One year after the Los Angeles City Council approved a measure banning the possession of high-capacity gun magazines, a statewide law that mirrors the city’s ban has been signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Proponents of gun control measures rallied at Los Angeles City Hall last July prior to the city council approving a ban on high-capacity gun magazines. A year later, a ban on the magazines has been extended statewide. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The city’s measure outlawed the possession of high-capacity gun magazines that hold more than 10 bullets for everyone except police officers, members of the military and people who purchased the magazines before 2000. State and city law had already banned the sale and manufacture of high-capacity gun magazines, but city officials wanted to extend regulations to include possessing the magazines.

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer authored a measure that led to the city’s ban on the sale and manufacture of high-capacity gun magazines two decades ago when he represented the Fifth Council District. He said a law on possessing such magazines was necessary to keep potentially dangerous weapons out of the hands of criminals. He cited the 2011 shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and others in Tucson, Arizona as an illustration of why the magazines should be banned. Bystanders overpowered the gunman when he attempted to reload his gun. Had the gunman been using a high-capacity magazine, the opportunity to disarm the suspect quickly would not have existed, Feuer said.

“The shooter paused for a moment after the magazine was exhausted. They prevented even more people from dying.” he added. “When you have a high-capacity gun magazine, it’s very difficult to intervene immediately.”

After the city council approved the ordinance last year, gun rights proponents including the California Rifle and Pistol Association sued to block the law on the grounds that a city ordinance cannot supersede state law. After Brown signed a statewide version of the law on July 1, it made the lawsuit moot, Feuer said. The state law was authored by Sen. Loni Hancock (D-Oakland) and goes into effect on Jan. 1.

“The bottom line is, the possession of high-capacity magazines has been banned throughout the state,” Feuer said. “[The city’s law] has withstood the challenges so far.”

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office has filed one case against a defendant accused of possessing high-capacity magazines in violation of the city’s ban. The unidentified defendant is charged with multiple gun possession and ammunition charges and possession of narcotics, and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow. The City Attorney’s Office has also filed nine cases alleging violations of the state law banning the manufacture and sale of high-capacity magazines since the beginning of 2015.

Federal officials are also seeking to ban the ammunition clips. Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Los Angeles) has co-authored legislation that is currently under consideration.

“I strongly believe a ban of large capacity ammunition magazines will be helpful in curbing the scourge of gun violence that is devastating our country, which is why I have co-sponsored the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act – a bill that would ban magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition,” Schiff said. “A common thread in many mass shootings is increased lethality of an assault weapon which can fire 30 or more times without the need to reload, and I believe Congress should follow the lead of California in banning them. As has been the case for many gun violence prevention measures, including banning military style assault weapons and requiring universal background checks on each gun sale, California is leading the nation in passing sensible reforms, and I will continue to push in Congress to see that we follow suit on a national level.”

Schiff also recently introduced legislation to hold gun manufacturers accountable for deaths caused by their products.

“The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act would ensure that the victims of gun violence are allowed to have their day in court and that the gun industry is not shielded from liability when it acts with negligence and disregard for public safety,” Schiff added. “No single piece of legislation will prevent all gun violence, but I believe it is our responsibility to the American people to do all we can to end this epidemic of gun violence while protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.”

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian, 2nd District, who authored the measure, intended for the city’s law on possession of high-capacity gun magazines to be a model, said Ian Thompson, his communications director.

In June, the council approved a Krekorian measure calling for a study to determine where guns used in crimes are sold to the public. The study will be launched later this year to identify what the city has termed “bad apple” gun dealers. The hope is that addressing the sale of such guns will reduce crime.

“Lives are cut short or changed forever by gun violence every day in America,” Krekorian said. “I want to determine the source of the guns that make it onto our streets so that we can then take appropriate steps to protect the public. Our city has led the way on gun violence prevention issues and I see this as another opportunity to reduce the number of families ripped apart by gun violence.”

Feuer will continue to advocate for stronger gun regulation through Prosecutors Against Gun Violence, an organization he co-founded with Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. Feuer was invited to the White House in May to discuss how local policies can prevent gun violence. He also helped organize a summit in Los Angeles in May on gun violence.

“In my office we continue to be very aggressive in prosecuting gun owners in the city who violate the law,” Feuer said. “I plan to continue my work at the national level … and call for changes in law and improvements to public policy to reduce gun violence.”