Oppose a Ban on Standard Capacity Magazines Used for Self-Defense
Virginia: Oppose a Ban on Standard Capacity Magazines Used for Self-Defense
Banning standard capacity magazines does not reduce violent crime
A 1997 Department of Justice-funded study of the 10-year federal “assault weapons”ban (which included a ban on magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition) determined that “At best, the assault weapons ban can have only a limited effect on total gun murders, because the banned weapons and magazines were never involved in more than a modest fraction of all gun murders.”A 2004 U.S. DOJ-funded study of the federal “assault weapons” ban, determined, “Should it be renewed, the ban’s effects on gun violence are likely to be small at best and perhaps too small for reliable measurement.”
A 2018 Rand Corporation study that surveyed the available research on several gun control policies found “no qualifying studies showing that bans on the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines” decreased violent crime.
There is no reliable evidence that banning standard capacity magazines reduces mass shootings or mass shooting casualties
The 1997 DOJ-funded study of the federal magazine ban noted that researchers "were unable to detect any reduction" in shootings "with multiple victims in a single incident and those producing multiple bullet wounds per victim." The 2004 DOJ-funded study of the "assault weapons" ban found that "it is not clear how often the outcomes of gun attacks depend on the ability to fire more than 10 shots (the current limit on magazine capacity) without reloading."
A 2016 study of mass shooting incidents published in Justice Research and Policy found,
in nearly all [large capacity magazine]-involved mass shootings, the time it takes to reload a detachable magazine is no greater than the average time between shots that the shooter takes anyway when not reloading. Consequently, there is no affirmative evidence that reloading detachable magazines slows mass shooters’ rates of fire, and thus no affirmative evidence that the number of victims who could escape the killers due to additional pauses in the shooting is increased by the shooter’s need to change magazines.
The report of the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting Review Panel determined that a ban on standard capacity magazines "would have not made much difference in the incident."
Standard capacity magazines are effective and preferred for self-defense
Many of the most popular firearms in America are designed to use magazines with a capacity greater than 10 rounds. Law enforcement officers routinely carry 15 or 17-round magazines in their duty sidearms. Law enforcement and law-abiding civilians choose these magazines for the same reasons; to best protect themselves and others from criminal violence.
A ban on standard capacity magazines would not have prevented the Virginia Beach shooting
Following the shooting, Virginia Beach Police Chief James Cervera stated,
As far as more legislation on gun issues. I’m a member of Major City Chiefs, we did publish something about a year and a half ago. I don’t think most of that would have mattered in this particular case. We do have the Second Amendment it is very stringent for our country. In this particular case, the weapons were obtained legally. Everything was done in a legal manner by this individual.
Gov. Northam recently suggested that this is not a complete list of the gun control measures he wants the General Assembly to consider. Read the latest articles.
It's critical that every gun owner in the Commonwealth contact their legislators and urge them to OPPOSE Gov. Northam’s and his media allies' gun control agenda.
NRA-ILA is hosting town hall meetings throughout Virginia— including in Fredericksburg, Ashland, and Belle Haven.
Friday, December 10, 2021
Today, lame duck Governor Ralph Northam announced that his proposed two-year state budget will include allocating $27.4 million of your ...
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
On January 1st, 2021, Senate Bill 263 and the identical House Bill 264 go into effect. As a result, electronic or online ...
Monday, August 31, 2020
During the Business Meeting tomorrow, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will consider whether to begin drafting a ...
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Today, the Norfolk City Council will consider banning firearms in certain public locations. Second Amendment supporters are encouraged to ...
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
On Thursday, August 20th, the Richmond City Council will consider banning firearms in certain public locations.
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Despite the anti-gun laws passed by the General Assembly during the 2020 session having already taken effect on ...
Friday, June 19, 2020
With Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s raft of new gun controls set to take effect on July 1st, Alexandria ...
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Yesterday, Governor Ralph Northam announced a trio of appointments to the Virginia State Crime Commission, including Norfolk Police ...
Monday, June 8, 2020
Tomorrow, the Alexandria City Council will consider banning firearms in certain public locations.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Virginia governor Ralph Northam (D.) reversed his decision to reopen indoor gun ranges and other businesses throughout the ...