Semiautomatic Pistol Used in Arizona Shooting Is Same Model Handgun Used in Virginia Tech Shooting

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Jan 10, 2011, 05:00 ET

Violence Policy Center (VPC) Issues Backgrounder on Glock 19 Pistol, High-Capacity Ammunition Magazines Used in Arizona Shooting; VPC Calls on Congress to Ban High-Capacity Magazines, Save Lives

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The same model handgun used in the shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and 19 others on Saturday was also used in the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, the Violence Policy Center (VPC) pointed out today in a backgrounder released on the Glock 19 pistol and ammunition magazine used in the Arizona attack (see http://www.vpc.org/fact_sht/AZbackgrounder.pdf for backgrounder).

Similar semiautomatic firearms with high-capacity magazines have been used in most major mass shootings in the United States in the past 30 years.

The VPC is calling on Congress to pass a new law banning the manufacture and sale of high-capacity magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. A similar ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines was in place for 10 years as part of the now-expired federal assault weapons ban.

"Simply put, high-capacity ammunition magazines make mass shootings possible by allowing shooters to fire multiple rounds very quickly without reloading. An effective ban on high-capacity magazines will help prevent tragedies like the one that claimed six lives and wounded numerous others last Saturday," said Kristen Rand, VPC legislative director. "We can save lives in the future with this simple, effective proposal."

The Violence Policy Center (www.vpc.org) is a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury. Follow the VPC on Twitter (http://twitter.com/VPCinfo) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Violence-Policy-Center/284334690298?ref=ts).

CONTACT: Rob Lamontagne, +1-202-822-8200 x110, [email protected]

SOURCE Violence Policy Center