Appeals court says California’s higher-capacity magazine ban can remain in effect amid legal fight

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An appeals court says California’s ban on higher-capacity magazines can remain in effect while the state fights a lower court’s ruling that the law is unconstitutional. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal on Tuesday granted state Attorney General Rob Bonta’s emergency motion for a stay of last month’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez. The appeals court wrote that the attorney general is likely to succeed on merits.  The law bans detachable magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. The September ruling marked the second time Benitez struck down the law. The first time he struck it down was in 2017 and an appeals court ended up reversing his decision.