High capacity magazine in rampage was banned under Clinton-era law

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The high-capacity magazine of the semiautomatic pistol used in the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and more than a dozen other people on Saturday would have been illegal to manufacture and difficult to purchase under the Clinton-era assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004.

According to police and media reports, the alleged shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, legally purchased a semiautomatic Glock 19 with a high-capacity magazine in November at a gun store in Tucson. Under the assault weapons ban, it was illegal to manufacture or sell new high-capacity magazines, defined as those that hold more than 10 rounds. The magazines used by Loughner had 31 rounds each, according to police.

If Loughner had been using a traditional magazine, "it would have drastically reduced the number of shots he got off before he had to pause, unload and reload -- and he could have been stopped," Daniel Vice, senior attorney at the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, tells Salon.

Between 1994 and 2004 when the assault weapons ban was in effect, gun manufacturers such as Glock could not market handguns with high-capacity magazines. If the ban were still in effect, it's less likely that Loughner could have obtained a gun with a high-capacity magazine. Stores could legally only sell used high-capacity magazines at that time, and new magazines could not be manufactured.

President Bush backed the ban, and an amendment to extend it passed in the Senate in 2004 but was never voted on by the House.

President Obama also supports renewal of the ban -- at least nominally. While he referenced the ban even in his Democratic nomination acceptance speech -- "don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals" -- he has not pushed Congress to act on the measure.

http://www.salon.com...ult_weapons_ban

[Danno 1,228]

Steve, should we look at his heavy pot Smoking and see what laws need to be adjusted there?

[Danno 1,228]

I thought California already has a ban on those mags and a whole lot more.......it is safer in California than the states who don't have these restrictions?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Not true. The "ban" was passed on July 14, 1994 and went into effect on September 14, 1994. The "ban" did not "ban" anything. It imposed a 10 year moratorium on the manufacture of new magazines. During that two month period billions of magazine bodies were produced (they are simple stamoed metal devices or molded plastic) During the 10 year "ban" there was never a shortage of high capacity magazines and the prices barely moved up. He could have easily obtained these at any time during the "ban" by mail order/internet order

[JohnSmith2007 353]

This is to be expected. Already we are seeing this used as a rallying cry for all the lefts current gripes from gun control to Sara Palin. Don't forget that they will always "never let a good crisis go to waste".

[Ban Hammer 12,842]

If Loughner had been using a traditional magazine, "it would have drastically reduced the number of shots he got off before he had to pause, unload and reload -- and he could have been stopped," Daniel Vice, senior attorney at the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, tells Salon.

why would anyone need to unload and reload? the gun is already empty if you are reloading.

[HeatDeath 430]

why would anyone need to unload and reload? the gun is already empty if you are reloading.

Probably meant "drop the mag, and reload." They don't eject themselves on most handgun models.

But give him a break. I mean, he's only a senior attorney. It's not we should expect him to speak precisely or have any detailed knowledge of what he's talking about?

Edited January 10, 2011 by HeatDeath

[lostinblue 1,989]

Wiens also told the Associated Press that Loughner used to speak critically about religion, and liked to smoke pot.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-jared-lee-loughner-profile,0,3468158.story

Looks like we have a winner folks.

One former high school friend Tweeted about knowing the accused gunman:

"He was a pot head and into rock, like Hendrix, The Doors, Anti-Flag," she wrote. "I haven't seen him in person since 2007 in a sign language class. As I knew him he was left wing, quite liberal and oddly obsessed with the 2012 prophecy. He had a lot of friends until he got alcohol poisoning in 2006 and dropped out of school. Mainly a loner, very philosophical."

Investigators are exploring a link to an anti-government group.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

the anti-gun crowd is going to come out of the woodwork now.

Of course the pro-gun lobby will as well, saying that is someone else were armed, he could have been stopped...

Government issue Bazookas for everyone!

[Danno 1,228]

the anti-gun crowd is going to come out of the woodwork now.

Of course the pro-gun lobby will as well, saying that is someone else were armed, he could have been stopped...

Government issue Bazookas for everyone!

HAd this been a rationally motivated person, the gun banners would have more traction.... but I doubt this will lead to any new laws, I think the American people are past the fantasy that these laws do one thing to stop these people.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

This is to be expected. Already we are seeing this used as a rallying cry for all the lefts current gripes from gun control to Sara Palin. Don't forget that they will always "never let a good crisis go to waste".

Four brave people stopped Loughner from reloading another 31 round magazine into his Glock. They were able to stop him because he finally ran out of bullets. High capacity magazines make it easy for mass killings like this to happen. Certainly we can find a reasonable compromise where someone can carry an adequate amount of rounds in order protect themselves while also thinking about the safety of the general public.

[Danno 1,228]

Four brave people stopped Loughner from reloading another 31 round magazine into his Glock. They were able to stop him because he finally ran out of bullets. High capacity magazines make it easy for mass killings like this to happen. Certainly we can find a reasonable compromise where someone can carry an adequate amount of rounds in order protect themselves while also thinking about the safety of the general public.

Be it healthcare or "bullets".... anytime the LEFT gets there way it ends in limiting the supply.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Four brave people stopped Loughner from reloading another 31 round magazine into his Glock. They were able to stop him because he finally ran out of bullets. High capacity magazines make it easy for mass killings like this to happen. Certainly we can find a reasonable compromise where someone can carry an adequate amount of rounds in order protect themselves while also thinking about the safety of the general public.

I know what your getting at, but I don't think the 30 round clip was as important as people think. He did have two other pistols, he very easily could have dropped the glock and gone to another in less than a second.

I think its more likely he wasn't a regular gun user. (His friends say he wasn't in to guns). I'm not sure if you have seen shooting competitions with glocks, but they reload so fast I'd have to be an arm's length away to jump them.

I also think the pot issue is foolish too. I've seen the studies, and yes it can amplify schizophrenia but at the end of day the responsibility lies in diagnosing and treating the illness.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Four brave people stopped Loughner from reloading another 31 round magazine into his Glock. They were able to stop him because he finally ran out of bullets. High capacity magazines make it easy for mass killings like this to happen. Certainly we can find a reasonable compromise where someone can carry an adequate amount of rounds in order protect themselves while also thinking about the safety of the general public.

The 'safety' of the 'general public' is rarely in danger like this.

You'd be surprised by how many people around you each and every day are carrying guns on their person... Some with magazines larger than you are 'comfortable' with.

Changing the rules/law just because of a few jerk offs is reactionary BS.

[Danno 1,228]

IF you think about it:

We have hundreds of millions of guns in this country and these National politician present themselves to the public (with no security) thousands of times a year..... and these incidents so rarely happen.

To me, thats proof of a pretty healthy society.