Fine and Ransom at the King’s Will; except those which be lawful Liege People to our Sovereign Lord the King.
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State Sensitive Places and Times

1631

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

Virginia

All trade with the savages prohibited as well public as private .
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

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

1639

1639 Va. Acts 224, Acts of January 6th, 1639, Act XVII, https://archive.org/details/statutesatlargeb01virg

Virginia

An act in 1637, which makes it a felony to barter with the Indians repealed, and enacted that for trading with them for arms and ammunition shall be felony, and for other commodities imprisonment at discretion of the Governor and Council.
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

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

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

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

1656

1656 N.Y. Laws 235, Ordinance Of The Director And Council Of New Netherland Renewing The Ordinances For The Formation Of Villages, And Against Admitting Armed Indians Into Cities, Villages And Houses

New York

. . . further, in order to prevent such dangers of isolated murders and assassinations, the Director General and Council, with the advice of the Burgomasters of this city, cannot for the present devise any better or other expedient than already stated, and besides that, to interdict and forbid the admission of any Indians with a gun or other weapon, either in this city or in the Flatland, into the Villages and Hamlets, or into any Houses or any places, on pain of forfeiting such arms, which may and also shall be taken from them . . .
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1665

The Public Records Of The Colony Of Connecticut, Prior To The Union With New Haven Colony, May, 1665 Page 79, Image 91 (1850) available atThe Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Connecticut

It is ordered, that no man within this Jurisdiction shall directly or indirectly amend, repair, or cause to be amended or repaired, any gun small or great belonging to any Indian, nor shall endure the same, nor shall sell or give to any Indian, directly or indirectly, any such gun or gunpowder, or shot, or lead, or mold, or military weapons, or armor, nor shall make any arrow heads, upon pain of a ten pound fine for every offense at least, nor sell nor barter any guns, powder, bullets or lead, whereby this order might be evaded, to any person …
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State Registration and Taxation

1665

The Public Records Of The Colony Of Connecticut, Prior To The Union With New Haven Colony, May, 1665 Page 113-114, Image 125-126 (1850) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Connecticut

Whereas it is observed that the Dutch and French do sell and trade to the Indians guns, pistols, and warlike instruments. It is not ordered, that nor person within these liberties shall at any time sell nether gun nor pistol, nor any instrument of war, neither to Dutch nor French men under the penalty of forfeiting twenty for one, and suffering such corporal punishment as the court shall inflict.
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1676

Records Of The Colony Of New Plymouth In New England Page 173, Image 179 (1856) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Massachusetts

Laws of the Colony of New Plymouth (1675). Forasmuch as by frequent and sad experience it is found, that selling etc., of arms and ammunition to the Indians is very poisonous and destructive to the English, it is therefore ordered, decreed, and enacted by the council of war for this jurisdiction, that whosoever shall be found to sell, barter, or give, directly or indirectly, any gun or guns, or ammunition of any kind to any Indian or Indians, and the same legally proved against them, every such person or persons shall be put to death, and in defect of full …
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1676

Charter To William Penn, And Laws Of The Province Of Pennsylvania, Passed Between The Years 1682 And 1700 Page 32, Image 37 (1879) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Pennsylvania

Laws of the Duke of York, Indians (1676). No person shall sell give or barter directly or indirectly any gun or guns powder, bullet, shot, lead nor any vessel of burthen, or row boat canoes only excepted without license first had and obtained under the Governor’s hand and Seal, to any Indian whatsoever, nor to any person inhabiting out of this government nor shall amend or repair any gun belonging to any Indian, nor shall sell any armor or weapons, upon penalty of ten pounds for every gun, armor, weapons, vessel or boat, so sold given or bartered, five pounds …
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State Registration and Taxation

1677

Records Of The Colony Of Rhode Island And Providence Plantations, In New England Page 561, Image 563 (1857) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Rhode Island

Laws from a meeting of the Governor and Council of Rhode Island January 22, 1676-77. Ordered, the Council taking in their serious considerations not only the inconveniencies, but the discontent which arises in several inhabitants of this Island, by reason that several Indians do pass and repass on and off this Island, with guns and ammunition, showing no ticket or order so to do, these are to order and authorize any inhabitant of this Island that shall meet any Indian or Indians with either gun or guns, or ammunition to take them from him or them, and bring both guns, …
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1680

The Colonial Laws Of New York From The Year 1664 To The Revolution, Including The Charters To The Duke Of York, The Commissions And Instructions To Colonial Governors, The Dukes Laws, The Laws Of The Dongan And Leisler Assemblies, The Charters Of Albany And New York And The Acts Of The Colonial Legislatures From 1691 To 1775 Inclusive Page 40-41, Image 62-63 (1896) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

New York

Laws of the Colony of New York, Indians. No person shall sell, give or barter directly or indirectly any gun or guns, powder, bullet, shot, lead nor any vessel or burthen, or row boat, canoes only excepted without license first had and obtained under the governors hand and seal to any Indian whatsoever, nor to any person inhabiting out of this Government, nor shall amend or repair any gun belonging to any Indian, nor shall sell any armor or weapons, upon penalty of ten pounds for every gun, armor, weapon, vessel, or boat so sold given or bartered, five pounds …
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State Registration and Taxation

1689

An Act for the better secureing the Government by disarming Papists and reputed Papists, 1 W. & M. ch. 15 (1689).

English Law

For the better secureing of the Government against Papists and reputed Papists bee it enacted by the King and Queens most excellent Majestyes by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this present Parlyament assembled and by authoritie of the same That it shall and may be lawfull for any two or more Justices of the Peace who shall know or suspect any person to be a Papist or shall be informed that any person is or is suspected to be a Papist to tender and they are hereby authorized and required …
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1689

1689, 1 W. & M. st. 2, c. 2.

English Law

That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1723

1723 Conn. Acts 292, An Act For Preventing Lending Guns, Ammunition etc. to the Indians.

Connecticut

. . . [N]o Persons or Persons within this Colony, shall be Allowed or Admitted to Prosecute before any Assistant or Justice of the Peace or Court of Judicature in this Colony, any Action of Debt, Detinue, or other Action whatsoever for any Gun or Guns, or Ammunition, Lent, Sold, or any ways Trusted to any Indian or Indians whatsoever, till this Court shall see cause to Order otherwise; and that every such Gun Lent as aforesaid, shall be forfeited; One half to him that shall Prosecute to Effect, the other to the County Treasury where such prosecution is.
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1763

1757-68 Md. Acts 53, An Act for Prohibiting all Trade with the Indians, for the Time Therein Mentioned, ch. 4, § 3

Maryland

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. . .
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1763

1763 Pa. Laws 319, An Act to Prohibit the Selling of Guns, Gunpowder or Other Warlike Stores to the Indians, § 1.

Pennsylvania

If any person or persons whatsoever shall directly or indirectly give to, sell barter or exchange with any Indian or Indians whatsoever any guns, gunpowder, shot, bullets, lead or other warlike stores without license . . . every such person or persons so offending, being thereof legally convicted . . . shall forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred pounds . . . and shall be whipped with thirty-nine lashes on his bare back, well laid on, and be committed to the common gaol(jail) of the county, there to remain twelve months without bail or mainprise.
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1769

A Collection Of Original Papers Relative To The History Of The Colony Of Massachusetts-Bay Page 492, Image 497 (1769) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Massachusetts

Laws of the Colony of Massachusetts, That notwithstanding the ancient law of the country, made in the year 1633, that no person should sell any arms or ammunition to any Indian upon penalty of 10l. for every gun, 5l. for a pound of powder, and 40s. for a pound of shot, yet the government of the Massachusetts in the year 1657, upon the design to monopolize the whole Indian trade did publish and declare that the trade of furs and peltry with the Indians in their jurisdiction did solely and properly belong to their commonwealth and not to every indifferent …
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1771

Charles Nettleton, Laws of the State of New-Jersey Page 26, Image 53 (1821) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

New Jersey

An Act for the Preservation of Deer, and other game, and to prevent trespassing with guns (1771), § 1. Be it Enacted by the Governor, Council and General Assembly of this colony of New Jersey, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That if any person or persons shall presume, at any time after the publication hereof, to carry any gun on any lands not his own, and for which the owner pays taxes, or is in his lawful possession, unless he hath license or permission in writing from the owner or owners, or legal possessor, …
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State Carrying Weapons

1776

Act of Mar. 14, 1776, ch. VII, 1775-1776 Mass. Act at 31–32, 35.

Massachusetts

Chap. VII An Act for the executing in the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, one Resolve of the American Congress, dated March 14, 1776, recommending the disarming of such persons as are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who refuse to associate to defend by arms the United American Colonies, against the hostile attemps of the British fleets and armies, and for the restraining and punishing persons who are inimical to the rights and liberties of the said United Colonies, and for directing the Proceedings therein. Whereas on the fourteenth of March One Thousand Seven …
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State

1776

1776 Pa. Laws 11, An Ordinance RespectingThe Arms Of Non-Associators, § 1

Pennsylvania

The colonel or next officer in command of every battalion of militia in this state is hereby authorized, empowered and required to collect, receive and take all the arms in his district or township nearest to such officer which are in the hands of non-associators in the most expeditious and effectual manner in his power, and shall give to the owners receipts for such arms, . . .
Felons, Foreigners and Others Deemed Dangerous By the State
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