Michael Moore, director of Bowling for Columbine, talks with Rachel about America’s gun culture and policy compared to other less violent nations. A ban on high capacity magazines might have saved lives had the alleged shooter stopped to reload after eleven shots instead of thirty one. In 2004 a law banning extended magazines was allowed to expire despite a campaign promise by then president, George Bush.
The ban that expired in 2004 made it illegal to either manufacture or sell ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds. The weapon used in the Tucson rampage had a magazine with at least 30 rounds. It can take only about 10 seconds to fire that many bullets, one at a time.
Reintroducing The Bill
The lawmaker leading the efforts to reinstate the ban on large-capacity magazines is New York Democrat Carolyn McCarthy. Another gunman, using similar high-capacity magazines, killed McCarthy’s husband and seriously wounded her son on the Long Island Railroad 17 years ago.
“What I’m trying to do is not take away the right of someone to own a gun, but just basically look at the large-capacity clips,” McCarthy says. “People have to remember that the gun that they use can still have a clip in it. Ten bullets and one in the chamber, that’s 11 bullets, so if you’re using it for self-defense at home, there’s plenty of ammo there for them.”
