Are High-Capacity Mags Really Necessary?

Hi Everyone:

I blogged last month about the incident in Tuscon, where a deranged man legally bought a gun and a high-capacity magazine to make his carnage as deadly as possible. Did you know that sale of those high-capacity magazines were unlawful until 2004?

FYI, the sale and manufacture of high-capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds has been outlawed in New York since 1994. They were also unlawful under federal law from 1994 until 2004. In 2004, Congress and President George W. Bush failed to renew the assault weapons ban and the sale and manufacture of high-capacity magazines became lawful once again.

Since 2004, high-capacity magazines have been used in every mass shooting. According to Gannett, the following mass killings happened:

2007, the Virginia Tech shootings: 33 dead, 15 round magazines used, hundreds of shots fired.

2008, the Binghamton shootings: 13 dead, 30 round magazines used, 99 shots fired.

2008, the Northern Illinois University shootings: 6 dead, 21 wounded, 30 & 15 round magazines used.

2009, the Fort Hood shootings: 13 dead, 30 and 20 round magazines used.

2010, the Connecticut Beer Distributor shootings: 8 dead, 2 wounded, high-capacity magazines used.

The unfortunate statistics speak for themselves and they speak volumes. Failing to renew the assault ban weapon in 2004 was a grievous and fatal mistake that to date has cost at least 73 people their lives. High-capacity magazines were designed as a weapon of war to kill as many people as possible. The blaring common sense approach would have been to renew the ban. But since it wasn't, HR 308/S32 legislation sponsored by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-NY and Sen. Frank Lautenburg, D-NJ needs to pass. It will again ban the sale and manufacture of high-capacity magazines with more than 10 bullets. Again that is a common sense approach that needs to be implemented asap.

The NRA shouldn't have a problem with it since it doesn't take guns away from people, just high-capacity magazines. But you know what? The NRA will have a problem with it and will again try to use their clout to kill the bill. The hell with the NRA, pass the bill! There shouldn't be any debate about the right to bear arms or turn it into a Republican or Democrat stand. This should be a peoples stand to try to save peoples lives.

Enough said.

Til next week.

Peter