The Des Moines City Council decided not to adopt any restrictions on firearm accessories Monday night after hearing stiff opposition from area gun owners and several council members.

After the council said it would consider gun-accessory restrictions, opposition mounted, including from a state lawmaker who said he would sponsor legislation next year to negate the local action.

On Monday, gun owners, about 10 of them, came to the City Council chambers to protest. But by then, five members of the seven-member council had sponsored a resolution to “delay” action on the gun-attachment restrictions.

The proposed ordinance would have banned the possession of high-capacity magazines and “trigger activators” that enable guns to fire at a higher rate.

Some council members wanted to do more than simply delay adoption of any limits.

“This is something the city of Des Moines should not even be tackling,” Ward 4 Councilman Joe Gatto said. “... This is a problem up at the Capitol and in our federal government, and until they change, we can’t (do anything). No matter what we would pass tonight, it would be changed in six months.”

The unanimous council decision Monday came six weeks after the council voted unanimously to look into the restrictions on large magazines and bump-stocks.

The council delayed two proposed ordinances, which were nearly identical, that would ban the possession of magazines equipped to hold more than 10 bullets. Owners of such magazines would have 90 days to destroy or dispose of them or take them out of the city.

The ordinances, had either passed, would have also prohibited possession of “trigger activators.” Gun owners would have had 90 days to get rid of their bump-stocks, binary triggers, burst triggers and rotating trigger cranks.

Violators would have been guilty of a simple misdemeanor or a municipal infraction. Both would have resulted in fines ranging from $65 to $1,000, depending on the violation.

Gun owners argued either ordinance would criminalize gun ownership and run afoul of the state’s law preempting any local action regulating firearms. It would also prompt a lawsuit that would cost taxpayer money, they said. Some speakers accused council members of trying to score political points.

“This ordinance intends to punish law-abiding citizens for actions of deranged criminals,” said Lance Shay, one of about 10 who spoke against the bans before the council.

He also said some guns require magazines with more than 10 bullets.

Ward 3 Councilman Josh Mandelbaum led the discussion to consider the bans on June 3 in the wake of a mass shooting at a Virginia municipal facility. He said Monday that he didn’t think high-capacity magazines are necessary and can cause more destruction and death.

He also apologized for comments he made during the June 3 meeting that some took as an implication that all gun owners with high-capacity magazines have “murderous intent.”

On Monday, he asked for a citywide assessment of gun violence.

“We have to be willing to tackle all aspects of gun violence,” Mandelbaum said.

City Manager Scott Sanders said city staff would need to consult with Police Chief Dana Wingert before evaluating or changing any programs.

The motion to delay action approved Monday night also directs city staff to work with the Iowa Legislature and other city and county governments to "form a consensus for statewide implementation of sound and effective regulations concerning firearm accessories."