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L.A. lawmakers vote to ban high-capacity gun magazines

By Amy R. Connolly
A high-capacity magazine for Sig MPX, a 9-mm submachine gun is on display at the National Shooting Sports Foundation's 35th annual Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to ban gun magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition after a rash of mass shootings nationwide. File Photo by UPI/David Becker
A high-capacity magazine for Sig MPX, a 9-mm submachine gun is on display at the National Shooting Sports Foundation's 35th annual Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to ban gun magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition after a rash of mass shootings nationwide. File Photo by UPI/David Becker | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, July 29 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to ban gun magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition in response to a rash of mass shootings nationwide.

The 12-0 vote Tuesday closes a loophole in the state law, which already bans the manufacture and sales of high-capacity clips but not possessing them. The ordinance makes it a misdemeanor to possess high-capacity gun magazines. Anyone who already owns such magazines will have 60 days to remove them from the city limits or turn them over to police, which will sell, destroy or transfer them.

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L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said he supports the ban despite oppositions to the measure. Gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association, are likely to bring legal challenges against the measure for Second-Amendment violations.

"As national and state leaders struggle with a way to move forward with much-needed gun laws, I applaud our city leaders for taking decisive action today that will help us save lives and prevent crime," Garcetti said.

It was 15 years ago that the state passed legislation to ban the manufacture and sales of the magazines. The ordinance was modeled after similar rules in Sunnyvale, Calif., and San Francisco, which have both withstood Second Amendment court challenges, the city said.

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At least two speakers at the council meeting opposed the measure, saying targeting weapons avoids addressing the larger issues at hand contributing the mass shootings, such as lack of economic opportunities and early exposure to violence.

"Gun violence is a problem, but it's more of a people problem," said Chad Cheung, a member of gun advocacy group Calguns.

Councilman Paul Krekorian, who has championed the law, said the measure will make it harder for people to get access to weapons that can cause many deaths in a short period of time.

"These mass shootings we hear about in the news so often that the names of the places have become part of the national lexicon," Krekorian said. "Columbine, Sandy Hook, Isla Vista, Aurora – these are places that have gained new significance to our nation because of the tragic mass killings that have occurred in those place."

Next week, council members will vote on a revision that will exempt retired police officers from the law.

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