Regional Public Journalism

Oregon Lawmaker Calls For Ban On Large Capacity Ammo Magazines

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Keith LaFaille

SALEM, Ore. – An Oregon lawmaker wants to ban high-capacity ammunition magazines in the wake of Tuesday's shooting at the Clackamas Town Center.

Police say Jacob Tyler Roberts opened fire at the crowded shopping mall, killing two people and seriously wounding another. Then he turned the gun on himself. Investigators say he was using a stolen AR-15 semiautomatic rifle.

Democratic Senator Ginny Burdick says she's circulating a bill for the upcoming legislative session that would ban the sale of magazines with more than 10 rounds in Oregon.

"You can't have a magazine larger than five to hunt large game and you can't have a magazine larger than three to hunt birds. So why should you be able to have a magazine (of) 50 rounds to hunt humans?"

Burdick pushed a similar measure during the last legislative session but the bill never received a hearing. Kevin Starett of the Oregon Firearms Federation calls the proposal “pointless.” He says there are millions of high-capacity magazines already in circulation, so the ban would not have its intended effect.

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