A new gun law has been passed by a federal judge. As of March 6, 2014, if anyone in Sunnyvale possesses ammunition magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds will be considered a criminal. The judge refused to put the gun control law on hold any longer, for the National Rifle Association (NRA) tried to request a federal appeals court for an emergency stay hours before the new law was effective. But U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte of San Jose refuted the plaintiffs a preparatory injunction, finding their case wouldn’t likely to succeed and the ban would not cause irreversible harm. According to the San Jose Mercury News, Judge White stated the new gun law lies on the perimeter of the Second Amendment and that banning such magazines is considerably related to an essential government interest.
Well what about magazines that have the capacity to hold more than 10 rounds? So far, the federal court has not entered a preliminary prohibition against it nor has any court found that the law contravenes the Second Amendment. A spokesperson for Sunnyvale stated the ruling is consistent with what the citizens want.
However, there are legislatures and spokesperson’s (the majority representing the NRA) that disagreed with the gun law and have requested an advanced appellate review. But this isn’t the first time the NRA has opposed sections of gun laws. For example, in December 2013 the NRA challenged the section of Measure C that requires gun owners to remove magazines of all sorts from the city by either selling them outside California, selling to a licensed gun dealer or hand them over to police for obliteration within 90 days. Measure C took effect December 6, 2013 and gave gun owners until March 6th to comply or become culpable and considered a misdemeanor.
Most citizens of Sunnyvale are questioning the new gun law and doubting if this ordinance will really resolve gun violence in the Bay Area.