|
A non-partisan non-profit organization working to make criminal justice and public safety policies and practices more effective through innovation, research, and education. |
Illegal Gun Crime Overview | Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines | Interstate Strike Force on Illegal Weapons Microstamping | Guns=Prison Campaign Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines 
From New York to Arizona, criminals armed with weapons equipped with large capacity ammunition magazines, have gone on numerous shooting sprees causing mass fatalities across the United States. When ammunition magazines are available in large sizes-capable of holding as many as 100 rounds of ammunition-the lethality of these attacks is significantly increased.
In the January 2011 Tucson, AZ shooting the perpetrator was equipped with a large capacity ammunition magazine, allowing the gunman to fire off more than 30 bullets in 15 seconds-killing six and wounding 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
The recent attack in Tucson, AZ was eerily similar to the December 1993 Long Island Railroad shooting spree. In both incidents, individuals acquired a semiautomatic weapon along with large capacity ammunition magazines. In the aftermath of the LIRR shooting, President Clinton called for tighter gun controls, and in nine months, Congress imposed the ban on large capacity magazines and assault weapons. The federal law banning the sale of large capacity magazines and semiautomatic assault weapons, commonly known as the federal assault weapons ban, was passed as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. President Clinton signed it into law on September 13, 1994. Under this law, ammunition magazines were limited to 10 rounds for civilian ownership. This ban had a 10-year sunset provision. In September 2004, Congress and President George W. Bush took no action to renew the ban-allowing civilians once again to lawfully purchase these dangerous weapons. Large capacity magazines carry far more bullets than any civilian could possibly ever use. Restricting an average citizen's ability to load more than 10 bullets is common sense. A ban on large capacity magazines would not only reduce the capacity, but more importantly reduce the lethality of firearms. Congress needs to learn the obvious lesson from this horrible tragedy and renew the ban on large capacity magazines now. » read the fact sheet » watch the advertisement featuring Vincent D'Onofrio » read Richard Aborn's Op-Ed » read Richard Aborn's call to action letter » read the press release » watch interviews with Richard Aborn » mass shooting incidents in America |
|
