Judge Halts Enforcement of California Magazine Ban

Federal Judge Grants Injunction in Duncan v. Becerra

Fairfax, Va.—  A federal judge on Thursday granted a request for an injunction against enforcement of California’s new ban on standard capacity magazines. The ban was set to go into effect July 1.

“California’s attempt to ban the possession of standard capacity magazines is unconstitutional, and an affront to law-abiding gun owners who have safely, and lawfully owned these tools for decades,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director, National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action.  “This injunction is a huge win for California gun owners who have long-suffered under a state government hostile to the Second Amendment.”

The injunction was granted in the case of Duncan v. Becerra, a federal lawsuit supported by the National Rifle Association and the California Rifle & Pistol Association. As a result of the injunction, California gun owners will not be required to surrender or permanently alter lawfully owned magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds. Instead, the injunction preserves the “status quo” while the constitutionality of the law is decided by the court. 

Filed in May of this year, Duncan is the second in a series of carefully planned lawsuits challenging the package of gun control laws passed last year that have collectively become known as “gunmageddon," as well as the provisions of anti-gun proposition 63. The case challenges California’s restrictions on standard capacity magazines on the grounds that it violates the Second Amendment, due process clause, and takings clause of the United States Constitution.

Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. More than five million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at NRA on Facebook and Twitter @NRA.