Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting New Jersey's restrictions on large-capacity magazines (LCMs) and assault weapons. This case, Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs v. Attorney General of New Jersey, is currently before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

"Large-capacity magazines and assault weapons have been used in some of the most horrific mass shootings around the country," stated Attorney General Bonta. "They allow lone shooters to inflict unspeakable horror in a manner of minutes, spraying devastating rounds into crowds, including some of our most vulnerable community members. Restricting large-capacity magazines and assault weapons helps to prevent and mitigate such tragedies. Our commonsense gun-safety measures here in California have a track record of reducing the threat of gun violence in our communities and we support any state or locality that does the same."

For three decades, California has enforced restrictions on firearms classified as "assault weapons" under its law due to specific tactical enhancements or configurations that increase their danger to the public and law enforcement. Data shows these weapons are disproportionately used in crimes relative to their market presence, often employed in mass shootings, leading to more extensive injuries and fatalities than other firearms.

In California, manufacturing, importing, selling, or possessing LCMs with over ten rounds has been illegal since 2000. Purchasing and receiving such magazines became illegal in 2013. Proposition 63, passed by voters in 2016, banned LCM possession entirely. Firearms equipped with LCMs account for up to 36% of crime guns nationwide. Between 2015 and 2022, 60% of mass shootings with four or more fatalities involved LCM-equipped firearms, contributing to a third of all mass shooting deaths and over 80% of related injuries.

Attorney General Bonta's coalition includes attorneys general from the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

A copy of the brief is available online.