I have owned shotguns and rifles in France with no hassles. Although I have a CCP in America and often carry when I am away from home, in France I have always enjoyed a particular freedom. Example:A number of years ago a law was passed making pump shotguns “Semi-automatic_weapons.” I am known through the Limousin area and elsewhere as a dangerous competitor in Trap and accomplished hunter. One of my favorite guns is my old Model !2 Winchester. One day a year or so after the law was passed, a Gendarme I knew asked me when I was going to “register” my Model 12. I told him “Never.” He laughed and said, “I don’t blame you.” I have never registered it.
Also a few years ago, the houses on each side of mine, the house across the street, the butcher and baker down the street a bit and one other were all robbed. My house was not touched. Perhaps you might wonder why...............
The smart people in France own guns. Nobody is going to hassle you if you have a hunting license.
My Dad was a champion Skeet shooter in NATO in the late 1960’s. I inherited his Beretta made four gauges O/U shotgun skeet set (xtra 12 ga. bbls for Trap). Dad shot Trap only occasionally but it is a fine set with fore ends for each gauge.
That said, I remarked that shotgun ownership is relatively hassle free in France, but what about handguns? I recently acquired a MAB Pa-15 9mm pistol also from the 60’s, and I am convinced that no ordinary Frenchman could get a license to own it.
Gun ownership is so much simpler in Amerique.