Sen. Al Franken Raises Doubts About Support For Assault Weapons Ban

[krispos42]

159. I feel the following.

If we're going to have a limit, it should be done after some kind of scientific study. For example, in all self-defense shootings where the intended victim did not shoot the gun empty, what is the average number of shots fired?

Then, once we have that number, we can say "okay, it should be 2x, or 3x, that number".

If the average number of shots fired in a situation where the victim did not run out of ammo is, say, 5 rounds ,then we can say "okay, if the average is 5, then a limit of 10 or 15 is statistically valid."

Or something like that.



Alternatively, we could have two separate limits: on long guns (rifles and shotguns) we can set a limit to, say 30 rounds, because despite the high-profile mass shootings, all rifles (not just ones fed from a detachable magazine) account for only 5% of murders. And remember, Virginia Tech's slaughter was done by handguns, and Sideshow Bob in Aurora used a shotgun and a pistol after his rifle jammed. Magazines that hold more are often complex and unreliable; Sideshow Bob's 100-round wonder-mag for his rifle jammed after less than 30 shots, and rather than clear the jam he simply switched guns.

There is a mechanical limitation here where only so many rounds can be stacked on a spring before feeding becomes a problem, so there's a practical overall length limit. The same length magazine that holds 30 rounds of .223 might only hold 20 rounds of .308 or 10 rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammo. Trying to make it longer results in feeding problems and jams.

But, there are new kinds of stick magazines out there called "casket magazines" that are basically two staggered-column magazines in one housing. Listed capacities are 60 and 100 rounds. Now, of course this magazine will be as heavy as hell, and I don't know how reliable it is.

Or we could specify that the total column length of the cartridges can't be more than X inches high, and no more than two columns per magazine.

As for handguns, we could put a limit in based on what is usually the maximum number of rounds that fit into a full-sized handgun's standard magazine. Since handgun magazines are pretty much designed to fit flush to the bottom of the handgun's grip, this would make the maximum for a typical 9mm gun to be about 17 rounds. Again, with mechanical limitations, the fatter the cartridge the fewer can fit into the same column height.

Or we can do a handgun magazine limit based on column length like the long guns, above: no more than Y inches high, and no more than two columns.



A limit based on ammunition column length would put people in the position of have many smaller shots, or fewer larger ones. For example, an AR-15 is normally chambered to shoot .223 Remington ammunition. But by purchasing a separate upper receiver, you can quickly convert your AR-15 to shoot the much larger, but shorter-range .50 Beowulf. The same length magazine that holds 30 rounds of .223 only holds 10 rounds of .50 Beowulf, but the .50 Beowulf is much more powerful at close to medium ranges.



Arguably, the .50 Beowulf is a much more effective cartridge for self defense than the .223, so maybe it's a good thing.