Washington, D.C. September 8, 2020 — Pride Fund to End Gun Violence – America’s only national LGBTQ political organization focused solely on gun violence prevention – today announced its filing of an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to support the state’s position that California's large capacity magazine ban be enforced. This is our second legal step to support the implementation of this law. Pride Fund joins California Governor Gavin Newsom, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, and 63 percent of California voters in support of this proposition. This court case is important nationwide as it can impact other states efforts to implement similar gun reform laws.
In 2016, Pride Fund and the majority of California voters supported Proposition 63, which prohibits the possession of large capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The voters passed the proposition to become law and the NRA sued to stop its implementation. There has been an ongoing legal battle since that time and Pride Fund has been involved every step of the way.
“As an Iraq War veteran, I fully believe that large capacity magazines have no place on American streets.These devices belong on the battlefield, not the streets of America,” said Jason Lindsay, Founder and Executive Director of Pride Fund.
"We are disappointed that U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez issued the injunction the NRA requested, but are still fighting this tooth-and-nail to see that the will of California voters is respected. We’re proud to sign on as a friend of the court to support Governor Newsom and California Democratic Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s efforts to make California safer,” said Lindsay.
Large capacity magazines were used in all six of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history, including Las Vegas. When these devices are involved in a mass shooting, it results in more people shot when compared to incidents where large capacity magazines were not used. Because large capacity magazines reduce the need for the shooter to reload, it deprives potential victims of the opportunity to escape or intervene. In Sandy Hook Elementary School in December, 2012, Adam Lanza used large capacity magazines with the ability to hold 30 rounds to take the lives of 20 students and six adults. Eleven students escaped while Lanza reloaded his gun.
The shooter at Pulse nightclub, the Sandy Hook shooter, the gunman in Arizona who shot former U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the Aurora movie theater shooter, the gunman at Columbine, and the shooter in Las Vegas were all equipped with large capacity magazines. “Prohibiting large capacity magazines is a step forward in the effort to reduce the toll of gun violence in America. This is a commonsense measure that respects the Second Amendment and will save lives," said Lindsay. We’re disappointed that the NRA refuses to listen to the people of California and continues to put the profits of gun manufacturers over the safety of the American people. This is one of many occasions that the NRA has intervened in legal processes to trample on the democratic process and enable the continuation of countless mass shootings.