Michigan House Bill 5249 was introduced last month by Rep. Matt Lori (R) District 59, and if adopted as proposed, would increase the allowable firearms to be used for deer hunting in Zone III (shotgun zone) by including the use of .35 caliber or larger rifles loaded with straight-walled cartridges with a minimum case length of 1.16 inches and a maximum case length of 1.8 inches in Zone III. When one looks at ballistics, these proposed cartridges fit right in with what is currently legal. But, looks can be deceiving.
Currently, only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and handguns loaded with straight-wall cartridges are permitted in the region. Many years ago, Michigan’s response to urbanization created the shotgun zone in a day when shotguns and muzzleloaders didn’t pack the punch they do today. Thinking centered on the safety of Michigan citizens, as well it should have.
But, when Pennsylvania wildlife officials faced similar concerns over 10 years ago about the hazard risks of various firearms, they contacted not only Michigan, but all immediately surrounding states plus Wisconsin. Astonishingly, the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) found not one state had definitive information upon which they banned centerfire rifles. My question to Mr. Lori remains: What information are we using as a basis to revise the rules today?
In March of 2007 Mountain Top Technologies, Inc. completed such a study for PGC to determine if shotguns and muzzleloaders pose less risk than centerfire rifles for hunting deer. As part of the study, details such as ballistics, projectile construction, projectile type, topography, land use, population density, hunter density, and structural density were examined.
The study concluded that shotguns are not always as risky as centerfires! Shotguns firing modern saboted ammunition have a larger danger area than the .30-06 rifle when firing with a small or no-aiming error at approximately zero degrees. All this is based on ricochet characteristics.
While HB 5249 does not open the discussion to all centerfire rifle cartridges, it does open it up based on case length. Conventional wisdom would have us think this is a no-brainer – and, maybe it is. However, facts will be there without thinking, but we shouldn’t have thinking without facts.
Last week, when Mr. Lori and I discussed ballistics of various calibers, he seemed quite agreeable to review the list of more straight-wall cases than proposed in his bill for deer hunting in Zone III. If ever we are to get away from public misconceptions, it will be done with sound scientific analysis, and I urge Rep. Lori to pursue passage of his bill by such means.
Apparently, Michigan’s shotgun zone and related firearms restrictions were based on arbitrary decisions years ago. If there is evidence to the contrary, it’s time to put it on the table. Better yet, if relevant information is not available to back HB 5249, it’s time to learn the truth. Then, let the cards fall as they may, as long as safety is the main concern.
