Attorneys General Coalition Supports California's Ban on Large-Capacity Magazines

Seventeen State Attorneys General, Led by New Jersey and Massachusetts, File Amicus Brief Upholding California's LCM Restrictions

Attorneys General Matthew J. Platkin of New Jersey and Andrea Joy Campbell of Massachusetts spearheaded a coalition of 17 attorneys general, advocating for California's right to regulate large-capacity magazines (LCMs). In an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the coalition supports California's stance, maintaining that the prohibition of LCMs aligns with Second Amendment rights.

The discussion centers on the case Duncan vs. Bonta, which challenges California's law limiting firearm magazines to ten rounds, banning LCMs. This law was initially blocked by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, asserting a misapplication of the Bruen framework. However, the Ninth Circuit has paused this injunction, keeping California's law active during the appeal process.

Attorney General Platkin emphasized the state's authority to implement "common-sense gun restrictions," asserting that LCMs, often linked to mass shootings, are not intended for self-defense but were designed for military use. He stresses that these devices have a history of escalating the severity and fatalities in gun violence incidents.

The coalition's brief argues that LCMs, which are not classified as "arms," do not fall under Second Amendment protection. It asserts that these magazines are neither commonly used nor suitable for self-defense. Furthermore, the brief draws parallels with historical traditions of regulating dangerous weaponry, comparing LCMs to historically restricted weapons such as machine guns or short-barreled shotguns, which posed public safety threats.

This coalition, including attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, stands united in the belief that California's law is a reasonable measure to ensure public safety while respecting the core Second Amendment rights.