SENATE BILL LIMITING GUNS MIGHT HURT DEER HUNTING, BUSINESSES
Apr 05 2003
Travis Deneal/The Southern Illinoisan
Hunters and gun owners are -- pardon the phrase -- up in arms about new legislation in the statehouse which could restrict firearms.
The legislation, Senate Bill 1195, on the surface attempts to halt the manufacture and ownership of semi-automatic "assault weapons."
I use quotes because on the surface, one man's .22-caliber squirrel rifle is another man's assault rifle. With a few aftermarket products, such as a synthetic fold-up stock, a muzzle shroud and a bipod, my own .22 could resemble an assault rifle, and it does have a semi-automatic action.
That, however, is not my point of contention. There is debate whether the legislation would also severely cripple the use of shotguns for deer season. SB 1195 contains language outlawing any weapon and bullet greater than .50-caliber in diameter.
While some points of the legislation seem to exclude banning shotguns, some area legislators maintain shotguns would become illegal.
State law requires the use of shotgun slugs, large diameter lead bullets encased in shotshells, for shotgun deer season. Most shotgun gauges would be illegal with the exception of 28 gauge, the minimum gauge legal for deer season.
As a hunter and gun owner, I have concerns about outlawing some of my weapons and a pastime.
As a person who spends a lot of time driving to and from work, I have concerns about an increased chance of a collision with a deer if most of the guns used to hunt them are made illegal.
But my own concerns and biases aside, I fear for the financial impact such misguided legislation would have on the Southern Illinois region.
Every year, droves of hunters converge on Southern Illinois for the shotgun/muzzleloader deer season, which is three days in November and four in December. Hotels, motels, restaurants, liquor stores, retail merchants, gas stations, convenience stores and other businesses not only depend on this seasonal influx of dollars -- they encourage it.
Usually from October through the end of December, signs welcoming deer hunters can be seen at businesses throughout the Southern Illinois region.
Any possible restriction on shotguns would damage that business.
The legislation in question is solely to protect people in the Chicago area and perhaps the collar counties.
Once again, the northern legislators who have sponsored such gun control legislation show how far they are removed from those of us who love the southern end of the state, and how little they care about our ways of life.
Once again, they want to improve Chicago at the cost of Southern Illinois.
travis.deneal@thesouthern.com
618-529-5454 x15080
