ST. LOUIS — Although handguns are still most commonly used in violent crimes, police officials in the St. Louis area say they're seeing an alarming rise in shootings involving firearms with large-capacity magazines capable of firing more rounds and thereby causing more injury and death.
"In the '80s, guys had Saturday night specials," said St. Louis Officer Jay Schroeder, president of the St. Louis Police Officers Association. "Now guys have firearms with 30-round magazines. They're spraying bullets all over the place."
St. Louis-area police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives do not keep comprehensive data on large-capacity magazines used in shootings, in part because they're unregulated by state or federal law. But police suspect their use in shootings is contributing to the area's rising homicide rate.
