Why is 10 the magic number?

Status
Not open for further replies.
E

Eightball

Member
Joined
May 31, 2005
Messages
4,257
Location
Louisville, KY
Pretty basic question: Why is 10 the magic number in so many weapons bans for magazine capacity? Is eleven too deadly, or is nine "too restrictive", or what's the deal?

I was thinking about this earlier today, and realized that (surprise!) I couldn't think of a reason.

Anyone else?
 
because elected officials aren't smart enough to think in binary
 
Bill Ruger wrote the words that would form the basis of the AWB. Initially, Bill pushed for a fifteen round limit (to cover his P85/P89 pistol and neuter the Glock 17). SAAMI (and Bush Sr's administration) also supported a fifteen round capacity limit. Sadly, da CongressCritters settled on ten instead.

My view is that ten was chosen because that was the standard magazine capacity of Bill Ruger's pet firearms; his 10/22, Mark II, and Mini14.

From Papa Bill:

"No honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun."
"I never meant for simple civilians to have my 20 or 30 round magazines or my folding stock."
Click to expand...
 
Its the base of our decimal system and therefore we tend to give it undeserved quality.

10 sounds official and important.


Top 10
10 most wanted people
10 commandments


I'm paraphrasing George Carlin of course
 
Well if thats the case we know that Bill passed away (RIP) and the new CEO doesnt share his views.


On that note, Rbernie was there a news article or somewhere that you know of where I can find the context of what Bill was saying? I wouldnt mind reading that whole piece. Thanks
 
Probably because most traffic stops have 6 squad cars and 12 cops to check out a broken tail light. At least that is the case in my area.
 
Bill Ruger told Tom Brokaw, live on camera.....

"No honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun." "I never meant for simple civilians to have my 20 or 30 round magazines or my folding stock." "I see nothing wrong with waiting periods."
Click to expand...

More here, including the text of a statement to Congress on behalf of his company where he basically said the same thing.

http://www.thegunzone.com/rkba/papabill.html
 
Last edited:
10 is arbitrary.

If they can say ten they can say two.

If they can say two they can say one.

If they can say one they can say none.

.
.
.

10 is not the goal. The goal is none.

.
.
.
 
If they can say ten they can say two.

If they can say two they can say one.

If they can say one they can say none.

.
.
.

10 is not the goal. The goal is none.

.
.
.
Click to expand...

And many states have 3 rnd limits for hunting purposes. Where's the outrage there?
 
I'm still curious as to why 10 was the magic number.
Click to expand...

You are trying to apply logical thinking to gun laws, and that's simply not going to happen.

None of these laws have any logical reasoning behind them at all, they are all "gut feeling" laws.

You're never going to get your answer because in all likelihood there isn't one.
 
While this goes as an "understood," I'm still curious as to why 10 was the magic number.
Click to expand...

Seriously, because it's a nice round even number.
If it was 9, it's too low - feels like too much of a restriction. Single digit, low number - very limiting.

11 or 12 doesn't quite sound deliberate enough - just seems random, odd.

13-19 - and now you're into the teens - this sounds too high. What's the point of banning "hi capacity mags" when those hi-cap mags hold a number of rounds generally in the teens to begin with? Above 19 - and now you haven't really done anything have you? If your "hi cap mag" holds say 15 rounds, and you set the max at 20 - well. okay. good job.

so - 10 it is.
 
I'm still curious as to why 10 was the magic number.
Click to expand...
In college I talked about the AWB for an argument class. I found an interview on the subject (lost my source, it was on an older computer) and members of congress were asked why the number was settled on 10. They basically said there was no scientific basis for it, it was just an arbitrary nice rounded number.
There isn't rationale in anything they do with gun regulation. Barrel lengths, bore size, firing rates, etc. Thats why we need to keep their grubby hands off em.
 
I remember Dennis Miller on SNL when CA banned 15 rd mags; "This week California's 15 round magazine ban was approved by every 16th person."

The standards have always been nonsensical and arbitrary. You know none of these guys realize how many rounds lever guns in pistol calibers can carry.
 
I was talking to a Senator and a Congressman during the battle for the "It's a Crime, Biill."

They each said that the word being passed around the Capital offices at the time was that, because the "standard" 1911 carries 8 rounds, using the number 10 would make them seem "reasonable." One more than can be carried in a "standard" 1911. I don't have cites on that as it was a personal interview with each of them.

Pops
 
I am not simple...
"No honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun." "I never meant for simple civilians to have my 20 or 30 round magazines or my folding stock." "I see nothing wrong with waiting periods."
Click to expand...

But I am honest.
 
I saw a past post where it was suggested that there are so many 10-round Ruger 10-22's and Mark l, ll and lll's around in civilian ownership there would be a mell of a hess if the powers that be ever went under "10" as the magic mag number.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top