Remember when Repukes let this ban run-out?

[SHRED]

The high-capacity magazine of the semiautomatic pistol used in the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and more than a dozen other people on Saturday would have been illegal to manufacture and difficult to purchase under the Clinton-era assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004.

According to police and media reports, the alleged shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, legally purchased a semiautomatic Glock 19 with a high-capacity magazine in November at a gun store in Tucson. Under the assault weapons ban, it was illegal to manufacture or sell new high-capacity magazines, defined as those that hold more than 10 rounds. The magazines used by Loughner had 31 rounds each, according to police.

http://www.salon.com/news/gabrielle_giffords/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/01/09/giffords_shooting_assault_weapons_ban

[villager]

1. And many here applauded the Repukes for doing so

Sadly. And tragically.

[GSLevel9]

2. well actually...

high-cap magazines were NEVER outlawed to buy in Az. Any high-cap mag made before the "ban" was legal to sell thru the life of the "ban". So the MFG's made MILLIONS of them when they knew the ban was coming.

Classic "feel good" legislation

And mag capacity is overrated. Watch these guys change mags for a Glock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJXNPo5krvw

[spin]

5. Just about all the shooters I know bought hi-cap magazines ...

during the ban for an inflated price.

I never bothered because a ten round magazine is all I'll every need and I can swap out with another 10 round magazine in one second.

[GSLevel9]

7. yup

that's right. I remember Glock 17 magazines (17 rd) were going for $120 each. Ironically... the AWB was great for business for gun store owners. In fact... gun stores have seen brisk business the last couple years.

[spin]

8. By the end of this week, gun stores shelves will be bare...

the mere rumors of new gun laws will cause panic buying.

[GSLevel9]

9. again ;)

I think a lot of these gun shop owners make bank...

[OrangeGrapes]

11. Those seem like professionals, though...

And they likely train. The average nutbar that plans to go shooting at a convention probably cannot do that.

[Ruby the Liberal]

3. k&r

[Duer 157099]

4. And I think I recall reading about that judge (who died) having a position on this

and I think it was that he was in favor of it expiring. But don't quote me, I read so much stuff yesterday and I thought that was one piece.

[krispos42]

6. Old ones were still in circulation and were unaffected by the federal ban

It only applied to new-manufacture magazines.

:shrug:

If the ban was still in effect, it would have cost a few dollars more to purchase a designed-capacity magazine (15 rounds for his particular gun) or a larger-capacity one, due to market forces. The 31-round magazine he was using was actually designed for the rare, fully-automatic Glock Model 18 pistol. It protrudes significantly (and awkwardly) from the pistol grip, which is why they are not seen often.

Or maybe he just would have used a sawed-off shotgun loaded with buckshot, spraying a dozen 8mm pellets with every pull of the trigger. Your standard Remington 870 holds 5 shots and can be cut down pretty damn short with a hacksaw; that's 60 pellets total. If one is feeling really macho and chooses the 15-pellet high-brass loads, you can increase that to 75 pellets before reloading. The recoil is a bitch, though.


Keep in mind that the background check requirements passed by Congress at the same time as the AWB did NOT expire and are still in full effect.

[benEzra]

10. They were never difficult to purchase during the non-ban. Prices rose, but availability was fine.

They were just more profitable to sell 1994-2004.

Used ones were also perfectly legal to import, which is why availability and price of AR-15 and civilian AK magazines (and other designs using non-proprietary mags) were cheaper during the non-ban then they are now. (AK mags were $9.99/ea for 30-round and $5.99/ea for $20-round in 2002-2003, during the non-ban, when I purchased a few.) Nor were AR-15 type rifles and civilian AK's ever banned, contrary to MSM belief.

A more draconian ban would have never passed, even in 1994 (as it was, it passed the House by only a single vote, with several of the more gullible "Yea's" thinking they were actually voting to ban something else. Now, with one to two hundred million >10-round pistol and rifle magazines in private hands, forget it. You'd have an easier time bringing back alcohol prohibition, or outlawing hunting.

[Statistical]

12. There never was a ban. The bill outlawed manufacture of NEW mags >10 rnds.

Of course one would have to imagine the couple hundred million existing magazines disappeared. Also companies ran the pressed 24/7 prior to implementation to rack up a 5-10 year supply.

" Under the assault weapons ban, it was illegal to manufacture or sell new high-capacity magazines"
Completely false statement. I mean this isn't an opinion or slightly vague. It is an outright fabrication.