3 sources·Politics

California Appeals Court Upholds Ban on High-Capacity Gun Magazines

Court decision supports California's law prohibiting gun magazines over 10 rounds under the Second Amendment, sparking a dissent involving a YouTube video by a judge.

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  1. California appeals court upholds ban on higher-capacity magazines

    The majority opinion judges said their decision to uphold the law is in line with a Supreme Court ruling in 2022 that set a new standard that relies more on the historical tradition of gun regulation rather than public interests, including safety.

    California appeals court upholds ban on higher-capacity magazines

    ABC NewsABC News·1M
    Reliable
    This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
    ·
    Center
    This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
  2. Second Amendment Roundup: 18 to 20 Age Ban Cases Coming to a Head

    It will be interesting to see how Attorney General Pam Bondi's Department of Justice will respond.

    Second Amendment Roundup: 18 to 20 Age Ban Cases Coming to a Head

    ReasonReason·1M
    Mostly Reliable
    This source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.
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    Center
    This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
  3. California appeals court upholds ban on higher-capacity magazines, spurring unusual video dissent

    The majority opinion judges said their decision to uphold the law is in line with a Supreme Court ruling in 2022 that set a new standard that relies more on the historical tradition of gun regulation rather than public interests, including safety.

    California appeals court upholds ban on higher-capacity magazines, spurring unusual video dissent

    Associated PressAssociated Press·1M
    Reliable
    This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
    ·
    Center
    This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
  1. ABC News
  2. Reason
  3. Associated Press
Updated: Mar 21st, 2025, 12:27 AM ET

Summary

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld California's ban on magazines with over 10 rounds, affirming it's lawful under the Second Amendment. A dissenting judge, Lawrence VanDyke, drew attention by posting a video of himself loading guns to argue against the law's rationale. The majority opinion stated that the ban aligns with historical regulations aimed at protecting public safety. California Attorney General Rob Bonta hailed the ruling as a lifesaving measure against mass shootings. The case reflects ongoing tensions in gun regulation debates in the U.S.

Perspectives

Compare opinions on this story from liberal (Left), conservative (Right) or center-leaning news organizations.

  • The California appeals court upheld the ban on high-capacity magazines under the Second Amendment, asserting that such magazines are not considered 'arms' or necessary components of firearms.

  • Judges disagreed on the implications of the ban, with dissenting Judge VanDyke showcasing firearms in a video while challenging the majority's rationale, stating that banning large-capacity magazines could set a precedent for more arbitrary firearm restrictions.

  • The decision aligns with a Supreme Court precedent emphasizing historical gun regulation, with California officials arguing that the law serves as a critical measure to reduce mass shootings by limiting the number of rounds a shooter can fire.

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