Straight-Wall Cartridges in Michigan’s Southern Zone III
GW: This bill died last year and has been brought back to life by Representative Matt Lori, whom I worked with last year on this bill. The arguments against the bill are lame.
1) “… could create the perception of a public safety risk…” So, educate the uninformed.
2) “Allowing certain rifles that shoot straight-walled cartridges could result in conservation officers having to enter privately-owned land to check cartridges…” Since the DNR doesn’t enter privately-owned land to check – for the sake of checking – anything else, what’s the big deal about checking calibers. Same with pistols in the Zone III during deeer season. How do they know a pistol meets the requirements – minimum caliber, no centerfire cartridges, etc? They don’t! And, what has been the issue with this over the last decade? None.
Get on with it!
ALLOW THE USE OF RIFLES IN “SHOTGUN” ZONE
House Bill 4283 (reported from committee without amendment)
BRIEF SUMMARY: The bill would allow the use of certain specific rifles during the regular firearm deer season in the area that is currently restricted to only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and certain types of pistols.
FISCAL IMPACT: The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources. Under the bill, areas of the state which lie within the limited firearms area would now be open to the use of certain specific rifles during the firearm deer season, whereas, under current law, the use of all rifles in these areas is prohibited.
According to the DNR, the provisions of the bill may make firearm regulations harder to enforce in the part of the state below the current rifle/shotgun zone boundary since under current law, there is a clear prohibition against all rifles in these areas during the firearm deer hunting season. Under current law, only shotguns, muzzle loaders, and certain handguns may be used during the firearm deer season below the rifle/shotgun zone boundary line. Any additional enforcement costs to the DNR would be dependent upon possible increased law enforcement activities under the bill’s provisions and any additional complaints that conservation officers might be called upon to investigate.
THE APPARENT PROBLEM:
Michigan is currently divided into two zones for firearm deer season: a northern zone where rifles can be used for deer hunting, and a southern zone where only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and certain handguns can be used. According to committee testimony, rifles are prohibited in the southern zone because the rounds potentially travel farther and pose possible safety concerns due to the higher population density of the region. Pistols that shoot straight-walled cartridges are currently allowed for hunting in the southern shotgun.
In 2007, the Indiana Natural Resources Commission adopted administrative rules to allow for the use of rifles that fired certain straight-walled pistol cartridges. As is being proposed in Michigan, legal rifles in Indiana must meet certain criteria related to caliber and case length.
Some people propose allowing the use of certain rifles that shoot straight-walled cartridges so as to (1) attract additional youth and female hunters and (2) to bring Michigan in line with surrounding states.
THE CONTENT OF THE BILL:
The bill would amend Part 435 (Hunting and Fishing Licensing) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow individuals to use the following firearms in the limited firearms area during the regular firearm deer season:
o A shotgun with a smooth or rifled barrel.
o A .35-caliber or larger pistol that can hold up to nine shells at a time in the barrel and magazine combined and loaded with straight walled cartridges.
o A muzzle-loading rifle or black-powder rifle loaded with black powder or a commercially manufactured black powder substitute.
o A .35-caliber or larger rifle loaded with straight-walled cartridges that have a minimum case length of 1.16 and a maximum case length of 1.80 inches.
Under the bill, limited firearms area would be identical to the area currently designated as the “southern shotgun zone” (see map below).
MCL 324.43529
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Michigan is divided into a northern rifle zone, where rifles may be used for firearm deer hunting, and a southern shotgun zone, where only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and certain handguns can be used. The zones are exclusive to firearm deer hunting and are estimated below.
[Please see the PDF version of this analysis, if available, to view this image.]
ARGUMENTS:
For:
Adopting this change will bring Michigan in line with Indiana and could potentially prevent Michigan hunters from leaving the state to hunt. According to testimony, rifles that shoot straight-walled cartridges cause less recoil than shotguns. Less recoil may be appealing to youth, women, and senior citizens and could provide additional opportunities for those populations to hunt during the firearm deer season.
According to testimony, there is little difference in the velocity of a straight-walled cartridge shot from a rifle or a slug shot from a shotgun. Assuming that to be true, this new exception would not appear to pose significantly increased safety risks to hunters or the general public. Many believe the straight-walled cartridges will provide greater accuracy. Additionally, it is currently legal to hunt with a handgun that shoots straight-walled cartridges. If enacted, the bill would continue to allow the use of straight-walled cartridges and would simply expand the weapon configurations legally available to hunters.
Against:
The state is currently divided into a northern and southern zone for the firearm deer season. According to committee testimony, the division is intended to prevent the use of long-range firearms in southern portions of the state because of higher population densities. However, allowing the use of rifles with straight-walled cartridges, even if they shoot a distance similar to what is currently allowed, could create the perception of a public safety risk. This could lead to local communities requesting the closure of some hunting land, potentially eliminating hunting opportunities.
Additionally, the DNR has concerns over how it would enforce this new exception. Currently, conservation officers are able to monitor and check firearm compliance from long distances because all rifles are currently prohibited in the southern shotgun zone. Allowing certain rifles that shoot straight-walled cartridges could result in conservation officers having to enter privately-owned land to check cartridges, rather than simply being able to check the gun from the road using binoculars. Such action may be seen as intrusive by hunters and could serve to disrupt the hunting experience.
POSITIONS:
Michigan United Conservation Clubs supports the bill. (4-28-13)
Michigan Department of Natural Resources opposes the bill. (5-9-13)
Legislative Analyst: Jeff Stoutenburg
Fiscal Analyst: Viola Bay Wild
I see no downsides to this bill. If you can already use these cartridges with a pistol, why not allow them with a rifle where they will be more accurate? More accurate shots are safer, and more humane, period!
One of my best friends is a DNR Officer and he personally sees this bill in the exact same way I do.
As for DNR Resources checking firearms, you can still check them with binoculars if you’re good with firearms. I would argue, most of these guys are. There aren’t tons of rifles that use straight walled cartridges.
Agreed. I don’t see any meaningful opposition on this one, either. When I testified at a House committee meeting last year on the bill, that didn’t make it to a final vote, the ballistics spoke the truth for me.