Armour And Arms - Definition - Law Dictionary

Definition :

Armour and arms are understood in Law to mean things (see preceding title) which a person wears for defence, or takes in hand, or uses in anger, to strike or cast at another. Arms are also insignia, i.e., ensigns of honour, originally badges assumed by commanders in war and painted on their shields to distinguish them, since they could not be distinguished by the ancient coat of mail which covered the whole body. King Richard I., during his crusade, first made arms hereditary. Every subject in this realm has a right to carry arms for defence suitable to his condition and degree, and allowed by law, and this right is embodied in the Bill of Rights, 1 W. & M. c. 2, s. 2. The Statute of Northampton, 2 Edw. 3, c. 3, prohibits persons going armed under circumstances which may tend to terrify the people or indicate any intention of disturbing the public peace, see R. v. Meade, (1903) 19 TLR 540. The (English) Unlawful Drilling Act, 1819 (60 Geo. 3, c. 1), prohibits the training of persons without lawful authority to the use of arms, and authorizes any justice of the peace to disperse any assembly of persons that he may find engaged in such occupation and to arrest any of the persons present. As to the restriction on carrying and possessing firearms, see (English) Firearms Acts, 1920 and 1934 (10 & 11 Geo. 5, c. 43; 24 & 25 Geo. 5, c. 16), and FIREARMS and GUN.