High-Capacity Magazine Ban Proposal Stiffer Than Clinton-Era Law

Under the 1994-2004 Assault Weapons Ban, high-capacity magazines like the one used by Tucson massacre shooter Jared Loughner could still be found in Valley gun stores. That's because the ban allowed the sale of magazines that had been manufactured before the ban took effect. A law proposed by New York...

By Ray Stern

January 13, 2011

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Under the 1994-2004 Assault Weapons Ban, high-capacity magazines like the one used by Tucson massacre shooter Jared Loughner could still be found in Valley gun stores. That's because the ban allowed the sale of magazines that had been manufactured before the ban took effect.

A law proposed by New York congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy aims to prohibit the magazines again -- but this time, include the old ones, too.

According to the text of the gun control bill released by McCarthy's office today, her proposal would make it illegal to sell, buy or otherwise transfer any firearm magazine that holds more than 10 rounds.

Gun owners could legally possess the devices they already own, but they couldn't sell them. If McCarthy's bill passes, that would put a damper on the plans of some folks to make a boodle by stockpiling the magazines now.

Ray Stern is the former news editor of Phoenix New Times. He worked as a newspaper reporter in Arizona for more than two decades. He's won numerous awards for his reporting, including the Arizona Press Club's Don Bolles Award for Investigative Journalism.

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