Firearms regulation in France

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In France, to buy a firearm, in line with the European Firearms Directive, a hunting license or a shooting sport license is necessary depending on the type, function and magazine capacity of the weapon.

History[]

In 1563, Charles IX of France had an address to the Rouen parliament about forbidding firearms in which he made the following statement:

Firearms classification[]

As of September 2015, classification has been simplified to 4 categories:^[2]

• Category A:
  • Category A1: Firearms disguised as another object, firearms with fully automatic fire capacities, firearms of a caliber greater than 20mm, handgun magazine with a capacity greater than 20 rounds, and rifles or shotguns magazine with a capacity greater than 31 rounds. There is an exception for magazine capacity for IPSC (TSV in French) shooter with a certificate of the shooting range where they are registered.
  • Category A2: military material, material to transport or use weapons in combat and combat-gas protection.
  • Category A11: semi-automatic rifle shorter than 60 cm with the stock detached or folded.
  • Category A12: semi-automatic rifle converted from automatic to semi-automatic.
• Category B:
  • Category B1: Handguns with a capacity of 20 rounds or fewer.
  • Category B2: Manually operated long guns with a capacity between 11 and 31 rounds, semi-automatic long guns with a capacity between 3 and 31 rounds and smooth bore pump-action shotguns.
  • Category B4: Any firearm chambered for the following calibers: 7.62×39mm; 5.56×45mm NATO; 5.45×39mm; .50 BMG; 14.5×114mm.
  • Category B5: Any registered parts of all B-categorized firearms such as bolt, barrel, magazine, etc .
  • Category B6, B7, B8: Specific weapon for riot and order control (not available to civilians).
• Category C: Manual operation long guns with a capacity of 11 rounds or less, semi-automatic long guns with a capacity of 3 rounds or fewer, pump action long rifled gun with a capacity of 5 rounds or fewer.
• Category D: Pepper spray, canne fusil, blank guns, black powder guns, deactivated guns, guns with a brevet older than 1 January 1900 (with some exceptions), weapons that shoot projectiles in a non-pyrotechnic way with energy between 2 and 20 joules, and anything used or planned to be used as a weapon.

Individuals cannot own more than twelve B categorized firearms, cannot own more than ten magazines for a given weapon, and cannot store more than 1000 rounds per weapon. For example, if one owned a 9mm pistol then one could store 1000 rounds of 9mm; if one owned two 9mm pistols then one could store up to 2000 rounds.

Ammunition Classification[]

Any handgun ammunition is classified as B, for example, someone who owns a lever-action carbine in C category chamber for .357 magnum needs to have a B categorized weapon to be able to buy .357 magnum ammunition.

Some exceptions exist for calibers like in c-6° category.

• Category B: quota of 2000 rounds per year, maximum of 1000 in stock, you need an id card or resident card and the authorization of ownership to buy those ammunitions.
  • 7.62x39
  • 5.56x45 (.223 Remington)
  • 5.45x39 Russian
  • 12.7x99
  • 14.5x114
• Category C-6°: maximum of 1000 in stock, you need an id card or resident card and the acknowledgment of receipt of ownership to buy those ammunitions.
  • 25-20 Winchester (6.35x34 R)
  • 32-20 Winchester (8x33 Winchester) or 32-20-115
  • 38-40 Remington (10.1x33 Winchester)
  • 44-40 Winchester ou 44-40-200
  • .44 Remington magnum
  • .45 Colt or .45 long Colt
• Category C-7°: maximum of 1000 in stock, you need an ID card or resident card and a hunting licence or a shooting licence and the acknowledgment of receipt of ownership to buy those ammunitions.
  • 7.5x54 MAS
  • 7.5x55 Swiss
  • .30 M1 (7.62x33)
  • 7.62x51 NATO or .308 Winchester
  • 7.92x57 Mauser or 7.92x57 JS or 8x57 J or 8x57 JS or 8mm Mauser
  • 7.62x54 R or 7.62x54 Mosin Nagant
  • 7.62x63 or 30.06 Springfield
  • .303 British or 7.7x56
• Category C-8°: You need an ID card or resident card and a hunting licence or a shooting licence to buy those ammunitions.
  • Auther rifle munition (Ex : 7x64, 9.3x62...)
• Category D-1°: You need an ID card or resident card and a hunting licence or a shooting licence to buy those ammunitions. Since August 1, 2018 D1 weapon became C categorized.
• Category D-2°: You need an ID card or resident card and must at least 18 years old with the exception of sportive shooters over 12, for whom a written parental authorisation must be written.

Since August 1, 2018 D2 ammunition became D.

Storage[]

• Category A: Firearms, ammunition and registered firearms parts have to be stored in a gun safe or a safe room.
• Category B: Firearms, ammunition and registered firearms parts have to be stored in a gun safe or a safe room.
• Category C: Firearms can be stored (unloaded) in a safe or without giving easy access using a lock or have them attached to a wall for example, ammunition have to be stored separated from the weapon (even in a safe).
• Category D:
  • Category D1: Firearms and ammunition can be stored in a safe or ammunition have to be stored without giving easy access and firearms(unloaded) have to be stored in a way that they can't be used immediately, by using a lock or have them attached to a wall for example. Since August 1, 2018 D1 weapon became C categorized.
  • Category D2: No Storage restriction.

Ownership and purchase conditions[]

• Category D requires the owner to be older than 18.
• Category C requires the owner to be older than 18, have hunting, shooting or ball-trap licence of the current year stamped by a doctor.
• Category B requires the owner to be older than 18, be affiliated with a shooting range, have attended at least 3 shooting sessions with an instructor, and have a medical certificate. The shooter then receives a 5-year authorization to purchase and own of Category B firearms (and therefore Category C firearms since they are affiliated with a shooting range).
• Category A11 and A12 purchase not allowed since August 1st 2018, for gun ownership before its same requirement as Category B.

No civilian may carry any weapons in a public place. A special form allows a civilian to apply for a 1-year carry license, which allows them to carry a handgun and a maximum of 50 rounds if they are "exposed to exceptional risks to their life". In practice, such authorizations are rare.

Exceptions exist for children and teenagers with a shooting or ball-trap license and parental approval. A child aged between 9 and 12 can own D categorized weapon that shoot projectiles In a non pyrotechnic way between 2 and 20 joules. A teenager aged 12 to 16 can own C and D categorized weapons. They can also own one-shot, rimfire Category B firearms if they participate in international shooting competitions (only with a shooting licence).

A shooter between the ages of 16 and 18 who has a shooting, hunting or ball-trap license can own C and D categorized weapons. They can also own Category B firearms if they participate in international shooting competitions(only with a shooting licence).

Carrying a gun is defined as having a gun by one's side on a public place ready to use. Transporting a gun is defined as having an unloaded, locked or disassembled gun and having a legitimate reason (personal defence doesn't qualify) for doing so in a public place. A legitimate reason to transport a firearm is a legal document like a hunting, shooting, collector, or ball-trap licence. Hunting, collector and ball-trap licences only work for D and C categorized weapon transportation. A shooting licence works for A, B, C and D categorized weapons.

Showing a firearm in public to scare people can be a charge of public disorder.

Since the November 2015 Paris attacks, police officers are allowed to carry their service firearms while off duty.

References[]