Democratic lawmakers reintroduce Keep Americans Safe Act

A group of lawmakers recently reintroduced the Keep Americans Safe Act, which seeks to ban the importation, sale, manufacturing, transfer, or possession of gun magazines holding over 10 rounds of ammunition.

U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) have joined 26 colleagues in detailing the legislation. High capacity ammunition magazines allow shooters to fire a large number of bullets without stopping to reload.

The lawmakers indicated from 2009-2020, mass shootings where a high-capacity magazine was used led to five times as many people being shot per mass shooting than incidents that did not involve high-capacity magazines.

Bill provisions, per officials, include providing limited exceptions for devices possessed before enactment, for certain current and former law enforcement personnel, for certain Atomic Energy personnel and other purposes, for tubular devices that can only accept .22 rimfire ammunition, and for certain authorized testing or experimentation; modifying the high-capacity definition to prevent coupled or joined magazines; authorizing a buy-back program for high-capacity magazines using Byrne JAG grants; requiring devices manufactured after enactment to have conspicuous serial numbers and date of manufacturing to help law enforcement identify restricted magazines; and coordinating forfeiture provisions for magazines with current law.

Leading gun violence prevention advocacy groups that include Brady; Giffords; Everytown; March for Our Lives; Newtown Action Alliance; Sandy Hook Promise; Center for American Progress; and Orange Ribbons for Gun Safety support the Keep Americans Safe Act.