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Carter strongly supports Second Amendment rights**kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?s=50059**
U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, said he remains opposed to gun control despite efforts in Congress to ban high-capacity ammunition magazines since the Jan. 8 mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz.
The 31-round magazine used by accused shooter Jared Lee Loughner has been the subject of editorials in newspapers across the country that claim lives might have been saved if high-capacity magazines had remained banned.
Carter said banning high-capacity magazines, which also were used in the Nov. 5, 2009, shooting at Fort Hood that left 13 dead and more than 30 wounded, is a slippery slope.
The consequences could lead to overzealous bans going against the spirit of Second Amendment rights, he said.
“I take the same position as the NRA (National Rife Association),” Carter said. “Even though that (the ban of high-capacity magazines) wouldn’t end the world, it would start a trend.”
Magazines with a bullet capacity of more than 10 bullets became legal after a federal ban was allowed to lapse in 2004.
Carter admitted there was a possibility the ban might have lessened the number of Fort Hood shooting victims.
“Yes, it could have (saved lives),” he said, “but that would be speculation on my part.”
The current movement to ban high-capacity bullet magazines has been spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y. McCarthy introduced a bill seeking to ban the magazines Jan. 18.
The bill has little chance of moving past the Republican-controlled House, a Central Texas government professor said.
“A lot of Democrats are running scared on this issue,” said Sanford Levinson, a government and law professor at the University of Texas-Austin. “I certainly don’t expect Obama to take the lead on it.”
Levinson said much of the support behind the bill is posturing. Democrats, afraid of alienating millions of voters, have largely given up on pushing for gun control.
Carter said high-capacity ammunition magazines aren’t very practical in daily life. He said the only uses he could think of were in shooting competitions and law enforcement training exercises.
“In everyday life, it’s going to be hard to conceal,” he said.
Carter, who indicated he is a “hard-core” gun rights supporter, said he and his family had intended to get concealed carry permits this weekend. However, a blizzard on the East Coast spoiled his plans.
Carter said he supports a measure that would expand valid concealed permits outside of state lines, a measure proposed by Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler. Gohmert has talked of creating legislation that would allow members of Congress to carry a concealed weapon.
Carter said he believes the bill has no chance of passage.
Contact Philip Jankowski at philipj@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7553. Follow him on Twitter at KDHcrime
U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, said he remains opposed to gun control despite efforts in Congress to ban high-capacity ammunition magazines since the Jan. 8 mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz.
The 31-round magazine used by accused shooter Jared Lee Loughner has been the subject of editorials in newspapers across the country that claim lives might have been saved if high-capacity magazines had remained banned.
Carter said banning high-capacity magazines, which also were used in the Nov. 5, 2009, shooting at Fort Hood that left 13 dead and more than 30 wounded, is a slippery slope.
The consequences could lead to overzealous bans going against the spirit of Second Amendment rights, he said.
“I take the same position as the NRA (National Rife Association),” Carter said. “Even though that (the ban of high-capacity magazines) wouldn’t end the world, it would start a trend.”
Magazines with a bullet capacity of more than 10 bullets became legal after a federal ban was allowed to lapse in 2004.
Carter admitted there was a possibility the ban might have lessened the number of Fort Hood shooting victims.
“Yes, it could have (saved lives),” he said, “but that would be speculation on my part.”
The current movement to ban high-capacity bullet magazines has been spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y. McCarthy introduced a bill seeking to ban the magazines Jan. 18.
The bill has little chance of moving past the Republican-controlled House, a Central Texas government professor said.
“A lot of Democrats are running scared on this issue,” said Sanford Levinson, a government and law professor at the University of Texas-Austin. “I certainly don’t expect Obama to take the lead on it.”
Levinson said much of the support behind the bill is posturing. Democrats, afraid of alienating millions of voters, have largely given up on pushing for gun control.
Carter said high-capacity ammunition magazines aren’t very practical in daily life. He said the only uses he could think of were in shooting competitions and law enforcement training exercises.
“In everyday life, it’s going to be hard to conceal,” he said.
Carter, who indicated he is a “hard-core” gun rights supporter, said he and his family had intended to get concealed carry permits this weekend. However, a blizzard on the East Coast spoiled his plans.
Carter said he supports a measure that would expand valid concealed permits outside of state lines, a measure proposed by Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler. Gohmert has talked of creating legislation that would allow members of Congress to carry a concealed weapon.
Carter said he believes the bill has no chance of passage.
Contact Philip Jankowski at philipj@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7553. Follow him on Twitter at KDHcrime