On February 20, 1839, Congress passed a law banning these within the city limits of Washington DC.
Slave Auctions
Street Vendors
Duels
Firearms
Duels. The famous Aaron Burr – Alexander Hamilton duel was only one of several politically motivated shoot-outs, so Congress banned dueling within the federal district of Washington, DC. This, of course, merely forced the duels over the borders into neighboring states – Bladensburg, Maryland, being a favorite location for dueling.