A California law prohibiting firearm owners from possessing detachable magazines that hold over ten rounds has been invalidated by U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez. This ruling, however, will not be applied immediately.
Previously, Benitez had invalidated a similar prohibition in 2017, a decision later overturned by an appellate court. Benitez stated that the limitation on ammunition capacity has no basis in American tradition and remarked on instances where more than ten rounds may be essential for self-defense.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has appealed against this latest ruling, maintaining the law will likely stay in effect pending further legal deliberations. Bonta termed the decision erroneous and perilous.
California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his dismay, condemning Benitez as an extremist with no regard for human life. He also blamed NRA-influenced judges for the overturning of gun control laws and advocated for a Constitutional Amendment to counter gun violence.
Chuck Michel, head of the California Rifle and Pistol Association, lauded the judge’s decision, suggesting that laws infringing constitutional rights are on borrowed time. The contentious ruling has thus intensified the debate over gun regulations, reflecting the polarized perspectives surrounding firearm possession and control.
