Judge Blocks Calif.'s Ban On High-Capacity Magazines

A federal judge has temporarily blocked one of California’s new high-profile gun control laws.

The ban on high-capacity magazines would have taken effect July 1st – but U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez in San Diego has now issued a preliminary injunction.

You can see how skeptical the judge is from the opening line of his 66-page ruling:

“On July 1, 2017, any previously law-abiding person in California who still possesses a firearm magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds will begin their new life of crime,” Benitez writes.

He goes on to add that the ban “burdens the core of the Second Amendment by criminalizing the mere possession of these magazines.”

California lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown passed several gun control laws last year. Voters then followed up by approving Proposition 63 in November. The high-capacity magazine ban was contained in both the legislation and the ballot measure.

The injunction will remain in place until the judge can rule on the lawsuit brought by gun rights advocates.