Looking for Information on the History of Gun Control

[saturdaynightpolitics]

I was hoping that some of you could help me, I am looking for information concerning the development of gun control laws in the US, particularly before 1900.

If anyone knows any authors or resources like that specialize in that sort of information I would be especially interested. Thank you in advance and happy holidays!

 

[SC Shooter]

I can't give you any specifics, but I would suggest looking into the history of gun control in New York. I believe they were one of the earliest to require handgun registration and control. I can tell you that it was in place and well established in the early '50s. At least that will get you started. Good luck, and let THR know what you find.

 

[cuervo]

Many of the laws before 1900 came about from Jim Crow laws, both in the north and south, and were more state-by-state than federal.
http://www.saf.org/lawreviews/tahmassebi1.html
and
http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/srhonorsprog/140/
(pdf download on the right-side of page)

provide good summaries.

A few gun cases made it to the supreme court before 1900, but they were still mostly based on state-level cases:
U.S. v. Cruikshank
Presser v. Illinois
Miller v. Texas

 

[saturdaynightpolitics]

Awesome resources, thank you both!

 

[SC Shooter]

Many of the laws before 1900 came about from Jim Crow laws, both in the north and south, and were more state-by-state than federal.
http://www.saf.org/lawreviews/tahmassebi1.html
and
http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/srhonorsprog/140/
(pdf download on the right-side of page)

provide good summaries.

A few gun cases made it to the supreme court before 1900, but they were still mostly based on state-level cases:
U.S. v. Cruikshank
Presser v. Illinois
Miller v. Texas

Interesting. I had never tied the two together. Time for more research.

 

[saturdaynightpolitics]

Another period of all of this I am looking into is any arms control measures after the revolution but before the civil war (atebellum years) because I know there where a lot of tax revolts.

 

[HEAVY METAL 1]

http://jpfo.org/filegen-a-m/GCA_68.htm

 

[Librarian]

And, there are the amicus briefs for Heller and McDonald.

 

[Midwest]

I have been studying the history of gun control for some time.

History of Concealed Carry (short but good start)

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-672350.html


The Secret History of Guns (must read but covers 1960's)

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/09/the-secret-history-of-guns/308608/



History of New Jersey Gun Control (Parts one and two written by yours truly)

http://cemeterysgunblob.com/2012/01/14/when-did-new-jersey-become-so-anti-gun/

http://cemeterysgunblob.com/2012/01/15/when-did-new-jersey-become-so-anti-gun-part-deux/


The NFA Hearings

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/nra/nfa.htm


Restrictions on the Right to Bear Arms: State and Federal Firearms Legislation
University of Pennsylvania Law Review (Covers before 1900 and up to 1950)

http://www.saf.org/LawReviews/FJK.htm


LEGAL RESTRICTION OF FIREARM OWNERSHIP AS AN ANSWER TO VIOLENT CRIME:
WHAT WAS THE QUESTION? by David T. Hardy*
Hamline Law Review Symposium on Firearms Legislation and Litigation vol. 6, no. 2. 1983: 391.

http://www.saf.org/LawReviews/hardyhamline.htm


Edit:

Texas History of Carry
(Good information here that covers a bit of reconstruction and how it affected carry rights in Texas and up to the passage of the CHL law when it went into effect in 1996.)

http://www.txchia.org/history.htm


"The first Texas law against concealed and open carry was "An Act to Regulate the Keeping and Bearing of Deadly Weapons, Law of April 12, 1871, ch. 34, §1, 1871 Tex. Gen. Laws 25" passed as part of the Reconstruction. "



These links should answer some of the questions that you might have. If you need more info let me know.

 

[joeschmoe]

Gun control dates back to colonial times and earlier. When ever the government feared revolt laws against the possession of weapons would appear. Scots had to hide their family sword in the roof thatch. Peasants in Ireland hid pikes in their barns, etc. These laws were only enforced against the peasants in the rebellious areas. Wealthy people, have always and still display their arms in their homes, even in London.

Here is a classic example of gun control for them but not me from per civil war America. You may have heard of the famous Dread Scott decision:

 

[joeschmoe]

[If black people were] entitled to the privileges and immunities of citizens, it would exempt them from the operation of the special laws and from the police regulations which [Southern states] considered to be necessary for their own safety. It would give the persons of the negro race, who were recognized as citizens in any one State of the Union...the full liberty of speech in public and in private upon all subjects upon which its own citizens might speak; to hold public meetings upon political affairs, and to keep and carry arms wherever they went. And all of this would be done in the face of the subject race of the same color, both free and slaves, inevitably producing discontent and insubordination among them, and endangering the peace and safety of the State."
The "special laws" mentioned by the court are the Black Codes, drafted to keep blacks down even if they became free. Essential to the Black Code of every Southern state was a law prohibiting blacks from owning firearms - a total gun ban for blacks only.

http://www.ralphdsherman.com/LegalOpinion/Blacks and the right to bear arms.htm

 

[lindy]

I have an NRA Handbook titled:Fire arms laws and court decisions, Dated 1964 that has 19 articles dealing with federal and state firearms controls. And ninety-eight court decisions covering matters of interest to gun owners. I'm thinking the NRA must have a librairy full of these kind of references and would be a good place to research the Information that You are looking for.

Good Shooting

Lindy

 

[Tony k]

Research the 1911 Sullivan Act of New York and Tammany Hall in New York City. It's a classic example of the relationship between political corruption and gun control.

 

[saturdaynightpolitics]

Thank You All

You all have been wonderful. It's gonna take me a while to chew through all of these resources! If anyone has any other suggestions please let me know.