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View Full Version : Gunshops in France Require a Licence


Steven Mace
03-29-2002, 05:42 AM
March 28, 2002

The French way to arms

All French gunshops require a licence before they are allowed to sell weapons. Before a licence is granted:

- Police carry out an initial investigation
- The applicant is checked for a criminal record
- Prospective owners must pass a technical test

Once a certificate is issued, guns must be kept in a safe and only used for the purpose stated on the licence

Licence categories: There are several, including:

- Category five which permits a small calibre weapon, such as a .22 rifle
- Category two — allows a 9mm weapon or a .22 repeating rifle
- Category one allows the sort of handguns used by law enforcement officials

In France:

140,000 people shoot for pleasure 22.6 per cent of French families possess a licensed firearm There are up to 20 million guns in circulation in France

In Britain:

125,363 people legally own a total of 296,849 firearms, mostly rifles 600,733 people own a total of 1,320,883 shotguns

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,3-250148,00.html

Steve Mace