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U.S. NEWS Thursday 12 March 2020

Suit filed over Sandy Hook-inspired law limiting gun rounds

By DAVE COLLINS
Associated Press
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) —
Gun rights supporters are
suing Connecticut officials
over part of a 2013 state
gun control law passed
after the Sandy Hook El-
ementary School shooting,
saying it unconstitutionally
bans people from loading
more than 10 rounds of am-
munition into their firearms.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday in
U.S. District Court cites the
Second Amendment right
to bear arms and the ability
of people to better defend
themselves with more bul-
lets in their guns.
"Law abiding gun own- In this April 10, 2013 file photo, Jonathan Scalise, owner of Ammunition Storage Components,
ers in Connecticut are left holds up a 10-round, left, and a 30-round magazine that his company manufacturers for the AR-15
more susceptible to harm rifle in New Britain, Conn.
or death by being limited Associated Press
in their means of self-de-
fense," Holly Sullivan, presi- measures." ously legal," said Allan Got- available before they must
dent of the Connecticut State officials passed some tlieb, founder and execu- reload their gun," the law-
Citizens Defense League, of the strictest gun control tive vice president of the suit says.
said in a written statement. laws in the country after a Second Amendment Foun- Po Murray, chairwoman
"Criminals who are intent gunman used an AR-15- dation, based in Bellevue, of the Newtown Action
on doing harm will not fol- style rifle to kill 20 young Washington. Alliance, said the lawsuit
low this same law." children and six educators The two gun owners suing should be dismissed in the
The defense league, the at Sandy Hook in Newtown the state are Susan Ross, interest of public safety
Second Amendment on Dec. 14, 2012. of East Haddam, and Do- and public health. The al-
Foundation and two Con- The laws included a ban menic Basile, of Water- liance was formed to pre-
necticut gun owners filed on ammunition magazines town, who both own hand- vent gun violence after the
the lawsuit against Pub- that hold more than 10 bul- guns with magazines de- Sandy Hook shooting.
lic Safety Commissioner lets. People who owned signed to hold more than "Assault weapons and high
James Rovella, state police "large capacity" maga- 10 rounds. capacity magazines are
Col. Stavros Mellekas and zines that hold more than "A person with 15 rounds the weapons of choice for
Chief State's Attorney Rich- 10 rounds of ammunition of ammunition available mass shooters," she said.
ard Colangelo Jr., none of before the law took effect will be better able to de- "The U.S. Constitution must
whom were in their current were required to notify the fend himself or herself from protect the lives of inno-
jobs when the gun control state Department of Emer- a criminal gang, or from a cent children and adults
law was passed. gency Services and Public drug-crazed criminal who in schools not the gun lob-
"This is a legal process, in Protection and were al- continues attacking even by's pursuit of profits selling
which they were named as lowed to keep them, but after being shot, than a weapons of war designed
a result of their current posi- are prohibited from put- person who has only 10 to efficiently kill maximum
tion," said Brian Foley, a top ting more than 10 rounds in rounds of ammunition number of people."q
aide to Rovella, who over- them.
sees state police. "We will Gun control supporters say
work through this important the law can save lives by
process, unfortunately we limiting how many bullets
cannot comment further." a shooter can fire before
The U.S. Supreme Court has having to reload. It was
held that states can regu- approved by former Gov.
late firearms to protect Dannel Malloy, a Demo-
public safety, said state crat, and the Democratic-
Attorney General William controlled legislature.
Tong, whose office will de- But gun rights supporters
fend state officials and the say that magazines that
gun law. hold more than 10 rounds
"Commonsense gun vio- are considered standard
lence prevention measures and that many firearms are
are clearly constitutional," not available with maga-
Tong said in a written state- zines that hold fewer than
ment. "Reasonable limits on 10 rounds.
high capacity magazines "This law does nothing more
save lives. The vast major- than penalize law-abiding
ity of the American people citizens while criminalizing
support — and demand — components of handguns
these basic public safety they own that were previ-