These States Said No to High-Capacity Magazines

The Assault Weapons Ban of 1994, or the Brady Bill, lasted only ten short years as a federal law. However, some states never moved past the ban on high-capacity magazines. Today, we're looking at states that have a high-capacity magazines ban in place.

In many states, a high-capacity magazine holds more than ten rounds of ammunition, which would enable someone shooting a firearm to fire multiple shots without reloading. In many cases, a high-capacity magazine may be considered between 30 and 100 bullets, but in the case of the states on this list, it's anything over ten rounds.

California limits all kinds of firearms to 10 rounds. These restrictions apply to almost all facets of gun ownership, including manufacturing, importation, keeping for sale, exposing for sale, offering for sale, giving, lending, and possession.

Colorado is slightly more lenient than California, allowing 15 rounds for all firearms. The restrictions are only a few areas of gun ownership, including sale, possession, and transfer. Additionally, all previously owned high-capacity magazines are exempt from the ban.

Connecticut has a legal magazine capacity limit of 10. The limit applies to distribution, purchase, possession, importation and keeping, offering, and exposing for sale. High-capacity magazines already owned before the limit was put into place are allowed, but they must be legally registered.

In Delaware, the limit is 17 rounds for all firearms. These restrictions apply to possessing, transferring, receiving, purchasing, selling, and manufacturing firearms. All high-capacity magazines, even legacy ones, are banned. However, if you have a concealed carry permit, you are exempt.

In Hawaii, magazines are limited to 10 rounds. This capacity limit applies to barter, trade, gift, possession, transfer, acquisition, and manufacturing of handguns. Additionally, there is no exception for legacy high-capacity magazines.

Illinois has legal magazine capacity limits for long guns and handguns. For long guns, the limit is ten rounds. Meanwhile, for handguns, the limit is increased to 15 rounds. Restrictions apply to sales, deliveries, purchases, and manufacturing.

Illinois also has a rule that the restrictions apply to people causing someone else to sell, possess, deliver, or manufacture said magazines.

Maryland has a 10-round capacity limit for magazines for all firearms. This limit applies to the sale, offering of sale, purchase, receipt, transfer, and manufacturing of magazines. There are no limits for people who purchased high-capacity magazines before the law went into effect.

Massachusetts limits magazines to a capacity of no more than ten rounds. This limit applies to all firearms and applies to sales, offering of sales, possession, and transfers. All high-capacity magazines purchased before the ban are exempt from the rules.

New Jersey limits all firearms to 10 rounds. This includes transportation, manufacturing, shipment, possession, sale, and even disposal restrictions. Some high-capacity magazines are exempt if purchased beforehand, but they are limited to magazines purchased before July 13, 2019, and they must hold no more than 15 rounds.

New York also limits all firearms to 10 rounds. This applies to manufacturing, disposal, possession, and transportation. Legacy high-capacity magazines are not allowed. Further, New York has more restrictions on procuring a concealed carry permit.

Oregon also bans magazines, limiting them to 10 rounds for all firearms. The restrictions apply to transfer, importation, use, sale, manufacturing, possession, and purchase. There are exemptions for high-capacity magazines purchased before the limit was put in place, but they can only be used in certain circumstances and locations.

Rhode Island is another state with a limit of 10 rounds for all firearm magazines. Restrictions have been established for the sale, offer of sale, transfer, manufacture, purchase, possession, and even to have under one's control. There is no exemption for legacy high-capacity magazines.

Vermont limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds for long guns and 15 rounds for handguns. These restrictions apply to manufacturing, sale, offer of sale, receipt, purchase, transfer, and possession. High-capacity magazines purchased before the ban are exempt.

Washington is another state with a 10-round limit for all firearms. Restrictions apply to distribution, importation, manufacturing, and sales. There is no limit or ban on previously purchased high-capacity magazines. That said, Washington is looking at stricter regulations in the future.