The Santa Fe City Council’s meeting room was filled to overflowing for Wednesday’s hearing on a plan to ban gun magazines with more than 10 rounds. (Greg Sorber/journal)
ABQ Journal
SANTA FE — A controversial Santa Fe ordinance that would have banned the possession, sale or transfer of any gun magazine with more than 10 rounds of ammunition went down in defeat late Wednesday night. The vote against the ban was 6-2 after nearly three hours of pro and con public comment on the measure.
Supporters of banning high-capacity magazines said a common thread in recent mass shootings was the use of guns that allowed a large number of bullets to be used in a short period of time. The small amount of time necessary for shooters to reload their weapons has the potential to save lives, some said. Others said it’s time for the government to start enacting greater gun control legislation.
Opponents, including representatives of the Republican Party of New Mexico and National Rifle Association, said the ordinance is a violation of their constitutional right to bear arms and people have the right to protect themselves and their loved ones. They said the ordinance won’t make Santa Fe safer, will infringe on responsible gun owners and will be difficult to enforce. The city will also waste money defending the ordinance in court, some said.
Where are all the Hispanic people in that picture? And what about the blacks. I thought gun rights was an equal opportunity cause?
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