CHANGES IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF GUNS INCLUDE REVERSAL OF 1976 PROVISIONS TRANSFERRING CERTAIN HUNTING WEAPONS (RIFLES AND CARBINES WITH GROOVED BARRELS AND CENTRAL PERCUSSION) TO A CLASS REQUIRING PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FOR PURCHASE OR POSSESSION, ELIMINATION OF PROVISIONS CLASSIFYING GUNS ACCORDING TO TELESCOPIC SIGHTS, AND EXCLUSION OF THE COMPONENT PARTS OF CERTAIN GUNS FROM THE ENUMERATION OF MATERIALS NOT CONSIDERED 'MATERIALS OF WAR.' MODIFICATIONS RELATING TO ARMS TRADE CONSIDERABLY LIMIT 1976 CONTROL MEASURES ON HUNTING GUNS BY EXCEPTING FROM REGISTRATION RIFLES, CARBINES, OR DUCK GUNS OF A CERTAIN CLASS WITH ONE OR SEVERAL SMOOTH BARRELS WHETHER AUTOMATIC OR NOT (INSTEAD OF ONLY SMOOTH-BARRELED 9, 12, OR 14 MM CARBINES) AND BY EXCEPTING THE SAME GUNS FROM THE 1975 REQUIREMENT THAT THE BUYER OR SELLER OF GUNS PURCHASED BY MAIL IDENTIFY HIMSELF BY SENDING AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT BEARING A PHOTOGRAPH AND SIGNATURE. FINALLY, THE PERMISSIBLE DELAY FOR RENEWAL OF UNLIMITED AUTHORIZATIONS TO KEEP GUNS ISSUED BEFORE JUNE 17, 1971, IS EXTENDED FOR 1 YEAR BEYOND THE LIMIT SET IN THE 1976 REGULATIONS (JUNE 17, 1977,) TO JUNE 17, 1978. IT IS NOTED THAT THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE BY GUN PRODUCERS ON THE GOVERNMENT AND THAT LEGISLATORS AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES ARE TORN BETWEEN CONCERN FOR MAINTAINING A LIBERAL STANCE IN ARMS MATTERS AND THE NEED FOR ORDER. SEVEN REFERENCES AND THREE ILLUSTRATIONS OF GUN TYPES ARE SUPPLIED. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)