Cheney voices support of ammo clip ban

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy's bid to ban high-capacity ammunition magazines picked an unlikely supporter Wednesday: former Vice President Dick Cheney.

Cheney, the Republican who accidentally shot a quail-hunting companion in the face on a Texas ranch in 2006, told NBC News that it may be "appropriate" to limit the number of bullets available in a single semiautomatic clip.

"Whether or not there's some measure there in terms of limiting the size of the magazine that you can buy to go with semiautomatic weapons, we've had that in place before," Cheney said. "Maybe it's appropriate to re-establish that kind of thing."

McCarthy (D-Mineola) took Cheney's words as encouragement for her attempt, formally introduced Tuesday in the House, to ban magazines that contain more than 10 rounds.

"We should commend Vice President Cheney . . . " she said. "This is another reminder that this is not a political issue but a public health and safety issue and that we as a nation have a common goal to reduce gun violence in America."

National Rifle Association executive director Chris Cox released a letter to members of Congress denouncing a post-Tucson push for increased gun control. "These magazines are standard equipment for self-defense handguns and other firearms owned by tens of millions of Americans," he wrote.

Cox also took a shot at Rep. Peter King's proposal to forbid firearms within 1,000 feet of a member of Congress. He said it would "impose extraordinary burdens on honest gun owners."

King said his proposal would merely give police "an extra tool" to protect elected officials and prevent incidents like the Tucson shootings.