The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to ban the possession of high-capacity gun magazines. The new law would prohibit possession of magazines with the capacity to hold more than ten rounds.
If signed by the mayor, the new ordinance would require those who own such magazines to surrender them to Los Angeles County police. (Which, obviously, those who use such weapons for criminal behavior are likely to comply with.)
Following the vote, the bill's chief proponent, Councilman Paul Krekorian, argued that there was no reason for law-abiding citizens to own high capacity magazines, regardless of their intentions.
"People who are civilians, people who want to defend their homes, people who want to defend their families don't need a hundred-round drum magazine and an automatic weapon to do it."
Krekorian also attempted to push another "gun safety" rule — requiring guns kept at home to be stored away in a locked container. However, the vote on this measure was delayed after some opposition from other council members.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) immediately vowed to fight the law in court.
Anna Barvir, a lawyer who represents the NRA. shot back at the council, saying that 10 rounds “are in common use for self-defense and are overwhelmingly chosen for that reason. Millions are in the hands of good American citizens.”