High Capacity

The ability to kill, or the ability to save?

By: Cledo Davis II

The Controversy

• There has been a heated debate lately over whether or not high capacity magazines should be legal for U.S. citizens to own.

• The topics of safety, necessity, power, and Constitutional Rights are at the epicenter of the discussion.

The Concern

• The shootings in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, and the Washington D.C. Navy Yard have sparked concern and paranoia across the nation.

• Many wonder if the killers could have been stopped earlier if they had lower capacity magazines.

The Viewpoints

• Within the gun control debate, there are typically two schools of thought in the area of high capacity magazines.

• These arguments represent the majority of the dispute among both private citizens, as well as politicians.

Argument 1

• Pro-gun individuals believe that higher magazine capacity is a deterrent to foreign invasion, and that it helps level the playing field between “We The People” and the Federal Government to guard against tyranny.

• A higher number of rounds per magazine gives lone concealed carry operators and home defenders a vital advantage when confronting multiple attackers.

• Criminals will always have access to black market firearms and magazines, and that the law-abiding American’s best defense against them is to legally own weapons of comparable firepower and ammo capacity.

• The Right to Keep And Bear Arms was specifically intended for the purpose of resisting tyranny, and as such implies that Americans should have a weapons capability equal to or greater than that of the Federal Government.

• High capacity magazines are a powerful tool for good in the hands of a law-abiding citizen.

Argument 2

• Pro gun-control individuals believe that governmental tyranny and threat of foreign invasion are not, nor ever will be, an issue; and that high capacity magazines are unnecessary to own and merely tools for killing.

• A concealed carry operator or home defender would never need more than 7-10 rounds to stop an attacker.

• Criminals will take advantage of being able to legally buy magazines, and will no longer have access to high capacity magazines if banned.

• The Second Amendment was written primarily for the purpose of hunting with muskets, and The Founding Fathers could not have imagined that we would have such powerful firearms today.

• High capacity magazines are dangerous, unfit for civilian use and should be banned.

The Facts

• “High capacity” is a completely subjective term, steeped in opinion and bias.

• Limiting the number of rounds in a firearm’s magazine does little to slow down an active shooter firing on unarmed individuals.

• Criminals are classified as such because they have no regard for the law, and making it against the law to purchase and own high capacity magazines will not deter them.

• Law enforcement agencies have been trying for decades to take control of the black market, but despite their best efforts, the sale and purchase of illegal firearms is alive and well in today’s society (Tuccille).

The Evidence

• Most anti-gun politicians tend to agree that a high capacity magazine is one that contains more than 10 rounds, despite the fact that “10” is an arbitrary number chosen “out of the blue” for no other reason than personal preference and assumption (NSSF).

• In a live fire test conducted by Sheriff Ken Campbell of Boone County, Indiana, it was shown that limiting magazine capacity has minimal effect in slowing down a proficient shooter (Sheriff).

• While more than a few people have been killed by a single well-placed bullet, there are plenty of instances where attackers sustained an absurd number of bullet wounds without seriously affecting their ability to continue their assault (Farago).

Conclusion

• A ban on so-called “high capacity” magazines would not affect the number and extent of gun crimes, but would rather leave the “good guy” outgunned and at the mercy of his attacker.

• Regardless of ammo capacity, guns are tools, and as with any tool, they must be respected and used properly.

• The benefits of of larger capacity magazines far outweigh the dangers, and in the hands of a skilled operator, they can even be used to save lives.

• And now…

Works Cited

"Another ‘High-Capacity’ Magazine Ban Would Not Reduce Crime Rates – Get TheFacts." AmmoLand.com Shooting Sports News. The National

Shooting Sports Foundation, 24 Jan. 2013. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. Back

Farago, Robert. "Why You Need Two Spare Magazines for Your Carry Gun." The Truth About Guns. N.p., 12 Sept. 2010. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. Back

"NRA News | Sheriff Debunks "High-Capacity" Magazine Theory." NRA News | SheriffDebunks "High-Capacity" Magazine Theory. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar.

2014. Back

Tuccille, J. D. "Gun Restrictions Have Always Bred Defiance, Black Markets." Reason.com. N.p., 22 Dec. 2012. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. Back