The laws often clearly stated what had motivated their passage. For example, New Jersey's 1686 law imposed concealed carry restrictions by saying that "no person or persons … shall presume privately to wear any pocket pistol … or other unusual or unlawful weapons within this Province" because the practice induced "great Fear and Quarrels." An 1821 Tennessee law sought to punish anyone "so degrading himself" by carrying prohibited weapons including pistols. Georgia's 1837 law began: "An Act to guard and protect the citizens of this State, against the unwarrantable and too prevalent use of deadly weapons." Alabama's 1839 anti-concealed carry law was titled "An Act to Suppress the Evil Practice of Carrying Weapons Secretly." Delaware's 1852 law targeted "all who go armed offensively to the terror of the people." The point was unmistakable: Anyone who carried a concealed gun was probably up to no good.