Originally Posted By arbob:
Why not just use CDNN?

Originally Posted By NoLimit:
i've never heard of that. so all of us with 15 round AR mags are now criminals?

Originally Posted By ZEROTHOMAS:


Im pretty sure they are just ignorant of the real law and/or make their own up. Some websites, like AIM for example, will make shit up just to cover their own asses whether the item is legal or not.

Originally Posted By njJoniGuy:

You mean like Sporstman's Guide and Dicks??

Guns laws in France are somewhat convoluted.

Gun laws in France have been implemented through executive orders for more than 150 years. There's no 2A or right to own a firearm.

As a miserable subject of the People's Republic of France, you cannot own a firearm "just because you want to", to protect yourself against all forms of tyranny.

There are currently 5 categories of firearms in France:

- Category #8 : Black powder handgun and rifles (and replicas), before 1900 IIRC

- Category #7 : "garden and fun fair rifles" : rimfire rifles (max caliber: .22" ), airguns if muzzle energy is above 7.5J IIRC

–––– Overall length of rifles must be > 31.5", barrel length must be > 18"
- Category #5 : hunting rifles and shotguns
–––– Overall length of firearm must be > 31.5"
–––– Barrel length of rifles must be > 18"
–––– Barrel length of repeating or semi-auto shotguns must be > 24"
–––– Barrel length of single-shot, over-under, side-by-side shotguns must be > 18"
–––– Magazines one semi-auto shotguns and rifles must be fixed/permanently attached and must accept no more than 2 rounds
–––– Fixed or detachable magazines for repeating shotguns or rifles must accept no more than 10 rounds
–––– The firearm must not chamber a "military round" (.308W/7.62x51, 9x19, .223R/5.56x45, .30-06 , 8x57JS ...)

- Category #4 : anything that doesn't fit the restrictions listed above unless it chambers a "military round"
–––– Hence, all handguns are in this category unless they chamber a military round
–––– Example: .357Mag revolver, 7-shot Benelli M4 shotgun, rechambered ARs/Mini-14s shooting .222R instead of .223R, Galils shooting 7mm08 instead of .308W...

- Category #1 : anything that chambers a military round
–––– Glocks, 1911, AR-15, SIG 550, FAL, bolt-action rifle shooting .223R/5.56, you name it ...

As I said earlier you have to prove "need" before you can buy a firearm:
- hunting : you need an hunting permit
- target shooting : you must join a gun club and join the french target shooting federation (FFTir)
- personal defense: almost impossible these days unless you are somehow connected

Category 8 is free to buy/own, you just have to show ID to prove you're > 18.

As a hunter you can buy firearms from categories 5 and 7 just by showing (or emailing/faxing/mailing if mail ordering) your up-to-date hunting permit. There's no prior background check (but firearms have to be registered and the administration might do some quick background check, but that will usually happen only weeks/months after purchasing). You can buy as many firearms as your wallet permits.
The hunting permit is just needed to buy the guns (and ammo) but isn't needed to own them afterwards.

As a target shooter, it's the same as hunters when it comes to categories 5 and 7. But as a target shooter you may also buy firearms from categories 4 and 1 (I'll call them "restricted firearms" below). But the process is quite tedious.

You need to get a buying permit for each cat 1/4 firearms. It also serves as holding permit and must be renewed every 3 years.
Here are the conditions to fulfill to get one or more permits:
- must be a member of a target shooting club/range
- must shoot at least 3 times a year (we have some kind of booklet with 3 stamps a year), at least 2 months apart
- must show proof of ownership of a safe for the restricted firearms you intend to buy

Throw in a few more forms and other papers, go to the cops. They will then do some background check, then forward your application to the Préfecture (an administrative authority in each département). There, they'll do some more checks (whether you were committed in a psychiatric ward against your will, or whether you're a prohibited person) and then send your frigging permits to the cops who will eventually hand them to you. That process may take anywhere between 3 weeks to 6+ months depending on the level of professionalism, incompetence of all parties involved.

You can then go buy your Glock, AR ... and a whopping 1000 rounds per year/per firearms if your naughty gun is shooting a "military round"