Posted on 06/23/2014 9:27:51 AM PDT by holymoly
A Pennsylvania bill that would legalize AR-15 style semi-automatic rifles for hunting is being criticized by hunters themselves.
The bill proposed in 2013 by Republican Rep. Rick Saccone claims that rapid follow-up shots will increase the odds of harvesting game. Saccone says only two states have banned their use and that there is nothing “frightening or extreme in this proposal.”
A deer hunter of 54 years who wrote an op-ed for YDR.com says the proposal will make hunting unsafe and unethical.
“Marksmanship is the essence of an ethical deer hunt. Spraying 11 shots at a deer (or group of deer) has little to do with marksmanship or ethics,” wrote James A. Morabit, of Monroeville.
“The people who want these firearms feel they have fewer rights than hunters in other states, but these hunters are not the only ones with rights,” Morabit said. “I have a right to be reasonably safe while hunting with my family, and being exposed to barrages of gunfire from firearms designed for police work and warfare is a reckless hazard that cannot be allowed.”
He worried that “private hunting areas are becoming harder to find and landowners would be reluctant to expose themselves to these guns.”
"If Rep. Saccone ever experienced the eruption of gunfire and bullets whizzing around him as I have, he would not say there is 'nothing frightening or extreme,'" he added. "The lawmaker’s job is to protect and serve the citizens of Pennsylvania, and we have an excellent safety record. He is expected to assist that effort, not to loosen the safety standards to the levels of other states."
"As far as I'm concerned, I'm happy with what we have now," said Butler County resident Brian Allison, who is an employee of Gun World in Harrisville.
Vanango County resident Nate Jacoby says he supports the bill and would like to be able to do more with his expensive semi-automatic rifles.
"We have a lot of money tied up in these guns, and it kind of stinks that all we can do with them is target shoot and plink at the range all day," Jacoby told the Post-Gazette. "We're really behind a lot of other states on this thing."
Lowell Graybill, president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Club, said many long-time hunters don’t see the point in using semi-automatic guns to hunt, but they are called to the mat to dispute gun restrictions.
"It's a tough call," Graybill said.
Wonder how the author will feel the day his scoped “deer rifle” suddenly turns into a “High Powered Optically Directed Sniper Rifle” in the eyes of the other side (Psst... it already is, but don’ tell him)...
One Team, One Fight. An AR15 is a modern sporting rifle, a modern Personal Defense Rifle, and every bit as deserving of Second Amendment Protection as any other modern rifle - bolt action, lever action, pump action, and semi-automatic - and clowns that write articles like this should have their motivations questioned always.
We have too many from the other side posing as “gun guys” - you know the type - “I’m all for the Second Amendment, BUT... people don’t need “assault rifles”...”
This kind of crap opens up the “No One Needs 30 Rounds To Hunt Deer” bullsh*t that that psycho Cuomo was screaming about in New York, and gives the other side more ammo in going after our guns. Clearly shows that person has ZERO understanding of the Second Amendment.
Do I personally think you should use an AR15 to hunt deer? If that’s all you have, then why not. The real question is, is .223/5.56mm big enough to stop a deer?
If it’ll put a 200+ pound human being down, it’ll probably drop a 200+ pound deer as well.
If they want to pass legislation, maybe it should be a minimum required caliber for animals weighing XX number of pounds... for instance .45-70 for Black Bear, .30-30 for Elk, .458 for Moose etc.
I’m not a hunter, so all of you hunters out here can probably do a better job of this.
I didn’t even know they were thinking about doing this here. I’m all for it! Be great for ground hogs.
Only idiots don’t support this...
I used to volunteer to wok gun shows to sign up people for the local gun rights group. I found the same in GA hunters. Usually didn’t get much of this at gun shows, but the hunting shows there was a lot of this attitude that only hunters guns were to be protected under the second amendment - probably all democrats. Ignoranuses who think that only their guns should be protected. P*** on ‘em.
Spraying 11 rounds... What state allows hunters to a 11 round capacity? Here in California there is a 5 round maximum capacity.
Also, is it more humane to hit a deer once and have it run off and bleed out, or hit it 3 times and die quicker.
This is just about evil black guns. I thought the Browning BAR semi hunting rifle was allowed in many states.
What hunter wants to shoot an Elk 11 times and ruin all that meat? There is a reason some hunters only go for head shots.
Indeed. This is a no brainer. Follow up shots are needed to prevent the animal from running and suffering and spoiling the meat. I use my PSL for hog hunting. One make it fall on the body and the finish in the head in case I missed vitals.
Liberals are trying to divide gun owners between their trades. It is how it begun with “ why do they need a full auto” and people on the border are now suffering because some cozy selfish jacka$$ hunter up North thought he knew better. If there is anything thag should involve State rights, it is firearms regs.
If he hunts in such a way as he’s shooting at other hunters, he’s already breaking the rules.
I have young, former Marines in the family. Last fall, one of them proved to me that the 223/5.56 was, indeed, suitable for white tail.
You simply have to understand the limitations of the cartridge.
These idiots fight each other too as to who is righteous, those hunting for meat or those for trophy... smh .. and yeah I got the dum lecture as to why would anyone have a gun if they do not hunt... aside that it is a good investment that holds some value, why should he go for WalMart toys nd call of duty video games then?
“”
The problem with hunting deer with an AR-15 is not that it is semi-automatic but rather the caliber is too small.””
As the AR15 is available in over 30 calibers, that makes as much sense as saying the Remmington 700 is too small for deer.
The 50 Beowulf has the ballistics of the 45-70 which some say is too much for deer.
“Hunting hogs with an Ar15 is very effective...the quick follow up shots are really useful.”
Oh, well... yeah, I fill hogs with holes with my ARs any chance I get. Which is kinda why I’m curious that there is suddenly (from that one guy in the article) some ethical issue with lighting Bambi up versus trying to bolt action one possible hit at a time.
Of course, down here, deer is hunted for food and not solely for bragging rights about how well you “finessed” the shot.
(We hunt hogs with knives down here, too. At night. Yep.)
GACarry?
I agree with your post and have had the same response from Democrat hunters in GA at hunt shows.
My brother-in-law is one. If you get him talking he’ll tell you outright that only certain groups of people (he means Ivy League grads) should have the right to gun ownership.
Democrats innately yearn for Titles and Monarchy. It’s a disease.
Maybe they ought to limit hunting to either single shot muzzle loaders or bow and arrow? Wouldn't that be even more conducive to "marksmanship" and "ethics"?
Better yet, how about allowing spears, knives, and tomahawks only?
Support what, exactly? The law prohibiting something that isn’t an actual issue?
Don’t they allow semi-auto shotguns for hunting in PA?
No puny AR-15 can match the spray of lead from a Remington 1100 loaded with 5 rounds of 3” Mag #1 buckshot!
120 30 caliber lead balls can be sent downrange in the blink of an eye, any one of which can kill you, or a deer.
A lot of folks from both sides of the ideological aisles express anti-technology views towards modern firearms or weapons. I think it many hunters believe they’re part of a skilled elite group and anything that makes their avocation easier is cheapening it. But, this is also how these same people are killing the interest newbies may have about getting into the sport.
I’m an avid upland and waterfowl hunter and too often some clown berates another would-be bird hunter because that person doesn’t have a fine double gun, like a side-by-side or over-under. Quite frankly, I used to make fun of bird hunters who used 12 gauge shotguns for quail hunting since they would obliterate the tiny birds and make them difficult to clean and eat. But, now, if using a 12 gauge gets people involved in hunting then I’m all for it even if a few dead quail are inedible.
On your last point, several Dems I know have that exact attitude - they’re more special than others. When I questioned one Obama-nut why he didn’t register his firearms in Chicago (he was a resident), he said he had friends in the Daley administration, like that’s an exemption. What a moron!
No, earlier - CSG
I used to use a 16 on quail & pheasant back before I decided hunting was too much like work.
An AR-15 does not mean .223/5.56 they come in a wide variety of calibers.
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