1837 — Delaware — Weapon Discharge

1837 Del. L. Chap. 123, pp. 166-67

Summary

Prohibited firing guns in the village of Camden. Blacks and Whites faced separate penalties.

Statutory Text

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Delaware, in General Assembly met, That if any person or persons shall presume to fire or discharge any gun, ordnance, musket, fowling-piece, fusee or pistol, light or keep up any bon-fire or bon-fires, fire off any cracker or crackers, squib or squibs, or throw any fire-ball or balls, or any rocket or rockets, or quarter of a make or erect any kind of fire-works whatever, within one-quarter of a mile of the centre of the village of Camden, or shall fire or discharge any gun, ordnance, musket, fowling-piece, fusee or pistol, light or keep up any bon-fire or bon-fires, fire off any cracker or crackers, squib or squibs, throw any fire-ball or balls, or any rocket or rockets, or make or erect any kind of fire-works whatever, within or on any of the strects, alleys or lanes of the said village of Camden, whereon any buildings are or may be erected, shall be fined or punished as hereinafter mentioned.

SECTION 2. And if any free white person or persons, or the child or children, ward or wards of any such person or persons, shall fire or discharge any gun, ordnance, musket. fowling-piece, fusee or pistol, light or keep up any bon-fire or bon-fires, fire off any crackcr or crackers, squib or squibs, throw any fire-ball or balls, any rocket or rockets, or make or erect any kind of fire-works whatever, at any of the places or limits aforesaid, every such person or persons, so offending or whose child or children, ward or wards shall so offend, shall forfeit and pay, for every such offence any sun not exceeding five dollars, nor less than oe dollar, to be recovered from the person or persons, or from ihe parent or guardian of such child or children, ward or wards, before any justice of the peace in this county, on his own view, or on the oath or afirniation of one or niore credible witness, to be recovered as debts under fifty dollars are recovered by the laws of this State.

SECTION 3. And be it enacted, That if any free negro or mulatto, or the child or children of any such free negro or mulatto, or Negro or any manumited negro or mulatto, or any servant or servants, slave or slaves, apprentice or apprentices of any person or persons whatsoever shall fire or discharge any gun, ordnance, musket, fuse, fowling- piece or pistol, light or heep up any bon-fire or bon-fires, fire off any cracker or crackers, squib or squibs, throw any fire-ball or balls, rocket or rockets, make or crect any kind of fire-works whatever, within the limits or places herein-before described and be thereof convicted, by the view of any one justice of the peace of said county, or on the oath or affirmation of one or more credible witness, every person so offending, shall forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding five dollars, nor less Iian one dollar, together with the costs of prosecution, any law, custom or usage in this State to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided nevertheless, that in all and every case, when the money is not immediately paid into the hand of the justice of the peace, before who in such conviction is had, it shall and may be lawful, and the said justice is hereby directed to commit such person or persons to the gaol of said county, and there to remain for the space of one mouth, unless such fine and costs shall be sooner paid.

SECTION 4. And be it enacted, That all fines and forfeitures under this act shall be for the use of the poor of said county, and to under this to be paid to the treasurer thereof.

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Details

Title 1837 — Delaware — Weapon Discharge
Conduct Use
Instrument Firearms
Jurisdiction DE
Date 1837