Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Brussels Pushes Gun Control in Wake of Paris Attacks

Friday, November 20, 2015

Brussels Pushes Gun Control in Wake of Paris Attacks

On November 18, the European Commission expedited a plan to overhaul the European Union’s already restrictive gun control laws. The move comes in the immediate wake of November 13th’s terrorist shooting and bombing attacks that killed 129 in Paris, France. Just how the European Commission expects new restrictions on civilian firearm ownership to influence the behavior of suicidal violent extremists with access to explosives and military-grade ordnance, remains unclear.

Currently, the EU sets a minimum threshold of gun control that all member countries must enact. Countries are free to adopt further gun restrictions, and some do (i.e., United Kingdom).

At present, EU law (Directive 91/477/EEC) requires (amongst other restrictions) that member states:

  •          Maintain a computerized data-filing system including “each firearm’s type, make, model, calibre and serial number, as well as the names and addresses of the supplier and the person acquiring or possessing the firearm,” and “ensure that all firearms may be linked to their owner at any moment.”
  •          Disqualify individuals from firearm possession and acquisition based on set criteria, such as age and criminal history.
  •          Only permit firearm possession and acquisition by “persons who have good cause.”
  •          Require individuals to obtain government authorization before to acquire or possess any handgun, nearly all semi-automatic long-guns, and certain types of shotguns.
  •          Require individuals to declare to government authorities their possession of bolt, pump, and lever-action firearms, single-shot rifles, and certain semi-automatics not subject to prior government authorization.
  •          Ban automatic firearms, and expanding handgun ammunition (other than for purposes of hunting).

The European Commission’s new proposal would impose a number of new restrictions to the current regulatory framework.

Current EU law permits individuals to possess and acquire “[s]emi-automatic firearms for civilian use which resemble weapons with automatic mechanisms.” This, however, is subject to obtaining authorization from their government, which is in turn is subject to strict EU mandates on who may possess or acquire firearms.

The new legislation places these guns into the same category as automatic firearms, banning them for civilian use. As part of their justification for the ban, the preamble to the legislation contends, “[s]ome semi-automatic firearms can be easily converted to automatic firearms, thus posing a threat to security,” adding, “certain semi-automatic firearms may be very dangerous when their capacity regarding the number of rounds is high.” Given this odd categorization of firearms, the exact types of firearms that fall into this category are not entirely clear. The legislation also bans previously automatic firearms that have been converted to semi-automatic.

The proposal also severely curtails possession and acquisition of non-firing decommissioned firearms popular with collectors. Decommissioned firearms derived from automatic firearms are banned entirely.

The legislation also tightens how states may determine a person is eligible to own firearms. The proposal demands that member states “provide for standard medical tests for issuing or renewing authorisations.” Currently states are free to issue gun licenses for multiple years, without restriction as to the number of years a license is valid. The proposal would set a five-year limit on license validity.

The legislation increases recordkeeping burdens. Whereas current EU law requires that states maintain information on each firearm and its possessor in a computerized data-filing system for “not less than 20 years,” the proposal extends this “until the destruction of the firearm has been certified by the competent authorities.” Moreover, it would require member states to ensure that dealer records are also connected to this computerized data-filing system.

Further, under the proposal, individuals would be required to declare possession of “’alarm and signal weapons’… which are specifically designed and constructed for the purpose of raising alarm or sending signal” (think flare guns) to their government.

Directly citing the Paris attacks in an “Explanatory Memorandum” accompanying the European Commission’s proposed legislation, the authors contend that the terrorist attacks have “shown why we need” further regulation. The memorandum goes on to acknowledge that the EU’s current regulatory framework is “largely derived” from the United Nations Firearms Protocol.

The EU legislative process is often criticized as convoluted and suffering from what many term a “democratic deficit.” However, the broad outline is that the European Commission initiates legislation, which then must be approved by the European Parliament and the European Council.

There are certainly some in the United States that would prefer a system where passions inflamed by tragedy might be more easily converted into impulsive government action. However, at times like these freedom-loving Americans should further appreciate the more democratic and deliberative legislative process our constitutional system affords.

TRENDING NOW
U.S. Court of Appeals Backtracks on Adverse Suppressor Ruling

News  

Monday, June 23, 2025

U.S. Court of Appeals Backtracks on Adverse Suppressor Ruling

In a single sentence, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit added to the high-profile and consequential national conversation on firearm suppressors.

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

Minnesota: Shotgun-Only Hunting Zones Repealed

Friday, June 20, 2025

Minnesota: Shotgun-Only Hunting Zones Repealed

On Monday, June 9th, outside of regular session, the Senate passed the Environment Omnibus bill, removing shotgun-only hunting zones in the state. 

Switched Off: A Case Study on Minnesota’s Illegal Machine Gun Law

News  

Monday, June 23, 2025

Switched Off: A Case Study on Minnesota’s Illegal Machine Gun Law

There’s been a lot of noise of late about auto sears or so-called “Glock switches” – devices to convert a semiautomatic firearm into an automatic weapon. 

2A News Out of New Jersey You Won’t Believe: It’s Actually a Good Thing!

News  

Monday, June 23, 2025

2A News Out of New Jersey You Won’t Believe: It’s Actually a Good Thing!

The Garden State is not where most seek positive developments regarding our right to arms, so we were pleasantly surprised when Englishtown, N.J., recently made a move to support the Second Amendment.

North Carolina: Update on Gun Bills Moving through the General Assembly

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

North Carolina: Update on Gun Bills Moving through the General Assembly

Recently, House Bill 193 (H193) was reported favorably out of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Rules Committee, with amendments.

Update: Washington Post Fact Checks Misleading Ad Council “Children” and Firearms Talking Point

News  

Monday, June 23, 2025

Update: Washington Post Fact Checks Misleading Ad Council “Children” and Firearms Talking Point

Last week, NRA-ILA explained how a recent public service announcement campaign from the federally-funded Ad Council, and the gun control lobby more broadly, manipulates statistics to create misleading talking points about “children” and firearms.

DOJ Files Amicus Brief Supporting NRA-Backed Challenge to IL’s Ban on “Assault Weapons” and “Large-Capacity Magazines”

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

DOJ Files Amicus Brief Supporting NRA-Backed Challenge to IL’s Ban on “Assault Weapons” and “Large-Capacity Magazines”

Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an amicus brief in the Seventh Circuit supporting an NRA-backed challenge to Illinois’s prohibition on so-called “assault weapons” and “large-capacity magazines.”

Ninth Circuit Strikes Down CA’s One-Gun-A-Month Law

Friday, June 20, 2025

Ninth Circuit Strikes Down CA’s One-Gun-A-Month Law

Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that California’s law prohibiting people from buying more than one firearm in a 30-day period violates the Second Amendment.

Intrepid Journalist Tracks Down Truth About “Children” and Firearms, While Public Health Researchers Downplay Inconvenient Realities

News  

Monday, June 16, 2025

Intrepid Journalist Tracks Down Truth About “Children” and Firearms, While Public Health Researchers Downplay Inconvenient Realities

For decades, gun control advocates and their allies in “public health” have pushed a misleading factoid about children and firearms.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.