title: [Medical certificates and the new firearm regulation in France].
abstract: France has adopted a new firearms regulation. Firearms are now classified into four categories (A, B, C, and D). The administrative procedure for acquisition and possession of firearms of categories B and C requires medical advice. The medical certificate must be dated less than a month, and detail a state of health compatible with the acquisition and possession of a firearm. There are no guidelines mentioning the conditions that can lead to incompatibility. Compatibility does not apply to the handling and use of the firearm. If the applicant is undergoing or has undergone treatment in a psychiatric institution, he must also produce a medical certificate issued by a psychiatrist. The hunting license application requires a medical certificate mentioning a state of physical and mental health compatible with the possession of a firearm. Its validity is acquired for life. The practice of shooting sports or skeet requires an annual medical certificate of non-cons in reference to the rules of sports federations.
authors.affiliation: CHU de Rennes, service de médecine légale, 35033 Rennes cedex 9, France; Université de Rennes 1, faculté de médecine, 35043 Rennes cedex, France. Electronic address: renaud.bouvet@chu-rennes.fr.
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bouvet
authors.affiliation: CHU de Rennes, service de médecine légale, 35033 Rennes cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baert
authors.affiliation: CHU de Rennes, service de médecine légale, 35033 Rennes cedex 9, France; Université de Rennes 1, faculté de médecine, 35043 Rennes cedex, France.
authors.forename: Mariannick
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le Gueut
mesh_terms: D005389:Firearms / Q000145:classification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005602:France; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013177:Sports / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology