Politics

Following Giffords shooting, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy to propose gun control measure

Will Rahn Senior Editor
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Following a shooting in Arizona that seriously wounded Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and killed six others, New York Democrat Carolyn McCarthy is preparing to introduce a new gun control measure on the floor of the House.

The law would ban larger magazines like the one allegedly used by shooting suspect Jared Lee Loughner. Standard Glock magazines hold up to 15 bullets, but according to CBS News, Loughner’s magazine held up to 33.

“Looking at the number of clips that he was able to fire, from 15 to 20 rounds, we need to look at those and say, ‘Why should an average citizen be able to have that?'” McCarthy told New York’s Newsday. “If you have a semiautomatic and can’t take someone down with a standard clip, you shouldn’t have one.”

Speaker John Boehner suspended House business after the shooting, and McCarthy plans to announce the bill formally on Monday before taking it up again when Congress resumes.

Magazines holding more than 10 bullets were prohibited under the Clinton-era assault weapons ban. The ban was allowed to expire in 2004, although the larger magazines remain illegal in New York.

McCarthy has been an outspoken supporter of gun control since mass murderer Colin Ferguson killed her husband and son in 1993. Ferguson began firing at random passengers aboard a Long Island Rail Road commuter train, killing six people and wounding 19 others. A former nurse, McCarthy became an anti-gun activist and was elected to congress in 1996.

Although she understands the chances of the Republican controlled House passing the measure are slim, McCarthy remains committed to passing her bill. “I know that I will not be able to save every life in every situation, but that doesn’t mean that we should not do anything,” she said.