In 1841, North Carolina passed a law requiring free black people to acquire firearm licenses from their county court. This essay argues that the license requirement forced free black people to rely on their families’ support to access firearms, which sits contrary to the “individual right” framework that firearms are often viewed through. Family members helped free black people to construct racial identities, highlight trustworthiness, connect individuals to patrons and professional networks, and manage legal fees, all in pursuit of firearm access. This essay contributes to our understanding of antebellum black families and their connections to their broader interracial communities.

中文翻译：

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“行使自由裁量权，此类人中的谁有权获得许可……”：北卡罗莱纳州战前的家庭，种族和枪支

1841年，北卡罗来纳州通过了一项法律，要求自由的黑人从其县法院获得枪支许可证。本文认为，许可证要求强迫黑人自由依靠其家人的支持来获取枪支，这与人们经常浏览枪支的“个人权利”框架背道而驰。家庭成员帮助自由的黑人建立种族身份，强调可信赖性，将个人与顾客和专业网络联系起来，并管理法律费用，所有这些都是为了获取枪支。本文有助于我们了解前黑人家庭及其与更广泛的种族社区的联系。