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French Polynesia — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in French Polynesia is 6101

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in French Polynesia is 0.251 firearms per 100 people

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of French Polynesia are reported to have 1,1922 firearms

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Routine Arming of Police

In French Polynesia, police officers on routine patrol carry one or more firearms3

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in French Polynesia are reported to have 2862 firearms

ProductionGun Industry

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Firearm Manufacture

In French Polynesia, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is prohibited4

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from French Polynesia is reported to be US$1,4145 (2009)

Import Control

In French Polynesia, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 6

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to French Polynesia is reported to be US$240,9315 (2009)

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Regulation of Arms Brokers

In French Polynesia, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are specifically regulated by law7

MeasuresGun Regulation

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Firearm Regulation - Guiding Policy

The regulation of guns in French Polynesia is categorised as restrictive8

Firearm Law

Guiding gun control legislation in French Polynesia is the French Law: Law Decree Establishing the Regime of Materials of War, Arms and Ammunition 19399

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Prohibited Firearms and Ammunition

In French Polynesia, civilians are not allowed to possess automatic weapons, military handguns or longguns10

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Regulation of Automatic Assault Weapons

In French Polynesia, private possession of fully automatic weapons is prohibited10

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Regulation of Handguns

In French Polynesia, private possession of handguns (pistols and revolvers) is prohibited, unless authorised by High Commissioner10

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Gun Owner Licensing

In French Polynesia, only licensed gun owners11 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

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Genuine Reason Required for Firearm Licence

Applicants for a gun owner’s licence in French Polynesia are required to prove genuine reason to possess a firearm, for example, hunting, target shooting, collection, self-defence12

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In French Polynesia, the law requires7 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

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Gun Dealer Record Keeping

In French Polynesia, licensed firearm dealers are required7 to keep a record of each firearm or ammunition purchase, sale or transfer on behalf of a regulating authority

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Gun Manufacturer Record Keeping

In French Polynesia, licensed gun makers are required7 to keep a record of each firearm produced, for inspection by a regulating authority

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State-Owned Firearm Records

In French Polynesia, State agencies are required13 to maintain records of the storage and movement of all firearms and ammunition under their control

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In French Polynesia, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law14 15

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Firearm Tracing

In French Polynesia, state authorities carry out16 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

Collection, Amnesty and Destruction Programmes

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Destruction and Disposal Policy

In French Polynesia, it is not state policy17 18 19 20 to destroy surplus, collected and seized firearms rather than return them to the secondary arms market

MeasuresInternational Controls

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In French Polynesia, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated21

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In French Polynesia, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated21

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of French Polynesia submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is not apparent21

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, French Polynesia is not a Member State of the United Nations

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list22 French Polynesia as a Participating State
Last Updated on 25 November 2011

Short References

1.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Civilian Firearm Ownership in Pacific Nations, 2002.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q306)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2003.‘Fewer Blanks: Global Firearm Stockpiles: Firearms of the Pacific.’ Small Arms Survey 2003: Development Denied.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q308)Full Citation

3.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Stockpiles and Trafficking in the Pacific: Police Inventories.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q145)Full Citation

4.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Pacific Small Arms Legislation: Domestic and regional issues.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q288)Full Citation

5.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

6.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q82)Full Citation

7.

France.2011.‘Record Keeping (Enregistrement).’ National Report of France on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations,11 April. (Q4811)Full Citation

8.

Newton, George D and Franklin E Zimring.1969.‘Firearm Licensing: Permissive v Restrictive.’ Firearms & Violence in American Life: A Staff Report submitted to the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence.Washington, DC:US Government Printing Office,1 January. (Q22)Full Citation

9.

Alpers, Philip.2006.‘Comparative Gun Laws in the Pacific: Master Table.’ Unpublished dataset.Sydney:School of Public Health, The University of Sydney,3 March. (Q534)Full Citation

10.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Civilian Firearm Ownership and Prohibitions in the Pacific.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q284)Full Citation

11.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Pacific Small Arms Legislation: Domestic and regional issues.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q286)Full Citation

12.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Genuine Reason: A Snapshot of Pacific Definitions – French Territories.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q282)Full Citation

13.

France.2010.‘Stockpile Management and Securing (Gestion et Sécurisation des Stocks).’ National Report of France on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations,1 May. (Q4813)Full Citation

14.

France.2010.‘Marking, Record Keeping and Tracing of Firearms (Marquage, Enregistrement et Traçage des Armes).’ National Report of France on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations,1 May. (Q4809)Full Citation

15.

France.2011.‘Marking (Marquage).’ National Report of France on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations,11 April. (Q4810)Full Citation

16.

France.2011.‘Measures Taken for Tracing and to Address Tracing Requests (Mesures Prises pour Tracer et Répondre aux Demandes de Traçage).’ National Report of France on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations,11 April. (Q4812)Full Citation

17.

France.2000.‘Article 6-1 - Arrêté du 15 novembre 2000 fixant les modalités de destruction par les armuriers des armes de 1re et de 4e catégorie et des armes de 5e et de 7e catégorie soumises à déclaration.’ Order of November 15, 2000, on Modalities for Destruction by Gunsmiths of Firearms of the 1st and 4th Categories and Firearms of the 5th and 7th Categories that are Subject to Notification [current to 2011 amendments].Paris:Minister of Interior and Minister of Defence of the French Republic,15 November. (Q5996)Full Citation

18.

France.2000.‘Article 2 - Arrêté du 15 novembre 2000 fixant les modalités de destruction par les armuriers des armes de 1re et de 4e catégorie et des armes de 5e et de 7e catégorie soumises à déclaration.’ Order of November 15, 2000, on Modalities for Destruction by Gunsmiths of Firearms of the 1st and 4th Categories and Firearms of the 5th and 7th Categories that are Subject to Notification [current to 2011 amendments].Paris:Minister of Interior and Minister of Defence of the French Republic,15 November. (Q5993)Full Citation

19.

France.2000.‘Article 3 - Arrêté du 15 novembre 2000 fixant les modalités de destruction par les armuriers des armes de 1re et de 4e catégorie et des armes de 5e et de 7e catégorie soumises à déclaration.’ Order of November 15, 2000, on Modalities for Destruction by Gunsmiths of Firearms of the 1st and 4th Categories and Firearms of the 5th and 7th Categories that are Subject to Notification [current to 2011 amendments].Paris:Minister of Interior and Minister of Defence of the French Republic,15 November. (Q5994)Full Citation

20.

France.2000.‘Article 4 - Arrêté du 15 novembre 2000 fixant les modalités de destruction par les armuriers des armes de 1re et de 4e catégorie et des armes de 5e et de 7e catégorie soumises à déclaration.’ Order of November 15, 2000, on Modalities for Destruction by Gunsmiths of Firearms of the 1st and 4th Categories and Firearms of the 5th and 7th Categories that are Subject to Notification [current to 2011 amendments].Paris:Minister of Interior and Minister of Defence of the French Republic,15 November. (Q5995)Full Citation

21.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q166)Full Citation

22.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation