Bill Banning High-Capacity Ammunition Magazines in NJ Gets Senate Approval; Sen. Singer Says It Won’t Stop Criminals

bullets range tlsLegislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Lou Greenwald, Annette Quijano, Tim Eustace, Gordon Johnson and Mila Jasey to ban the sale of high-capacity magazines capable of carrying more than 10 rounds in New Jersey was approved 22-17 Monday by the Senate.

Today’s action is a long overdue but welcome step toward the goal of preventing gun violence in New Jersey.  I look forward to seeing the full Senate approve this legislation,” said Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington).  “The data show that a 10-round limit will reduce high-capacity magazines in the hands of criminals.  Moreover, these limits will save the lives of innocent victims and law enforcement officers who are confronted by criminals or unstable individuals.  That’s why law enforcement leaders from around the country have supported 10-round limits on magazine capacity.  I urge the Governor to put New Jersey’s communities before presidential politics and sign this bill into law as soon as it hits his desk.”

Under current law, magazines capable of holding a maximum of 15 rounds of ammunition are legal in New Jersey. The bill (A-2006) would reduce the lawful maximum capacity of ammunition magazines to 10 rounds. The limit proposed by the bill would bring New Jersey’s laws in line with the magazine limits contained in the original 1994 assault weapons ban.

The bill has been part of the Assembly Democratic gun violence prevention effort.  A video of Majority Leader Greenwald discussing the magazine capacity legislation can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/89617673

“Large capacity magazines were used in the mass shootings in Arizona, Columbine and Virginia Tech. They serve no other purpose but to allow a shooter to shoot longer without having to reload. In the debate over gun safety, saving lives should always come first,” said Quijano (D-Union).

“This bill is not meant to restrict law-abiding gun owners, but rather make it more difficult for individuals intent on hurting others to unleash the type of carnage we saw in Newtown,” said Eustace (D-Bergen/Passaic). “When defenseless children are slaughtered, I think it is time to reevaluate our priorities.”

“We have seen the level of damage that these high-capacity magazines can cause too many times. We may not be able to stop an individual who is intent on gunning down innocent people, but we can at least try to limit the extent of the damage that they can inflict,” said Johnson (D-Bergen).

“High-capacity magazines allow weapons to fire longer without being reloaded. They are used in mass shootings for this very reason,” said Jasey (D-Essex/Morris). “This ban alone will not end gun crime, but it can help save lives. I think we can all agree that is worth pursuing.”

However, Senator Bob Singer says this bill won’t stop criminals.

“Limiting legal gun owners to ten round magazines will not prevent criminals from committing crimes with firearms,” Senator Singer said today in response to the approval.

The bill is in response to the 2011 mass shooting in Arizona which left six people dead and 13 others injured, including Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. The shooter used a large capacity ammunition magazine. High-capacity magazines were also used in Columbine High School, Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, Texas and the Pettit & Martin Law Offices in San Francisco.

The bill was approved by the full Assembly in February 2012 and again in March of this year, but it must reconsider it for final legislative approval because of Senate amendments. [TLS]

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8 COMMENTS

  1. total waste of time… stricter penalty’s for people that break gun laws !!!! that is what we need you carry a gun without a permit bang 10 years no reduction.. you commit a crime with a guy bang 15 years you want to stop gun violence stiffen the penalty’s that easy !!!

  2. Believe it or not this measure makes a lot of sense. Smaller capacity magazines=fewer shots before reloading=earlier chance of intervening should an active shooter situation arise- chas vesholom. The extra moments can make a tremendous difference in such dire situations. Another benefit is the added possibility of the shooter making a mistake while re-loading, especially when they are under pressure do so as quickly as possible.

  3. This is a typical “feel good” bill that our bureaucrats in Trenton spend time on for public points. Total waste of time. If someone really wants to get an assault rifle they can buy one from any nearby state that has lax gun laws. This law will not do anything in restricting gun crimes. They should rather invest more money into treatment for the mentally ill. They won’t because if isn’t headline making. Singer is right in the money.

  4. So funny. What makes you think a criminal is going to the local gun shop to purchase magazines legally. They buy them in other states and bring them back here. It’s not hard to pick them up just across the border in Pa. Come in the only people suffering here are the law abiding gun owners not the criminals.

  5. tackle during reload is one of the biggest myths out there.
    there was a study done regarding that with inexperienced shooters.

  6. Rhino:
    the youtube video hardly constitutes a study…..

    that aside, the test demonstrated disregard for the emotional state and likely nervousness of shooters. Stupidly, it also assumes all shooters have more ammo placed neatly in front of them on a stand, ready to go. It assumes all targets are directly in front of them and stationary.

    But above all, it shows that even while disregarding these very important factors that differentiate the little practice run from an actual even, that there certainly is an increased amount of time and opportunity to disrupt an active shooting scenario. The sheriff has offered evidence which is not in concert with his conclusion, despite its far from scientific analysis.

  7. What’s the difference between three 10 round magazines or 1 30 rounder dumb Politicians stop wasting our tax dollars on stupidity get to work or retire.

Comments are closed.