A group of 12 states and the District of Columbia signed on to support a California prohibition on magazines capable of holding 10 or more cartridges.
In response to a federal lawsuit by several California residents in conjunction with the state’s National Rifle Association affiliate who argue the state’s prohibition against “high-capacity magazines” violates their Second Amendment rights, Washington D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine and attorneys general from a dozen other states are siding with California.
“The Supreme Court has been clear that the Second Amendment is not a blank check allowing the use of any kind of gun at any time or in any fashion,” Racine said in a statement from his office. “States like California are within their rights to enact reasonable gun laws, and courts shouldn’t overrule sensible, evidence-based policy decisions that enhance public safety and can save lives.”
In 2000, California passed a ban on such magazines but still allowed those already in circulation to remain grandfathered. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a measure making possession of even legacy “pre-ban” magazines illegal, sparking the lawsuit filed in May. This led to an injunction against enforcement of the new law pending a decision in the court which was appealed to U.S. 9th Circuit, filed by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
by Chris Eger
