SB 737 allow Hunting with Semi automatic Rifles in PA – Rep Saccone 2015-2016

[masakarijoe]

I'm hoping for complete legalization, no crazy special rules and regulations.
I emailed the PGC with a long and detailed message, and the response I received was genuine and appreciative.
Please, send an email to the PGC with your thoughts, it makes a difference.

[WhiteFeather]

Here is you last chance to make your feeling for supporting hunting with semi-auto live and in person FTF to the PGC BOD

You also still have time to send emails to express your opinion >SEE ATTACHMENT< for details

http://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.ph...02#post3447802

/\read info on link /\




PGC > Information & Resources >Upcoming Events

Board of Game commissioners to meet January 29-31, 2017

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners will hold its first quarterly meeting of 2017, from Jan. 29 thru Jan. 31 at the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters.

On Sunday, Jan. 29, beginning at 1 p.m., the commissioners will hear public recommendations for 2017-18 hunting and furtaking seasons and bag limits. Doors will open at noon. Individuals interested in offering public testimony – limited to five minutes – may register beginning at noon on a first-come, first-to-speak basis.
On Monday, Jan. 30, the board will gather any additional public comments and hear Game Commission staff reports beginning at 8:45 a.m. Doors open at 7:45 a.m. Registration for those interested in offering public testimony – limited to five minutes – also will begin at that time. PowerPoint presentations are not permitted during the public comment period.

On Tuesday, Jan. 31, beginning at 8:45 a.m., the board will take up its prepared agenda to give preliminary approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for 2017-18. Doors open at 7:45 a.m.

The Game Commission’s headquarters is located at 2001 Elmerton Avenue, just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County. The meeting is scheduled to be live-streamed beginning Monday morning, immediately following the conclusion of public comments.




Lots of you have work very hard to help get the legislators to remove PA as the last remaining state to allow hunting with semi-auto rifles

Here is your chance to finish the task and make your voice heard at this Jan 2017 public comment hearing, sign up and be there! ~ or ~ deal with the result of being silent and being disappointed.

rise to the occasion to personally make a difference in the outcome



BTW a little birdie has said the those against any big game hunting with semi-auto rifles have been very vocal.
while those in support semi-auto rifles for big game and everything haven't been speaking up as much.

Lots of "the traditionalist" see they have to give up something as its already been legal in 49th others states.... so they are willing to reluctantly only letting you using semi-auto rifles for small game, coyotes, foxes, groundhogs and that is about it, and they been very vocal about this is all the freedom to choose they will tolerate.

Keep in mind these are the same ("the traditionalist") people that was good to go with PA being the ONLY state in the county that still banned any hunting with semi-auto rifles for years and lobbied against ANY change.


PA is a large state with many remote area sparsely populate area especially north central PA with vast tracts of public land and they are still opposed to allowing anyone to hunt big game with semi-auto even in these rural areas.

See comment about semi-auto shotguns for deer for decades in most densely population in PA along shotgun vs center fire safety study in post reference above.

You have the documentation and tools to make the case in person to support total adoption for semi-auto rifles IF you choose to speak up!

[WhiteFeather]

Reminder

This is probably you last chance to make your voice heard before the decision is final

SPEAK UP or don't complain about the outcome

Lets make hunting with freedom of choice in PA great again

Here is you last chance to make your feeling for supporting hunting with semi-auto live and in person FTF to the PGC BOD

You also still have time to send emails to express your opinion >SEE ATTACHMENT< for details

http://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.ph...02#post3447802

/\read info on link /\




PGC > Information & Resources >Upcoming Events

Board of Game commissioners to meet January 29-31, 2017

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners will hold its first quarterly meeting of 2017, from Jan. 29 thru Jan. 31 at the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters.

On Sunday, Jan. 29, beginning at 1 p.m., the commissioners will hear public recommendations for 2017-18 hunting and furtaking seasons and bag limits. Doors will open at noon. Individuals interested in offering public testimony – limited to five minutes – may register beginning at noon on a first-come, first-to-speak basis.
On Monday, Jan. 30, the board will gather any additional public comments and hear Game Commission staff reports beginning at 8:45 a.m. Doors open at 7:45 a.m. Registration for those interested in offering public testimony – limited to five minutes – also will begin at that time. PowerPoint presentations are not permitted during the public comment period.

On Tuesday, Jan. 31, beginning at 8:45 a.m., the board will take up its prepared agenda to give preliminary approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for 2017-18. Doors open at 7:45 a.m.

The Game Commission’s headquarters is located at 2001 Elmerton Avenue, just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County. The meeting is scheduled to be live-streamed beginning Monday morning, immediately following the conclusion of public comments.




Lots of you have work very hard to help get the legislators to remove PA as the last remaining state to allow hunting with semi-auto rifles

Here is your chance to finish the task and make your voice heard at this Jan 2017 public comment hearing, sign up and be there! ~ or ~ deal with the result of being silent and being disappointed.

rise to the occasion to personally make a difference in the outcome



BTW a little birdie has said the those against any big game hunting with semi-auto rifles have been very vocal.
while those in support semi-auto rifles for big game and everything haven't been speaking up as much.

Lots of "the traditionalist" see they have to give up something as its already been legal in 49th others states.... so they are willing to reluctantly only letting you using semi-auto rifles for small game, coyotes, foxes, groundhogs and that is about it, and they been very vocal about this is all the freedom to choose they will tolerate.

Keep in mind these are the same ("the traditionalist") people that was good to go with PA being the ONLY state in the county that still banned any hunting with semi-auto rifles for years and lobbied against ANY change.


PA is a large state with many remote area sparsely populate area especially north central PA with vast tracts of public land and they are still opposed to allowing anyone to hunt big game with semi-auto even in these rural areas.

See comment about semi-auto shotguns for deer for decades in most densely population in PA along shotgun vs center fire safety study in post reference above.

You have the documentation and tools to make the case in person to support total adoption for semi-auto rifles IF you choose to speak up!

[WhiteFeather]

Reminder

This is probably you last chance to make your voice heard before the decision is final

SPEAK UP or don't complain about the outcome

Lets make hunting with freedom of choice in PA great again

IF you are in favor of having the freedom to choose to hunt with semi-auto rifle in PA
here probably you last opportunity on Jan 29 -31, 2017

PGC > Information & Resources >Upcoming Events

Board of Game commissioners to meet January 29-31, 2017

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners will hold its first quarterly meeting of 2017, from Jan. 29 thru Jan. 31 at the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters.

On Sunday, Jan. 29, beginning at 1 p.m., the commissioners will hear public recommendations for 2017-18 hunting and furtaking seasons and bag limits. Doors will open at noon. Individuals interested in offering public testimony – limited to five minutes – may register beginning at noon on a first-come, first-to-speak basis.
On Monday, Jan. 30, the board will gather any additional public comments and hear Game Commission staff reports beginning at 8:45 a.m. Doors open at 7:45 a.m. Registration for those interested in offering public testimony – limited to five minutes – also will begin at that time. PowerPoint presentations are not permitted during the public comment period.

On Tuesday, Jan. 31, beginning at 8:45 a.m., the board will take up its prepared agenda to give preliminary approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for 2017-18. Doors open at 7:45 a.m.

The Game Commission’s headquarters is located at 2001 Elmerton Avenue, just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County. The meeting is scheduled to be live-streamed beginning Monday morning, immediately following the conclusion of public comments.

BTW a little birdy (thanks to many speaking up) said the PGC is "seriously" considering allowing hunting with semi-auto rifle and semi-auto shotgun (besides just the urban areas like they have for decades) for big game in PA with a VERY limited round capacity.

After all hunting with semi-auto rifles has been legal in 49 other states and in PA for special regs deer for decades with semi-auto shotguns so the type of firearm action to cycle shells hasn't been a problem anywhere. Revolvers by design are also a form of auto loading firearm

Proposed capacity was outlined in Rep Saccone's original HB 366 see OP page


The real question to ask is the magazine capacity going to required to plugged or pinned to specifically limited the amount of rounds in firearm......

~or~

Is the loading of the magazine capacity going to be based on honor system as it currently is for several states surrounding PA that trust their hunters to not load more in the magazine without being plugged or pinned to limit capacity .

The PGC could also give US that same “honor system” option much like they do at the PGC public shooting ranges, which also gives them a extra reason to check your rifle while hunting.




For your reference here is a snap shot at all the PA adjoining states with hunt regs concerning magazine capacity

Before NY SAFE Act passage the limit was 10 rounds
Now its reduced to 6 rounds because of the so called SAFE Act
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28182.html

• with any semi-automatic firearm with a capacity to hold more than 6 rounds, EXCEPT the following semi-automatic firearms:
1. firearms using .22 or .17 caliber rimfire ammunition, or
2. firearms altered to reduce their capacity to no more than 6 shells at one time in the magazine and chamber combined, or
3. autoloading pistols with a barrel length of less than eight inches.

Maryland also not know to be gun owner friendly allows semi-auto rifles for hunting
http://www.eregulations.com/maryland...m-regulations/
Rifle Regulations
• Rifles used for deer and bear hunting must use ammunition developing a muzzle energy of at least 1,200 foot pounds.
• Firearms used for deer and bear hunting may not have an ammunition clip loaded with more than 8 cartridges or bullets. If a clip has the capacity to hold more than 8 rounds, the clip does not have to be physically blocked, but no more than 8 cartridges or bullets may be loaded.
• Rifles may be used to hunt all game mammals (except beavers, weasels, mink, muskrats, and river otters), turkeys during the fall season only, quail, pheasants, ruffed grouse, crows, nutria, and woodchucks.
• It is only lawful to hunt with ammunition of soft point (expanding) construction. All military, full metal jacketed, incendiary or tracer bullets are prohibited.
• Breech-loading rifles are those that are not loaded from the muzzle and include, but are not limited to, break action, bolt action, pump action, lever action, falling block, and semi-automatic rifles.



Even New Jersey allows the use of semi-auto rifles for hunting even if they are subject to increasing levels of gun control
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2014/dighnt22-33.pdf
A modern rifle magazine need not be pinned (plugged), but may be loaded with no more than three cartridges. Rife permit holders of all ages may hunt with all rifle types as allowed by New Jersey laws.

Wow even NJ trusts hunters to be responsible enough and not put more rounds in the gun yet in PA we can trust you to hunt responsibly with a semi-auto firearm.

Ohio has no magazine capacity limit for semi-auto rifles except for deer - see correction.
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/hunting-...ting-equipment
Correction - in 2014 it was legal in OHIO to hunt with Rifles that use some straight wall cases in limited calibers (including semi-auto rifles) for deer, there is no mag capacity for hunting with semi-auto rifles in Ohio for other game - Shotguns and straight-walled cartridge rifles can be loaded with no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined read details here
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/portals/...Cartridges.pdf


West Virginia has no magazine capacity limit for semi-auto rifles
http://www.wvdnr.gov/hunting/hunting_regs.shtm

As of 2016 Delaware only allowed hunting semi-auto rifles for small game is limited parts of state and only allowed limited center fire rifle / pistols / shotguns to be used for big game
http://www.eregulations.com/delaware...g-information/

[DreadPirateMoyer]

IF you are in favor of having the freedom to choose to hunt with semi-auto rifle in PA
here probably you last opportunity on Jan 29 -31, 2017



BTW a little birdy (thanks to many speaking up) said the PGC is "seriously" considering allowing hunting with semi-auto rifle and semi-auto shotgun (besides just the urban areas like they have for decades) for big game in PA with a VERY limited round capacity.

After all hunting with semi-auto rifles has been legal in 49 other states and in PA for special regs deer for decades with semi-auto shotguns so the type of firearm action to cycle shells hasn't been a problem anywhere. Revolvers by design are also a form of auto loading firearm

Proposed capacity was outlined in Rep Saccone's original HB 366 see OP page


The real question to ask is the magazine capacity going to required to plugged or pinned to specifically limited the amount of rounds in firearm......

~or~

Is the loading of the magazine capacity going to be based on honor system as it currently is for several states surrounding PA that trust their hunters to not load more in the magazine without being plugged or pinned to limit capacity .

The PGC could also give US that same “honor system” option much like they do at the PGC public shooting ranges, which also gives them a extra reason to check your rifle while hunting.




For your reference here is a snap shot at all the PA adjoining states with hunt regs concerning magazine capacity

Before NY SAFE Act passage the limit was 10 rounds
Now its reduced to 6 rounds because of the so called SAFE Act
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28182.html

• with any semi-automatic firearm with a capacity to hold more than 6 rounds, EXCEPT the following semi-automatic firearms:
1. firearms using .22 or .17 caliber rimfire ammunition, or
2. firearms altered to reduce their capacity to no more than 6 shells at one time in the magazine and chamber combined, or
3. autoloading pistols with a barrel length of less than eight inches.

Maryland also not know to be gun owner friendly allows semi-auto rifles for hunting
http://www.eregulations.com/maryland...m-regulations/
Rifle Regulations
• Rifles used for deer and bear hunting must use ammunition developing a muzzle energy of at least 1,200 foot pounds.
• Firearms used for deer and bear hunting may not have an ammunition clip loaded with more than 8 cartridges or bullets. If a clip has the capacity to hold more than 8 rounds, the clip does not have to be physically blocked, but no more than 8 cartridges or bullets may be loaded.
• Rifles may be used to hunt all game mammals (except beavers, weasels, mink, muskrats, and river otters), turkeys during the fall season only, quail, pheasants, ruffed grouse, crows, nutria, and woodchucks.
• It is only lawful to hunt with ammunition of soft point (expanding) construction. All military, full metal jacketed, incendiary or tracer bullets are prohibited.
• Breech-loading rifles are those that are not loaded from the muzzle and include, but are not limited to, break action, bolt action, pump action, lever action, falling block, and semi-automatic rifles.



Even New Jersey allows the use of semi-auto rifles for hunting even if they are subject to increasing levels of gun control
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2014/dighnt22-33.pdf
A modern rifle magazine need not be pinned (plugged), but may be loaded with no more than three cartridges. Rife permit holders of all ages may hunt with all rifle types as allowed by New Jersey laws.

Wow even NJ trusts hunters to be responsible enough and not put more rounds in the gun yet in PA we can trust you to hunt responsibly with a semi-auto firearm.

Ohio has no magazine capacity limit for semi-auto rifles except for deer - see correction.
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/hunting-...ting-equipment
Correction - in 2014 it was legal in OHIO to hunt with Rifles that use some straight wall cases in limited calibers (including semi-auto rifles) for deer, there is no mag capacity for hunting with semi-auto rifles in Ohio for other game - Shotguns and straight-walled cartridge rifles can be loaded with no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined read details here
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/portals/...Cartridges.pdf


West Virginia has no magazine capacity limit for semi-auto rifles
http://www.wvdnr.gov/hunting/hunting_regs.shtm

As of 2016 Delaware only allowed hunting semi-auto rifles for small game is limited parts of state and only allowed limited center fire rifle / pistols / shotguns to be used for big game
http://www.eregulations.com/delaware...g-information/

I see only WhiteFeather posting in this thread, and that's super worrisome. You turds better be showing up tomorrow, as tomorrow is the real battle for this to be a reality!

[gun-bunny]

I'd say the meeting went pretty well, the room was packed, and only the first guy really had anything negative to say. He wanted the PGC board to take it's time to determine the regulations for large game SA rifle use over a few seasons. I left the meeting after speaking so I didn't get to hear anything after that point in time. I can only hope more of the PAFOA community had a chance to voice their opinions like I did.

Well, Mr Pennsylvania Farm Bureau was entitled to his opinion; mine was a little different. I asked the board to allow large game hunting with SA rifles this season with a few examples. 1) All our surrounding states already use SA rifles for deer, why would we have to learn and invent rules if everyone else around us are using them safely now? 2) SA rifle technology has been around for a long time- it's not new tech that we have to figure out how to use- we KNOW how to use our rifles. 3) the spray-and-pray approach to hunting is not a valid reason to deny it's use because ammunition is far to expensive to blast away.

I might not have been the most articulate, but I do have years of experience behind various SA rifles in sport and competition use. I have friends in other states that use AR-15's to hunt deer with great success (yes, even the lowly 5.56 NATO can down a deer reliably). I just hope I got my point across, because the 5 minutes allotted sure went by quickly, and I didn't even get to my last couple of facts that I had.

[widgetman101]

I'd say the meeting went pretty well, the room was packed, and only the first guy really had anything negative to say. He wanted the PGC board to take it's time to determine the regulations for large game SA rifle use over a few seasons. I left the meeting after speaking so I didn't get to hear anything after that point in time. I can only hope more of the PAFOA community had a chance to voice their opinions like I did.

Well, Mr Pennsylvania Farm Bureau was entitled to his opinion; mine was a little different. I asked the board to allow large game hunting with SA rifles this season with a few examples. 1) All our surrounding states already use SA rifles for deer, why would we have to learn and invent rules if everyone else around us are using them safely now? 2) SA rifle technology has been around for a long time- it's not new tech that we have to figure out how to use- we KNOW how to use our rifles. 3) the spray-and-pray approach to hunting is not a valid reason to deny it's use because ammunition is far to expensive to blast away.

I might not have been the most articulate, but I do have years of experience behind various SA rifles in sport and competition use. I have friends in other states that use AR-15's to hunt deer with great success (yes, even the lowly 5.56 NATO can down a deer reliably). I just hope I got my point across, because the 5 minutes allotted sure went by quickly, and I didn't even get to my last couple of facts that I had.

I know this thread is more geared around the SA part of the bill but it's my understanding this bill also relates to air rifle hunting too. Was there much said about this at the meeting today?

[staylo]

The rumor I heard was 5+1 capacity is being considered.

[mpan72]

I know this thread is more geared around the SA part of the bill but it's my understanding this bill also relates to air rifle hunting too. Was there much said about this at the meeting today?

Originaly posted by ExFlyinguy in a related thread
http://www.pgc.pa.gov/InformationRes...y%20Agenda.pdf

Looks like a good chance of getting airgun as well, at least it is being considered for next year.

[jemjrm99]

was there a magazine limit (proposed/rumor) for small game? I didn't see any in the agenda.