New Jersey 10-Round Magazine Limitation Bill Goes to the Gov

Gun enthusiast and activist Bob Viden, left, and the National Rifle Association of America's New Jersey liaison, Darin Goens, right, listen as Anthony P. Colandro, center, holds up a decal that says, "I Will Not Comply," and asks spectators to hold up more decals, as he speaks against a legislative bill that would reduce the legal capacity of ammunition magazines from 15 to 10, during legislative hearings May 5 at the Statehouse in Trenton.

Local news reports

The New Jersey Assembly passed a bill today that would outlaw ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

The bill, A2006, also has cleared the state Senate and now will go to Gov. Chris Christie for his consideration. The Republican governor signed many firearms bills into law last year, but he issued conditional vetoes of some of the more contentious ones, including a ban on .50-caliber rifles.

Parents of children killed in the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut, school shooting joined Democrats today in calling for Christie to sign it into law. The bill passed 44-34 along party lines.

"This is a long overdue but welcome step toward the goal of preventing gun violence in New Jersey," said bill co-sponsor Louis Greenwald, D-Camden/Burlington. "Gov. Christie needs to do the right thing here and sign this bill."

Current New Jersey law allows magazines to hold a maximum of 15 rounds of ammunition. Supporters of the bill say the ammunition magazine limit could make mass shootings less deadly by requiring shooters to stop to reload more often, giving police and potential victims more time to react.

Owners of larger magazines would have 180 days to dispose of them. Exempted fro the proposal are tubular .22-caliber magazines.

Gun rights supporters say it would make it harder for citizens to protect themselves and could have the effect of banning certain guns.