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.
I detest and loathe people like this. An ignorant, loud-mouth Elmer Fudd, who apparently knows little, or nothing, about firearms (and probably thinks the Second Amendment protects his "right to hunt").
I wonder what this dullard would say, if someone went hunting with a military-surplus bolt-action '03 Springfield, Lee-Enfield, Mosin-Nagant, or Mauser 98K.
Would he still whine and belly-ache about people using weapons "designed for police work and warfare"?
And what about a Remington 700, which has been adopted by the USMC as the M40 Sniper Rifle?
/rant
The problem with hunting deer with an AR-15 is not that it is semi-automatic but rather the caliber is too small.
My shotgun has to be plugged to limit shells. perhaps plugging the ar15 to 3 in the magazine?
There are always the jackasses who don’t care about anyone else’s rights or preferances just as long as their particular cup of tea is not upset.
Remember the former editor of Guns & Ammo? He discovered there are huge number of people who like to use AR style rifles, not only for protection or emergencies but also to hunt with.
Just a guess, but Mr. Morabit's horrible experience under a barrage of gunfire is something he could avoid by not eating spicy foods just before he goes to bed.
NY has for years had a five shot maximum on semi autos used for hunting. The purpose was to prevent an overeager hunter from spraying a deer. The regulation was passed years ago before the omnipresence of .223 weapons. Most weapons at the time were surplus M1s and for smaller game M1 carbines. While I have hunted only occasionally my cousin hunted every deer season. He often used his M1 Tanker with a five shot clip. Most seasons rangers and/ or troopers would inspect his weapon for compliance. Modern .223s and Ruger 30s, SKSs and AKs can easily comply with a limit like NY.
Buncha stinkin Fudds.
Yes, most places, that I know of, that let you hunt with semis require a 5 round magazine.
No, a quick follow up shot without losing your sight picture is not unsafe or unethical.
Yes, ,223 might be a little small for deer (legal in some states though) but the AR can be built in lots of calibers that are fine for deer.
I thought they were restricted to shotguns anyway.
My state limits caliber used and maximum magazine capacity, not the function of the action.
Is .223 even a viable deer hunting round? I’m not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I always understood .223 to be a “varmint round”, better suited to small game.
At any rate, both the author of the article and the guy who wrote the original editorial need to get a clue. There are a number of semi-auto hunting rifles out there, and I seriously doubt those that use them “spray and pray” when they hunt.
Also, I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that the proposed law would allow ALL semi-auto rifles to be used, not just those darn old scary “AR-15 style” rifles.
How about my M-1 Garand? It is a semi automatic military rifle. Although it is not black so it is not scary and can’t attack people on it’s own like some others do.
Agreed. Its not the optimal weapon for deer hunting. Same deal with the AK 74.
Many years ago I went out with my brother-in-law. He carried a Ruger 10/22 and 100 rds of CCI mini-mag ammo. I carried my dad's old bolt action Stevens and 15 rds of ammo in my pocket. At the end of the day, I had two rabbits and 12 rds unfired in my pocket. One ground squirrel left for the coyotes. My bother-in-law exhausted his box of ammo, raised lots of dust and scared some small animals, but none died at his hands. It really isn't the tool. It's the person using the tool.
In defense of my brother-in-law's marksmanship, he has taken the time to go hunting for deer and elk. He has bagged a few. I've never taken the opportunity...mostly because my employer manages to send me on long trips just as hunting season opens.
The AR-15 is not exclusively .223/5.56.
I’m a bird hunter not a deer hunter, but I have to ask:
What is “unethical” about spraying your dinner with bullets to be sure of a good, solid, quick, and merciful kill?
It’s what I do with bird shot. Every time.
This dude is really arguing that a chance at wounding the poor thing si morally superior?
Why is that? (not the AK)
Good point. I’d forgotten that.
An AR15 is a tool just like a Rem 700...different tools for different jobs.
Hunting hogs with an Ar15 is very effective...the quick follow up shots are really useful.
Plants?
5.56 caliber is not designed to take down large game. Its a great coyote and pest round.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.