Laws of King Alfred the Great, A.D. Cir. 890, Cap. 38

English Law

If a man fight before a king’s ealdorman in the ‘gemot,’ let him make ‘bot’ with ‘wer’ and ‘wite,’ as it may be right; and before this, cxx. shillings to the ealdorman as ‘wite.’ If he disturb the folkmote by drawing his weapon, cxx. shillings to the ealdorman as ‘ wite.’ If aught of this happen before a king’s ealdorman’s junior, or a king’s priest, xxx. shillings as ‘wite.
Brandishing

Laws of King Alfred the Great, A.D. Cir. 890, Cap. 7

English Law

If any man fight in the king’s hall, or draw his weapon, and he be taken; be it in the king’s doom, either death or life, as he may be willing to grant him. If he escape, and be taken again, let him pay for himself according to his wer-gild, and make a bot for the offense, as well wer as wite, according as he may have wrought.
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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.
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1786

1786 Mass. Sess. Laws An Act to Prevent Routs, Riots, and Tumultuous assemblies, and the Evil Consequences Thereof.

Massachusetts

Whereas the provision already made by law for the preventing of routs, riots, and tumultuous assemblies and the evil consequences thereof has been found insufficient: § 1. Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That from and after the publication of this Act, if any persons to the number of twelve, or more, being armed with clubs or other weapons; or if any number of persons, consisting of thirty or more, shall be unlawfully, routously, riotously or tumultously assembled, any Justice of the Peace, Sheriff …
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1840

Volney Erskine Howard, The Statutes of the State of Mississippi of a Public and General Nature, with the Constitutions of the United States and of this State: And an Appendix Containing Acts of Congress Affecting Land Titles, Naturalization, &c, and a Manual for Clerks, Sheriffs and Justices of the Peace Page 676, Image 688 (1840) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Mississippi

Crimes, Misdemeanors and Criminal Prosecution, § 55. If any person having or carrying any dirk, dirk knife, Bowie knife, sword, sword cane, or other deadly weapon, shall, in the presence of three or more persons, exhibit the same in a rude, angry and threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense, or shall in any manner unlawfully use the same in any fight or quarrel, the person or persons so offending, upon conviction thereof in the circuit or criminal court of the proper county, shall be fined in a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, and be imprisoned not exceeding three months.
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1854

1854 Wash. Sess. Law 80, An Act Relative to Crimes and Punishments, and Proceedings in Criminal Cases, ch. 2, § 30.

Washington

Every person who shall, in a rude, angry, or threatening manner, in a crowd of two or more persons, exhibit any pistol, bowie knife, or other dangerous weapon, shall on conviction thereof, be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding one year, and be fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars.
Brandishing

1855

William H. R. Wood, Digest of the Laws of California: Containing All Laws of a General Character Which were in Force on the First Day of January, 1858; Also, the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, Articles of Confederation, Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions of 1798-99, Acts of Congress Relative to Public Lands and Pre-Emptions. Together with Judicial Decisions, Both of the Supreme Court of the United States and of California, to Which are Also Appended Numerous Forms for Obtaining Pre-Emption and Bounty Lands, Etc., Etc. Page 334, Image 340 (1861) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

California

Crimes and Punishments, Art. 1904. That any person in this state having, carrying or procuring from another person any dirk, dirk-knife, bowie-knife, sword, sword-cane, pistol, gun or other deadly weapon, who shall, in the presence of two or more persons, draw or exhibit any of said deadly weapons in a rude, angry and threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense, or who shall, in any manner, unlawfully use the same, in any fight or quarrel, the person or persons so offending, upon conviction thereof in any criminal court in any county of this state, shall be fined in any sum not …
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1859

1859 Wash. Sess. Laws 109, An Act Relative to Crimes and Punishments, and Proceedings in Criminal Cases, ch. 2, § 30.

Washington

Every person who shall, in a rude, angry or threatening manner, in a crowd of two or more persons, exhibit any pistol, bowie knife or other dangerous weapon, shall, on conviction thereof, be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding one year, and be fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars.
Brandishing

1864

1864 Id. Sess. Laws 304, An Act Concerning Crimes and Punishments, § 40.

Idaho

That any person in this territory, having, carrying, or procuring from another person, any dirk, dirk-knife, sword, sword-cane, pistol, gun or other deadly weapon, who shall in the presence of two or more persons, draw or exhibit any of said deadly weapons, in a rude, angry, and threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense, or who shall, in any manner unlawfully use the same in any fight or quarrel, the person or persons so offending, upon conviction thereof in any criminal court in any county in this territory, shall be fined in any sum not less than one hundred nor more …
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1866

George Washington Paschal, A Digest of the Laws of Texas: Containing Laws in Force, and the Repealed Laws on Which Rights Rest. Carefully Annotated Page 1321, Image 291 (Vol. 2, 1873) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Texas

An Act to Amend Article 382, Title XI, Chapter 3 of the Penal Code. Art. 6509. [1] Article 382, title XI, chapter III, of the penal code, shall hereafter read as follows: if any one or more persons shall, in any public place, by loud and vociferous talking, swearing, or rudely displaying any pistol, or other deadly weapon, so as to disturb the inhabitants of the place in the prosecution of their lawful business, any person engaged in such disturbance shall be fined in any sum not exceeding fifty dollars.
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1867

Coles Bashford, The Compiled Laws of the Territory of Arizona, Including the Howell Code and the Session Laws From 1864 to 1871, Inclusive: To Which is Prefixed the Constitution of the United States, the Mining Law of the United States, and the Organic Acts of the Territory of Arizona and New Mexico Page 96, Image 102 (1871) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Arizona

An Act to prevent the improper use of deadly weapons, and the indiscriminate use of fire arms in the towns and villages of the territory. § 1. That any person in this Territory, having, carrying or procuring from another person, any dirk, dirk knife, bowie knife, pistol, gun or other deadly weapon, who shall, in the presence of two or more persons, draw or exhibit any of said deadly weapons in a rude, angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self defense, or who shall, in any manner, unlawfully use the same in any fight or quarrel, the person or …
Brandishing

1867

1867 Ariz. Sess. Laws 21–22, An Act To Prevent The Improper Use Of Deadly Weapons And The Indiscriminate Use Of Fire Arms In The Towns And Villages Of The Territory, § 1.

Arizona

That any person in this Territory, having, carrying or procuring from another person, any dirk, dirk knife, bowie knife, pistol, gun, or other deadly weapon, who shall in the presence of two or more persons, draw or exhibit any of said deadly weapons in a rude, angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense, or who shall in any matter unlawfully use the same in any fight or quarrel, the person or persons so offending upon conviction thereof in any criminal court in any county of this Territory, shall be fined in any sum not less than one hundred nor …
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1868

1868 Ark. Acts 218, Acts of the General Assembly of Arkansas, §§ 12-13.

Arkansas

§ 12. That when any person or persons shall resent the execution of any civil or criminal process, by threatening, or by actually drawing a pistol, gun, or other deadly weapon, upon the sheriff or other officer authorized to execute such process, such person or persons, for every such resistance, intimidation or offense shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned in the penitentiary for a term not less than one nor more than five years. § 13. That when any person or persons shall draw a pistol, gun, or any other deadly weapon, upon …
Brandishing

1868

Dorset Carter, Annotated Statutes of the Indian Territory: Embracing All Laws of a General and Permanent Character in Force at the Close of the Second Session of the Fifty-fifth Congress Page 228, Image 312 (1899) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Oklahoma

Criminal Law. § 1149. Every person who shall draw a pistol, gun or any other deadly weapon upon any other person, for the purpose of frightening or intimidating him from doing or attempting to do any lawful act, when such person drawing said pistol, gun or other deadly weapon is not justified in self-defense for so doing, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be fined in a sum not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars and be imprisoned in the county jail for twelve months.
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1869

1869 Wash. Sess. Laws 203-04, An Act Relative to Crimes and Punishments, and Proceedings in Criminal Cases, ch. 2, § 32.

Washington

Every person who shall, in a rude, angry or threatening manner, in a crowd of two or more persons, exhibit any pistol, bowie knife, or other dangerous weapon, shall on conviction thereof, be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding one year and be fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars.
Brandishing

1870

1870 Id. Sess. Laws 21, An Act to Amend an Act Concerning Crimes and Punishment . . ., § 40.

Idaho

That any person in this Territory having, carrying, or procuring from another person any dirk, dirk knife, sword, sword cane, pistol, gun, or other deadly weapon, who shall in the presence of two or more persons, draw or exhibit any of said deadly weapons in a rude, angry and threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense, or who shall in any manner unlawfully use the same in a fight or quarrel, the person or persons so offending, upon conviction thereof in any criminal court in any county in this Territory shall be fined in any sum not exceeding one hundred dollars …
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1873

1873 Nev. Stat. 118, An Act to Amend an Act Entitled “An Act Concerning Crimes and Punishments,” Approved November Twenty-Sixth, Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-One, ch. 62, § 1.

Nevada

. . . Any person in this State, having, carrying, or procuring from another person, any dirk, dirk knife, sword, sword cane, pistol, gun, or other deadly weapon, who shall in the presence of two or more persons, draw or exhibit any of said deadly weapons, in a rude, angry, or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense, or who shall in any manner unlawfully use the same in any fight or quarrel, the person or persons so offending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, …
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1875

1875 Ind. Acts 62, An Act Defining Certain Misdemeanors, and Prescribing Penalties Therefor, § 1.

Indiana

. . . That if any person shall draw or threaten to use any pistol, dirk, knife, slung-shot, or any other deadly or dangerous weapon upon any other person, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction therefor, shall be fined in any sum not less than one nor more than five hundred dollars, to which may be added imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six months; Provided, That the provisions of this act shall not apply to persons drawing or threatening to use such dangerous or deadly weapons in defense of his person or …
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1879

Revised Ordinances of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, 1873-1884 Page 113-114, Image 111-112 (1885) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Texas

Ordinances of the City of Fort Worth. An Ordinance defining and punishing affrays and Disturbances of the Peace, . . .§ 2. If any person shall go into any public place, or into or near any private house, or along any public street or highway near any private house, and shall use loud and vociferous, or obscene, vulgar, or indecent language, or swear or curse, or expose his person, or rudely display any pistol or other deadly weapon in such public place, or upon such public street or highway, or near such private house, in a manner calculated to disturb …
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1879

George W. Cothran, The Revised Statutes of the State of Illinois, Embracing All Laws of a General Nature in Force July 1, 1883, with Notes and References to Judicial Decisions Construing their Provisions Page 453, Image 512 (1884) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Illinois

Deadly Weapons, Disorderly Conduct. Disturbing the Peace. § 56. Whoever willfully disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or family by loud or unusual noises, or by tumultuous or offensive carriage threatening, traducing, quarreling, challenging to fight or fighting, or whoever shall carry concealed weapons, or in a threatening manner display any pistol, knife, slungshot, brass, steel or iron knuckles, or other deadly weapon, shall be fined nof exceeding one hundred dollars.
Brandishing Carrying Weapons

1880

1880 Ga. Laws 151, An Act to make Penal the Intentional Pointing, or Aiming of Fire-arms at Another, whether Loaded or Unloaded, § 1.

Georgia

. . . from and after the passage of this Act, any person who shall intentionally point or aim a gun or pistol, whether loaded or unloaded, at another not in a sham-battle by the military, and not in self-defense, or in defense of habitation, property, or person, or other instances standing upon like footing of reason and justice, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor . . . .
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1880

Orville Park, Park’s Annotated Code of the State of Georgia 1914, Penal Code, Article 3, Pointing weapon at another, § 349 (§ 343).

Georgia

§ 349. (§ 343.) Pointing weapon at another. Any person who shall intentionally point or aim a gun or pistol, whether loaded or unloaded, at another, not in a sham battle by the military, and not in self-defense, or in defense of habitation, property, or person, or other instances standing upon like footing of reason and justice, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
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1881

William Lair Hill, Ballinger’s Annotated Codes and Statutes of Washington, Showing All Statutes in Force, Including the Session Laws of 1897 Page 1956, Image 731 (Vol. 2, 1897) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Washington

Flourishing Dangerous Weapon, etc. Every person who shall in a manner likely to cause terror to the people passing, exhibit or flourish, in the streets of an incorporated city or unincorporated town, any dangerous weapon, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine in any sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars. Justices of the peace shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of all offenses arising under the last two preceding sections.
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1881

Revised Statutes of the State of Delaware, of Eight Hundred and Fifty-Two. As They Have Since Been Amended, Together with the Additional Laws of a Public and General Nature, Which Have Been Enacted Since the Publication of the Revised Code of Eighteen Fifty-Two. To the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-Three; to Which are Added the Constitutions of the United States and of this State, the Declaration of Independence, and Appendix Page 987, Image 1048 (1893) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Delaware

An Act Providing for the Punishment of Persons Carrying Concealed Deadly Weapons. § 3. That it shall be unlawful for any person, either in jest or otherwise, intentionally to point a gun, pistol, or other fire-arms at or towards any person at any time or place. Any person violating any provision of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, pay a fine of not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars and the cost of prosecution, and should death result to any person by the discharge of such gun, pistol, or other fire-arm while so pointed, the person …
Brandishing

1882

Chief Justice LeBaron Bradford Prince, The General Laws of New Mexico: Including All the Unrepealed General Laws from the Promulgation of the “Kearney Code” in 1846, to the End of the Legislative Session of 1880, with Supplement, Including the Session of 1882 Page 313, Image 313 (1882) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

New Mexico

Miscellaneous. § 4. Any person who shall draw a deadly weapon on another, or who shall handle a deadly weapon in a threatening manner at or towards another, in any part of this Territory, except in the lawful defense of himself, his family, or his property, or by order of legal authority, upon conviction thereof before the proper tribunal, shall, for each offense, be fined in a sum not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than seventy-five dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not less than twenty days or more than sixty days, or …
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