Should very large handgun magazines be heavily regulated

[bushmaster1313]

The tragic murder of two NYC Officers who responded to a domestic disturbance call over the weekend brought very large handgun magazines into the public eye. In this case, it was a 50 round magazine for a Glock pistol.

Personally, I never gave bump stocks too much thought, either before or after they were used in the Las Vegas mass murder a few years back.

On the other hand, to me, a 50 round magazine for a handgun seems wrong.

Assuming for the sake of argument that regulation of very large capacity handgun magazines would pass muster under the Second Amendment, and ignoring the difficulty in defining a very large magazine, I would be in favor of strict regulation of these devices. Perhaps extending felon-in-possession to include very large capacity handgun magazines.

What say the forum?

[P.S., since a 50 round magazine for a handgun is at least somewhat unusual, my guess is that the Supreme Court and the vast majority of lower courts would not overturn a law banning or restricting such devices, but let's please not debate that issue here.]

 

[SMSgt]

Really? So my ability to own one of these would be restricted but not for criminals...

 

[LVSteve]

A word from the English born guy: don't let government get any kind of foot in the door regarding anything to do with firearms.

 

[lihpster]

Given the number of deaths caused by drivers moving at a high rate of speed, perhaps we should govern all vehicles at 65 MPH?

 

[bushmaster1313]

Really? So my ability to own one of these would be restricted but not for criminals...

Extending felon-in-possession to these devices (my proposal above) would not restrict persons otherwise able to have guns and ammunition.

Another possibility would be to make getting caught carrying a loaded 50 round handgun magazine outside the home a very serious felony with mandatory sentencing.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I can’t believe many here would be in favor of such a thing.

 

[ACORN]

Extending felon-in-possession to these devices would not restrict persons otherwise able to have guns and ammunition.

Felons are already barred from owning firearms. Ya think if they have a firearm a law banning a big cap mag would stop them?

 

[LVSteve]

Extending felon-in-possession to these devices (my proposal above) would not restrict persons otherwise able to have guns and ammunition.

Another possibility would be to make getting caught carrying a loaded 50 round handgun magazine outside the home a very serious felony with mandatory sentencing.

...and you seriously believe that any legislation would limit it to felons?? Really?

BTW, the largest drum mag for a Glock in 45 ACP I can find online is 40 rounds. 50 rounds seems to be 9mm only. So I guess there is still confusion as to whether the perp had a Glock 45, a 9mm gun, or a Glock in 45ACP.

 

[ladder13]

I can’t believe many here would be in favor of such a thing.

You’d be surprised. Oh, IBTL.

 

[shamuscull]

No. That animal in NYC broke the law and would have broken any law put in place.

 

[hittman77]

One could argue that magazines of any size are already regulated by the 2nd amendment.

Without the gun, the magazine is useless as a “weapon”.

Regulation, not needed.
Enforcing current laws, yes.

And maybe apply actual punishment to crimes, like lengthy incarceration.

 

[Rustyt1953]

What's the magic number? What makes an 11 round mag more nefarious than a 10 rounder? There are already enough cracks forming in the 2A dam. We don't need to make more.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Felons are already barred from owning firearms. Ya think if they have a firearm a law banning a big cap mag would stop them?

Guideline sentencing range for simple felon-in-possession is 10 to 78 months in prison. If possessing a loaded very large capacity handgun magazine on the street or in the passenger compartment of a car was a mandatory 10 year sentence, my guess is that the criminal element would take notice.

The real point of my post is that although I believe the Second Amendment protects the right of ordinary people to carry firearms outside the home for self defense, I feel there is something about a 50 (or even a 40) round handgun magazine that makes it different.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Do not know the specifics. A few questions. How many cartridges were left on the 50 round magazine at the conclusion of this tradgedy. Did the 50 round magazine itself contribute ot this??? In other words was the ploiceman killed with round 50??? QUite frankly, absent anything to the contrary, I think the 50 round magazine issue is just something for the anti gunners to jump on.

 

[Cinnabar Mtn.]

What does the NRA say about local, state and federal gun laws in our country? Around 25,000 nationwide l think. And yet gun crime continues....... But if we ban a few more guns, magazines, etc. things will get much, MUCH better!!!!

 

[shamuscull]

It already is the law in NY I guess that shows how well that works.

 

[Spurdann]

It baffles me that people suggest that new laws will prevent lawbreakers from breaking the law. Laws protect the lawbreaker, not the citizen. Without laws we would be able to address lawbreakers at our discretion rather than the punishment being limited by prosecutor and statute.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

Not just no but hell no!

That is the definition of Fudd thinking.

 

[biku324]

Gangbangers love high capacity handgun mags (20 rounds plus).

 

[biku324]

Do not know the specifics. A few questions. How many cartridges were left on the 50 round magazine at the conclusion of this tradgedy. Did the 50 round magazine itself contribute ot this??? In other words was the ploiceman killed with round 50??? QUite frankly, absent anything to the contrary, I think the 50 round magazine issue is just something for the anti gunners to jump on.

And something extreme for us to dig our heels in behind. Like bump stocks.