Steven Mace
05-06-2002, 02:05 AM
France prepares for a ban
By Charlie Jacoby
03/05/2002
In response to the recent shooting at Nanterre, France is to crack down on hunting rifles. According to reports in the French press, the Government wants to issue a decree placing further restrictions on gun ownership before the second round of the presidential elections.
In April, the French Government convened a meeting designed to recommend two measures: the reduction from 12 to six of the maximum number of guns one person may own; and the recategorisation of semi-automatic firearms as “weapons of war”. These measures are unlikely to include any compensation provisions.
Gunowners are outraged. This second measure is the most draconian and comes despite a European directive of 18 June 1991 that defines weapons of war as automatic firearms. In addition, the original ban on “weapons of war” was to prevent insurrectionists holding weapons of the same calibre as the military. The French police department tasked with the prevention of the illegal trafficking in guns was formed in 1982 and, until April this year, had a staff of just three officers.
Ironically, Lionel Jospin, who is out of the presidential running, recently said: “I absolutely refuse to stigmatise a category of sporting citizens, young people, hunters, shooters or collectors: I do not have anything against the peaceful users of firearms.” However, Presidential candidate Jacques Chirac sought to reassure legitimate shooters that he was on their side. In a letter, he said that any new legislation should be aimed at illegal traffickers rather than target shooters.
http://www.leadshot.com/story.asp?id=544
Steve Mace
By Charlie Jacoby
03/05/2002
In response to the recent shooting at Nanterre, France is to crack down on hunting rifles. According to reports in the French press, the Government wants to issue a decree placing further restrictions on gun ownership before the second round of the presidential elections.
In April, the French Government convened a meeting designed to recommend two measures: the reduction from 12 to six of the maximum number of guns one person may own; and the recategorisation of semi-automatic firearms as “weapons of war”. These measures are unlikely to include any compensation provisions.
Gunowners are outraged. This second measure is the most draconian and comes despite a European directive of 18 June 1991 that defines weapons of war as automatic firearms. In addition, the original ban on “weapons of war” was to prevent insurrectionists holding weapons of the same calibre as the military. The French police department tasked with the prevention of the illegal trafficking in guns was formed in 1982 and, until April this year, had a staff of just three officers.
Ironically, Lionel Jospin, who is out of the presidential running, recently said: “I absolutely refuse to stigmatise a category of sporting citizens, young people, hunters, shooters or collectors: I do not have anything against the peaceful users of firearms.” However, Presidential candidate Jacques Chirac sought to reassure legitimate shooters that he was on their side. In a letter, he said that any new legislation should be aimed at illegal traffickers rather than target shooters.
http://www.leadshot.com/story.asp?id=544
Steve Mace