Pre-Ban High Capacity Mags at Range

[Chewy65]

What is likely to happen if an officer, detailed to check weapons at public ranges, sees an apparently non-exempt person using a high capacity magazine, the officer asks a few questions about the magazine and the shooter doesn't advise that they have owned it pre ban? The shooter exercises their right to remain silent.

[Shadowdrop]

I've never been asked about my magazines. Ranges do not care because they know people can own them under numerous conditions.

[SoCalDep]

Likely: nothing.

If your "excersize right to remain silent" is done like a jerk and the officer has enough gun knowledge to know there is no way the magazine was owned pre-ban (S&W M&P, Sig P250, P320, HK45 or P30, etc) they might be able to establish probable cause that you've violated the law... Obviously more goes into it than the age of the mags. I doubt anyone that knowledgeable would want to cause problems for lawful gun owners so they probably wouldn't be there.

[03fatboy]

Be careful. If your young enough it would be pretty easy to know your in illegal possession.

[IrishJoe3]

This is one of those boogeymen for gun owners that really doesn't exist, IMO.

Even if you told me you bought it yesterday in Nevada I wouldn't care. I'd probably compliment you on the awesome forethought to buy that footlocker full of mags in 1999.....

[P5Ret]

I'm still trying to figure out what agency has enough manpower or free time to detail someone to go check the guns at the local range.

[vintagearms]

What is likely to happen if an officer, detailed to check weapons at public ranges, sees an apparently non-exempt person using a high capacity magazine,...

I have never heard nor been tasked to do such a thing.

[Chewy65]

Thanks for all your responses. I never realized it was more a urban legend than anything, but it makes sense that given tight budgets and work loads no one would have the time for this if a department had the inclination.

[Chunky_lover]

Likely: nothing.

If your "excersize right to remain silent" is done like a jerk and the officer has enough gun knowledge to know there is no way the magazine was owned pre-ban (S&W M&P, Sig P250, P320, HK45 or P30, etc) they might be able to establish probable cause that you've violated the law... Obviously more goes into it than the age of the mags. I doubt anyone that knowledgeable would want to cause problems for lawful gun owners so they probably wouldn't be there.

you are well were allowed to take lets say an ar high cap mag and rebuild it into whatever caliber, model mag you wanted to
as long as that ar mag got destroyed
so even if it was a brand gun that never was around before 2000 ban, you can still have high cap mags and use them if they were rebuilds from other mags

at least all the reading ive done in the past said you could do so

[Chunky_lover]

What is likely to happen if an officer, detailed to check weapons at public ranges, sees an apparently non-exempt person using a high capacity magazine, the officer asks a few questions about the magazine and the shooter doesn't advise that they have owned it pre ban? The shooter exercises their right to remain silent.

whats a non exempt person?
someone under 15 years old?
Im pretty sure you have to be 18 to own a long gun and im pretty sure a range would not allow a 15 year old to be there shooting without a 18 year old or older parent

you can let your friends use the mags, as long as your present

and why would an officer be detailed to a public range?
let the range take care of who or what they want there, once word gets out the range lets officers check your gear because they want to or are detailed there, it will probably be very empty after a while

Im there on private property paying to use the range, cops dont need to snoop around and look at our stuff

[CSACANNONEER]

Be careful. If your young enough it would be pretty easy to know your in illegal possession.

Most 14 year olds don't go to the range alone. So, it's really a non issue.

[Oceanbob]

Thanks for all your responses. I never realized it was more a urban legend than anything, but it makes sense that given tight budgets and work loads no one would have the time for this if a department had the inclination.

I don't think it has anything to do with tight budgets or work loads at all.

Considering it's not illegal to own or possess any magazine in California, there is no Penal Code (PC) to write down or cite in an arrest report. Could you imagine the Liability of legal claims and lawsuits for false arrest and harassment law enforcement agencies would bring to their agency, City, County or State Government that would result in money damages and legal costs?

Not gonna happen.

Also, Law Enforcement Agencies will NEVER troll or patrol shooting ranges looking for violations of these numerous vague, unknowable gun and magazine laws. Entering private property to check compliance of Bullet buttons, magazines, featureless or not, dimensions of rifles, threaded barrels,etc would either take a Search Warrant on specific persons at that range or permission from the range owner (unlikely) however, the range owner can't speak for another person or verbally give up your rights absent your consent to have your range bag searched. (For instance).

Once word ever gets out that a certain range is inviting law enforcement over for inspections, expect that range to go out of business, real quick. The range wouldn't like the lawsuits either.

I can also imagine certain folks minding there own business getting harassed at a shooting range by intrusive Law Enforcement might not comply with orders to explain anything. Why would law enforcement invite a fire fight? This is just my opinion.

[CSACANNONEER]

whats a non exempt person?
someone under 15 years old?
Im pretty sure you have to be 18 to own a long gun and im pretty sure a range would not allow a 15 year old to be there shooting without a 18 year old or older parent

you can let your friends use the mags, as long as your present

and why would an officer be detailed to a public range?
let the range take care of who or what they want there, once word gets out the range lets officers check your gear because they want to or are detailed there, it will probably be very empty after a while

Im there on private property paying to use the range, cops dont need to snoop around and look at our stuff

I'm pretty sure that there is no minimum age to own a long gun in CA.

I use to go to a public range with friends when all of us were under 18.

I've never seen a LEO at a range doing random inspections but, I don't do anything illegal.

[FrankinCA]

This is one of those boogeymen for gun owners that really doesn't exist, IMO.

Even if you told me you bought it yesterday in Nevada I wouldn't care. I'd probably compliment you on the awesome forethought to buy that footlocker full of mags in 1999.....

IrishJoe, that was about the funniest thing I heard today. Thanks.

[IrishJoe3]

IrishJoe, that was about the funniest thing I heard today. Thanks.