Menendez introduces high-capacity magazine ban bill as Parkland anniversary nears

Democrats Sen. Bob Menendez and Florida Rep. Ted Deutch introduced a bill that would ban the sale of gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

News 12 Staff

Feb 13, 2019, 1:52 AM

Updated 2,067 days ago

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Democrats Sen. Bob Menendez and Florida Rep. Ted Deutch introduced a bill that would ban the sale of gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
The lawmakers introduced the Keep Americans Safe Act Tuesday, just two days before the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The bill would ban the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer or possession of these type of magazines.
"How many more children have to die before we take even the most basic of steps to limit the bloodshed? How many more acts of mass murder will it take before every member of Congress comes to the same conclusion that we have, which is that if saving lives requires that we place limits on the firearm accessories for sale, then that is a price we are willing to pay,” Menendez said.
Fourteen students and three staff members were shot and killed Feb. 14, 2018 at the Florida high school allegedly by former student Nikolas Cruz. Seventeen others were wounded.
The shooting helped change the national conversation about gun reform, with many Parkland students becoming national figures speaking out against gun violence and pressuring lawmakers to change laws.
New Jersey passed similar legislation last year banning gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.
The National Rifle Association argues that limiting magazine sizes would have no impact on fatalities in mass shootings.
In order for the federal bill to pass, an unlikely scenario of several Republican senators crossing the aisle would have to take place.
New Jersey also recently passed another law inspired by the Parkland shooting. Alyssa’s Law requires all schools to install panic alarms in case of an emergency. It was named for Parkland shooting victim Alyssa Alhadeff, who was originally from Woodcliff Lake.