Firearms regulation in France

In France, to buy a weapon, 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:

Old French English

D'auantage cõsiderant que les meurtres, volleries, assassinats, & autres entreprinses, qui troublent le commun repos de nosdicts subects, s'exercent plus par les armes à feu, que nuls aultres : Défendons tresestroictement sur mesmes peines à toutes personnes, de quelque estat, dignité & qualité qu'ils soyent, porter ne faire porter par leurs gens & seruiteurs dedans les villes, ne par les champs, aucune hacquebute, pistolle ne pistolet, ne d'icelles tirer: sinon (...).[1]

Considering murders, robberies, killings & other enterprises, which disturb regularly the rest of our subjects, are more caused by firearms than any others: we forbid very strictly with the same punishment for everyone, of any state, dignity & quality they are, to carry or have carried by their people & servitors neither within any town, nor in the countryside, any hacquebute, pistol nor pistolet, nor to use them: except (...)

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 60cm 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 1st 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 1st 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 1st 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
  1. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k9693107x/f13.image
  2. "Armes" [Arms] (in French). Direction de l'information légale et administrative. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
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