RELEASE: Giffords Applauds Introduction of the Keep Americans Safe Act

February 12, 2019 — Today Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, commended Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) for introducing the Keep Americans Safe Act. This legislation regulates ammunition magazines that accept more than 10 rounds and prohibits their future manufacture for civilian use. Magazines manufactured for law enforcement use after the bill’s enactment would be clearly marked with a serial number, similar to firearms themselves.

“Large capacity magazines transform guns from dangerous weapons into weapons capable of mass murder. That’s why large capacity magazines are a common thread in so many high-profile mass shootings,” said David Chipman, Senior Policy Advisor at Giffords and a retired ATF Special Agent of 25 years. “If our country is serious about addressing our devastating gun violence crisis, we must start by having a serious conversation about the type of weapons we’re making available on our streets. We’re proud Senator Menendez and Congressman Deutch are working to address this threat today.”

ABOUT LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES

Large capacity magazines, typically defined as magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition, significantly increase a shooter’s ability to injure and kill large numbers of people quickly because they enable the individual to fire repeatedly without needing to reload. The time required to reload a weapon can be critical in enabling victims to escape and law enforcement or others to intervene. 70% of voters support a ban on large capacity magazines, which is currently in place in 10 states and the District of Columbia. In December 2018, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld New Jersey’s restrictions on large capacity magazines.

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