S.F. supervisors pass tough limit on gun magazines

Supervisor Malia Cohen sponsored a law banning guns with large-capacity magazines. Supervisor Malia Cohen sponsored a law banning guns with large-capacity magazines. Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close S.F. supervisors pass tough limit on gun magazines 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

San Francisco reaffirmed its strict position on gun control Tuesday when the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a bill banning the possession of large-capacity magazines.

The approval came weeks after Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a statewide proposal to ban the sale or possession of semiautomatic rifles capable of holding a detachable ammunition magazine.

Supervisor Malia Cohen's legislation expands on an existing San Francisco law making it illegal to sell firearms with magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds. Such weapons were used in last year's elementary school massacre in Newtown, Conn., as well as the 2011 Arizona shooting that severely injured then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, killed six and injured 18 more.

"While not a panacea, this legislation provides law enforcement with more tools to continue to address gun violence and also continues to strengthen our city's strong stance on gun regulation," said Cohen, adding that she hopes it serves as a model for neighboring cities.

Mayor Ed Lee is expected to sign the measure, which was co-sponsored by supervisors David Chiu, David Campos, Norman Yee and Eric Mar.

Under the new regulations, people already possessing a large-capacity magazine will have 90 days to turn it in to police. The proposal exempts members of law enforcement and armored car personnel, among others. Violations of the ban would be punishable as a misdemeanor.

In addition to banning large magazines, the bill also requires gun dealers to inform customers of local laws, establishes the presumption that an owner who has not reported a firearm lost or stolen remains in possession of the firearm, and prohibits minors from entering shooting ranges unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

It's not the first time Cohen has tackled gun control. Earlier this year, the board passed an ordinance she authored that banned the possession of hollow-point bullets and other ammunition meant to cause extreme damage, and required police notification for larger ammunition purchases.

Despite her hopes for minimizing gun violence, Cohen said regulations don't address the root cause of deadly shootings.

"Banning assault rifles only scratches the surface," she said. "We need to ... be better at addressing mental health concerns if we really want to solve the problem."