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Colorado State Senator Bernie Herpin: "Maybe it was a good thing James Holmes had a 100-round magazine..."

In July of 2012, James Holmes killed 12 people and injured 70 others when he opened fire in a Colorado movie theater for a premiere of the film Dark Knight Rises. Holmes had brought with him the following - all of which he purchased off the Internet: Ballistic gear, firearms, and high-capacity magazine clips (100-round clips) - all which totaled over $15,000. Colorado has since passed a law banning high-capacity clips, and yesterday, a discussion took place among two State Senators with regard to whether or not the new law should be repealed. The conversation between Senators Irene Aguilar (Democrat) and Bernie Herpin (Republican) went like this:

Aguilar: "My understanding is that James Holmes bought his 100-round capacity magazine legally. So in fact, this law would have stopped James Holmes from purchasing a 100-round magazine. I was wondering if you agree with me."

Herpin: "Perhaps, James Holmes would not have been able to purchase a 100-round magazine. As it turned out, that was maybe a good thing that he had a 100-round magazine, because it jammed. If he had four, five, six 15-round magazines, there's no telling how much damage he could have done until a good guy with a gun showed up."

A good thing? Really? Twelve people died that day, seventy others were injured, and he thinks it was a good thing that James Holmes had a 100-round magazine because it's prone to jamming? He doesn't think there would have been any chance a person (or persons) would have pummeled Holmes after he got through the first 15-round magazine? Perhaps Bernie Herpin should do his math. With this jammed 100-round magazine, 82 people were either hurt or killed. Going by that same percentage, here are how many people would have suffered similar fates if the law had been passed prior to the incident:

One 15-round magazine: 12.3 (12)

Two 15-round magazines: 24.6 (25)

Three 15-round magazines: 36.9 (37)

Four 15-round magazines: 49.2 (49)

Five 15-round magazines: 61.5 (62)

Six 15-round magazines: 73.8 (74)

So, even if James Holmes had gotten through six 15-round magazines, chances are approximately eight fewer people would have been impacted, and I have an extremely hard time believing that at least one person wouldn't have taken him down well before that point. Anyway, Senator Herpin, you were saying...

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/02/13/3289411/colorado-aurora-magazines-good-thing/
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