Sen. Lautenburg introduces high-capacity magazine ban

Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey introduced a bill on Tuesday that would prohibit high-capacity magazines for firearms.

"The latest tragedy in Newtown was a wake up call for our nation, and now we must now turn our grief into action to reduce further tragedies," he said in a statement. "It is clearer than ever that there is no place in our communities for military-style supersized magazines like those used inside Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Aurora, and in Tucson, and I will keep working to reinstate the ban on them."

The Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act would prohibit the manufacture and sale of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. High-capacity magazines were previously outlawed under the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which expired in 2004.

"This is the kind of sensible reform that has the support of Democrats and Republicans, hunters and responsible gun owners, and it is time for Congress to listen to the American people and put this ban back in place," Lautenberg added.

The high-capacity magazine ban is a key component of the gun safety plan proposed by President Barack Obama last week.

Obama has also called for Congress to renew the assault weapons ban and require universal background checks for gun purchases. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has said she will introduced the assault weapons ban to the Senate on Thursday. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Sunday that the universal background checks would be proposed in the "next week or two."

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[Ammo and magazine via Shutterstock]