Hi-Cap magazines: any pitfalls?

[Kern 44]

--
I'm new onboard, and want to say thanks for this great Forum.

I did a search and saw that if you bought/had your hi-cap magazines before Jan 1, 2000 you are OK to keep them. I know we can't sell them or give them away inside Cal, or bring any more into the State.

I had all mine well before Jan 1, 2000 but have some questions:

1. Do you need receipts or other proof? (I have receipts for the guns.)
2. I have a CCW permit. Would I be wiser to just carry 10-rounders?
3. Any pitfals using the hi-caps?

Many thanks.


-----------------------------

[Backcountry]

1) No.

2) If the speed limit is 55mph and you typically drive 10 mph to be "wiser", then yes, carry 10 round mags if you have a ccw permit.

I'm not "wiser" and I carry whatever I want.

[CHS]

1. Do you need receipts or other proof? (I have receipts for the guns.)

No.

2. I have a CCW permit. Would I be wiser to just carry 10-rounders?

No.

3. Any pitfals using the hi-caps?

No.

[GP3]

Related, but slighty OT question:

If you don't need proof that they are pre-ban, why do people abide by the 10 round capacity law (pistols)?

[Black Majik]

Related, but slighty OT question:

If you don't need proof that they are pre-ban, why do people abide by the 10 round capacity law (pistols)?

Because it's the law.

[CHS]

Related, but slighty OT question:

If you don't need proof that they are pre-ban, why do people abide by the 10 round capacity law (pistols)?

Because it's the law.

And many people still don't.

It is the law, but it's an almost-unenforceable law. With that said, don't do anything stupid because the law has TEETH.

[Black Majik]

While the law is largely unenforceable, it seems to be a regular topic... many which sound like they're looking for advice on how to skirt this law.

[GP3]

I was just shocked to hear and wanted to clarify. I always assumed that some sort of proof was needed.

<-- Law abiding.

[Bug Splat]

3. Any pitfals using the hi-caps?
-

Everytime you load up a std cap mag a puppy is killed.

[JTROKS]

I saw a kid at the range and he mentioned he got a Glock * for his 22nd or 23rd birthday. He had high cap mags with his glock. Hmmmm... That kind of scenario smells like fish all over it. Is it believable enough that he had possession of those high cap mags when he was 15? Can the state prove he's braking the law? Probably not unless the mags have date stamped on when they were produced... Well who's to say that the kid broke the mags and he bought mag kits to repair them. Nothing on the law saying he must use non date stamped parts. The law is the law, you break it you better be prepared to do the time.

[neomentat]

hmmm.... hi-caps,

do you need proof? not under normal conditions

enforcement? there's not very much active enforcement

can you get in trouble?

heck ya, if you happen to shoot someone in a legitimate self defense scenario using hi-caps or happens to be flunting them infront of under cover sheriffs @ Burrow Canyon doing an OLL sting (has happened many times) guess what, there's going to be a whole lot of scrutiny on your hi-caps. even if you won't go to jail as the best outcome if the local PD can't prove anything, you can bet your arse that you'll be spending a fortune to hire a lawyer for your defense. oh yes, the local PD will charge you with felony possession of hi-caps even if they know they can't prove it (or can they?).

So if you have legal hi-caps and all the paperwork to back up the claim that they're legal, then use it by all means. If there is the slightest doubt, I don't think it's worth all the potential hassel. Afterall, it's a felony, don't chance it. If you get convicted you will never again be able to have any firearms, and good luck on getting a job.

[redcliff]

hmmm.... hi-caps,

do you need proof? not under normal conditions

enforcement? there's not very much active enforcement

can you get in trouble?

heck ya, if you happen to shoot someone in a legitimate self defense scenario using hi-caps or happens to be flunting them infront of under cover sheriffs @ Burrow Canyon doing an OLL sting (has happened many times) guess what, there's going to be a whole lot of scrutiny on your hi-caps. even if you won't go to jail as the best outcome if the local PD can't prove anything, you can bet your arse that you'll be spending a fortune to hire a lawyer for your defense. oh yes, the local PD will charge you with felony possession of hi-caps even if they know they can't prove it (or can they?).

So if you have legal hi-caps and all the paperwork to back up the claim that they're legal, then use it by all means. If there is the slightest doubt, I don't think it's worth all the potential hassel. Afterall, it's a felony, don't chance it. If you get convicted you will never again be able to have any firearms, and good luck on getting a job.

And just what crime would they be charging you with? Posession is not a felony, nor is it a crime.

I'm not advocating people break the law by importing them, but most of us old timers don't have receipts for the high cap magazines we purchased 20-30 years ago. Back then a receipt for a high capacity magazine was like your grocery receipts; they meant nothing and there was no reason to keep them.

[Captain Evilstomper]

they might try to get you for manufacuring a hi-cap. that being said, there are a lot of police and DA's that try to throw things at the wall jus to see what sticks. i mean what do they care? they aren't out of pocket when it gets thrown out of court, nor do they suffer an undue consequences later trying to get their legally owned property back. it kind of sucks being a law-abiding citizen and being afraid to exercise your rights in a police-nanny state like kalifornia.

[becxltoo984]

The only pitfall i see is . The bad guy maybe armed with a plus 10 and you left your high caps at home.

[Warhawk014]

it is pretty hard to prove that you had high caps before the ban. but if your walking around with 16 round mags for a SA XD 9mm of course your going to get poped for importing. those guns werent in california untill after the ban. and if there is a question as to how they will pop you, just think, if the gun didnt exist before the ban. and came after the ban went into affect. how else could you have gotten high caps for that gun.