Santa Fe City Councilor takes aim at ammo

KRQE TV

Updated: Jan 13, 2013 11:45 AM

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) — Banning high powered assault rifles is a hot topic across the nation, but now a city councilor in Santa Fe, N.M. has a slightly different target. She's taking aim at the ammo.

Councilor Patti Bushee says she can not stand back and wait for state and national law makers to crack down on gun laws. She wants to ban high-capacity magazines that hold more than 10 bullets.

That means guns will be left alone, but those opposed say any ban goes too far.

Nineteen year city council veteran, Patti Bushee, says she has a solution to make sure mass shootings like the tragic massacre in Newtown Connecticut, that left 27 people dead, most of them children, won't happen again. At least not in Santa Fe.

Bushee said concerned parents are the reason she's taking what some call a drastic approach.

"I've heard primarily from parents of school-aged children who've asked me to do whatever I can," explained Bushee.

Wednesday she introduced a proposal to ban "high-capacity ammunition feeding devices." That means any magazine or clip that holds more than 10 rounds would be illegal to sell or buy in the city.

Bushee claims they're not necessary.

"It's is not used by sportsman or by those in self defense. It's not affective. It's being used in mass shootings," Bushee said.

But her proposal isn't an easy sell for some. Many gun owners say it is way off target.

"People kill people, not guns," said Arnold Lander who owns Pawn City on Cerrillos road.

He believes sells guns and sometimes high-capacity magazines and believes the ban is pointless.

"If you want to kill somebody it doesn't matter if you have 10 rounds, 15 rounds or 20 rounds," Lander said.

He also says one ban will lead to another and then another.

"That's where it's going to start and then when they find out that it's not working, they're going to say we need to do more," Lander said.

Santa Fe's city attorney is questioning the legality of the ban citing the state constitution. It reads, no municipality or county shall regulate, in any way, the right to keep and bear arms.

The councilor argues that does not include ammunition.

If the ban passes, Councilor Bushee is not exactly sure what would happen for those who already own high capacity magazines or those who buy them in cities without bans and bring them to Santa Fe.
 

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