This document discusses the debate around high-capacity magazines and gun control. It outlines two main viewpoints - those who believe high-capacity magazines should remain legal and those who believe they should be banned. Those in favor of legality argue they are necessary for self-defense and deterring tyranny, while those against argue they enable more killings and are unnecessary for self-defense. The document also discusses facts around what constitutes a high-capacity magazine and evidence that magazine limits have little effect on active shooters. It aims to present both sides of the complex debate over high-capacity magazines and gun rights.

1. High Capacity
The ability to kill, or the ability to
save?
By: Cledo Davis II

2. The Controversy
• There has been a heated debate lately
over whether or not high capacity
magazines should be legal for U.S.
citizens to own.
• The topics of safety, necessity, power,
and Constitutional Rights are at the
epicenter of the discussion.

3. The Concern
• The shootings in
Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, and the
Washington D.C. Navy Yard have
sparked concern and paranoia across
the nation.
• Many wonder if the killers could have
been stopped earlier if they had lower
capacity magazines.

4. The Viewpoints
• Within the gun control debate, there are
typically two schools of thought in the area of
high capacity magazines.
• These arguments represent the majority of
the dispute among both private citizens, as
well as politicians.

5. Argument 1
• Pro-gun individuals believe that higher magazine capacity is a deterrent
to foreign militaries, and that it helps level the playing field between
“We The People” and the Federal Government.
• A higher number of rounds per magazine gives lone concealed carry
operators and home defenders a vital advantage when confronting
multiple attackers.
• Criminals will always have access to black market firearms and
magazines, and that the law-abiding American’s best defense against
them is to legally own weapons of comparable firepower and ammo
capacity.
• The Right to Keep And Bear Arms was specifically intended for the
purpose of resisting tyranny, and as such implies that Americans
should have a weapons capability equal to or greater than that of the
Federal Government.
• High capacity magazines are a powerful tool for good in the hands of a
law-abiding citizen.

6. Argument 2
• Pro gun-control individuals believe that governmental tyranny and
threat of foreign invasion are not, nor ever will be, an issue; and that
high capacity magazines are unnecessary to own and merely tools for
killing.
• A concealed carry operator or home defender would never need more
than 7-10 rounds to stop an attacker.
• Criminals will take advantage of being able to legally buy
magazines, and will no longer have access to high capacity magazines
if banned.
• The Second Amendment was written primarily for the purpose of
hunting with muskets, and The Founding Fathers could not have
imagined that we would have such powerful firearms today.
• High capacity magazines are dangerous, unfit for civilian use and
should be banned.

7. The Facts
• “High capacity” is a completely subjective term, steeped in opinion and
bias.
• Limiting the number of rounds in a firearm’s magazine does little to
slow down an active shooter firing on unarmed individuals.
• Criminals are classified as such because they have no regard for the
law, and making it against the law to purchase and own high capacity
magazines will not deter them.
• Law enforcement agencies have been trying for decades to take control
of the black market, but despite their best efforts, the sale and
purchase of illegal firearms is alive and well in today’s society.
• Unknown to many, several of the recent highly publicized shootings did
not even involve the use of high capacity magazines.

8. The Evidence
• Most anti-gun politicians tend to agree that a high capacity
magazine is one that contains more than 10 rounds, despite the
fact that “10” is an arbitrary number chosen “out of the blue” for
no other reason than personal preference and assumption.
• In a live fire test conducted by Sheriff Ken Campbell of Boone
County, Indiana, it was shown that limiting magazine capacity
has minimal effect in slowing down a proficient shooter (Sheriff).
• While more than a few people have been killed by a single well-
placed bullet, there are plenty of instances where attackers
sustained an absurd number of bullet wounds without seriously
affecting their ability to continue their assault (Farago).

9. List Of References
• 1 "NRA News | Sheriff Debunks "High-Capacity" Magazine Theory." NRA News | Sheriff
Debunks "High-Capacity" Magazine Theory. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. Back
• 2 Farago, Robert. "Why You Need Two Spare Magazines for Your Carry Gun." The Truth
About Guns. N.p., 12 Sept. 2010. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. Back