17 July 01

Limited capacity magazines in Africa. From a friend with the Capetown Traffic Police:

"We have just taken delivery of a new lot of CZs (9mm). As they were being issued to our officers, I noticed that, of the two magazines which came with each gun, one was a standard, fifteen-round magazine. The other was a ten-round magazine, although both were the same external dimensions.

Ten-round (reduced capacity) magazines are only manufactured for the American market, as they are not used in any other part of the world that I know of; certainly not here! This lot of pistols may have been originally destined for the USA. In any event, the ten-rounders cannot be modified back to full capacity, so our officers are discarding them and buying (with their own money) extra, full-capacity magazines. Since we're carrying hardball on duty, and wimpy hardball at that, the last thing we need is "reduced capacity" magazines! Additional, full-capacity magazines will probably, eventually be supplied by the Department, but we are all painfully familiar with the speed at which things get done around here, so most of us are not waiting.

John, please let your American Congress know how much we appreciate this!"

Lesson:

"And that after this is accomplished, and the Brave New World begins, When all men are paid for existing, and no man must pay for his sins, As surely as water will wet us, as surely as fire will burn, The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!"

Kipling

/John