The American Spectator

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WITH AN ELECTION coming up in which a Democratic president is likely and a filibuster-proof Democratic Senate is conceivable, all this does force Second Amendment supporters to look ahead.

The Supreme Court will rule on Washington, DC's handgun ban before then, but there's no doubt the court will leave the door open to many forms of gun control. The gun-rights faithful may very well have to compromise.

At issue here is the fact that both Kazmierczak and Cho used high-capacity magazines (coincidentally, Kazmierczak ordered his magazine from the same Internet dealer from which Cho ordered one of his handguns), and if liberals force guns-rights supporters' hands, this might be a good place to give a little.

Of course, bans on such magazines -- one was in effect for a decade under the assault-weapons ban -- are rather stupid: It's no real effort for a shooter to switch magazines. As far as a Kazmierczak or a Cho is concerned, a 30-round magazine adds only a little convenience to three 10-round magazines. A little convenience is why most people buy them.

However, the very reason they're stupid is the reason they're not a great threat to people's ability to defend themselves. There are some situations where a homeowner might benefit from a high-cap magazine against an invader (he might not think to stuff extra magazines in his boxers when he grabs his gun from his nightstand, and a recent study showed that even police miss suspects within six feet more than half the time), but home invasions with 10 or more shots fired are rare.

At the very least, Second Amendment types could agree to require high-cap magazines be shipped to licensed dealers and subject to instant background checks -- the rule currently applied to firearms but not accessories. This wouldn't have stopped either shooter, but again, it's a minimal infringement on the law-abiding and it makes lefties feel good.

It is truly sad that, while Virginia Tech prompted an increase in mental-health reporting, its reach did not extend deep enough to ensure a truly comprehensive system. The biggest gun-control lesson of NIU is a redundant one, and one we ought to learn this time, quickly and without distraction.

topics:
Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Law, Supreme Court