As this libguide should make clear, 19th century Louisiana was a very different place. First of all, for most of that time, a large percentage of the population was enslaved. Society was stratified, and laws enacted by the top strata of that society were designed to keep it that way. They did not want the general population, especially the enslaved and vagrants, to go about armed.
Louisiana sought to regulate objects which could be used as weapons. This included, but was not limited to, firearms. Louisiana laws were designed to prevent armed violence. A dance was a "weapon free zone;" it was not lawful for any person to enter into a public ball room with a cane, stick, sword or any other weapon.
In 1836, New Orleans ordinances did not permit watchmen to carry firearms; they could only carry a spontoon and a rattle. Men stationed on guard at the prisons and the powder magazine were issued a musket, but could only fire after giving three warnings.
Gunpowder, an explosive, was tightly regulated, both within the city and on the river. Within New Orleans, the firing of guns was seen as a nuisance and a fire hazard.
