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New Caledonia — 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 New Caledonia is 19,0001 to 50,0002

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in New Caledonia is 8.481 to 20.43 firearms per 100 people

Government Guns

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Routine Arming of Police

In New Caledonia, police officers on routine patrol carry one or more firearms4

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in New Caledonia are reported to have 3485 firearms

ProductionGun Industry

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Firearm Manufacture

In New Caledonia, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is prohibited6

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from New Caledonia is reported to be US$7,3647 (2008)

Import Control

In New Caledonia, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 8

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to New Caledonia is reported to be US$988,8637 (2009)

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Smuggling Guns and Ammunition

Reports suggest that the level of firearm and ammunition smuggling in New Caledonia is low9

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Regulation of Arms Brokers

In New Caledonia, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are specifically regulated by law10

MeasuresGun Regulation

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Firearm Regulation - Guiding Policy

The regulation of guns in New Caledonia is categorised as restrictive11

Firearm Law

Guiding gun control legislation in New Caledonia is the French Law: Law Decree Establishing the Regime of Materials of War, Arms and Ammunition 193912

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Prohibited Firearms and Ammunition

In New Caledonia, civilians are not allowed to possess automatic weapons, military handguns or longguns13

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Regulation of Automatic Assault Weapons

In New Caledonia, private possession of fully automatic weapons is prohibited13

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Regulation of Handguns

In New Caledonia, private possession of handguns (pistols and revolvers) is permitted under licence14 15

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Gun Owner Licensing

In New Caledonia, only licensed gun owners15 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 New Caledonia are required to prove genuine reason to possess a firearm, for example, hunting, sports shooting, collection, self-defence16 17

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Minimum Age for Firearm Possession

The minimum age for gun ownership in New Caledonia is 21 years13

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Gun Owner Background Checks

An applicant for a firearm licence in New Caledonia must pass background checks which consider criminal13 records

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In New Caledonia, the law requires10 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 New Caledonia, licensed firearm dealers are required10 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 New Caledonia, licensed gun makers are required10 to keep a record of each firearm produced, for inspection by a regulating authority

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State-Owned Firearm Records

In New Caledonia, State agencies are required18 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 New Caledonia, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law19 20

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Firearm Tracing

In New Caledonia, state authorities carry out21 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

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Penalty for Illicit Firearm Possession

In New Caledonia, the maximum penalty for illicit possession of firearms is 10 days in prison22

Collection, Amnesty and Destruction Programmes

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Destruction and Disposal Policy

In New Caledonia, it is not state policy23 24 25 26 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 New Caledonia, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated27

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In New Caledonia, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated27

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of New Caledonia submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is not apparent27

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, New Caledonia 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 list28 New Caledonia as a Participating State
Last Updated on 9 February 2012

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. (Q887)Full Citation

2.

ABC News (Australia). 2004. ‘Firearms Destroyed in New Caledonia.’ 26 January. (N123) Full Citation

3.

Radio New Zealand International (Shortwave). 2003. ‘High Gun Ownership Figures in New Caledonia.’ 4 November. (N124) Full Citation

4.

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

5.

Karp, Aaron.2003.‘Fewer Blanks: Global Firearm Stockpiles: Firearms of the Pacific.’ Small Arms Survey 2003: Development Denied.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q888)Full Citation

6.

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

7.

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

8.

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

9.

Capie, David.2003.‘Smuggling.’ Under the Gun: The small arms challenge in the Pacific.Wellington:Victoria University Press,1 January. (Q892)Full Citation

10.

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

11.

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

12.

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

13.

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

14.

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. (Q142)Full Citation

15.

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. (Q311)Full Citation

16.

Bonetti, Olivier and Patrick Clauwaert.1998.‘New French Gun Law Could Apply in New Caledonia / Proposition de loi visant l'interdiction de détention d'armes à feu et de munitions en France.’ Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes.Noumea:29 May. (Q889)Full Citation

17.

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. (Q281)Full Citation

18.

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

19.

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

20.

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

21.

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

22.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Selected Penalties for Firearm Offences in the Pacific.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q362)Full Citation

23.

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

24.

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

25.

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

26.

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

27.

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

28.

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