What is a large-capacity ammunition magazine?
Answer: A magazine is a device for feeding bullets into a handgun or rifle.
- Standard hunting rifles are usually equipped with no more than 5-shot magazines,
- Standard revolvers are 6-shot, and
- Standard pistol magazines hold 6-10 rounds.
- Large capacity ammunition magazines can hold 30, 50 or even 100 rounds, enabling shooters to injure or kill many people in seconds before needing to reload.
- Semi-automatic pistols with large capacity magazines can fire at a rate of more than 6 shots per second for well trained shooters, according to the FBI, or about 30 shots every 5 seconds.
Is there any legislation in Congress seeking to ban large-capacity ammunition magazines?
Answer: Yes. Representative Carolyn McCarthy introduced H.R. 308, the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act, in the 112th Congress on January 18, 2011, which would prohibit the transfer or possession of new large-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Standard-sized magazines for law-abiding firearms owners are unaffected. Senator Lautenberg introduced companion legislation in the Senate, S. 32, on January 25, 2011.
What states restrict powerful high-capacity magazines?
Answer: Now only 6 states and D.C. limit the capacity of magazines. State Regulations exist in California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.
Source: Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence