How many times have you either watched or been party to a discussion where someone tries to make the claim that the AR-15 should be banned because it's not useful for hunting?
My guess is a lot. On one hand, the Second Amendment isn't about hunting, so that's irrelevant. On the other, it seems a lot of people are shattering that talking point.
See, a lot of people out there don't realize that the reason the AR-15 isn't considered a hunting weapon isn't because it's too dangerous. On the contrary, the 5.56/.223 round isn't really powerful enough to ensure a humane kill. The rounds are illegal in many states for deer hunting because they're not powerful enough.
Now, those calibers are great for taking things like coyotes and other varmints, and have been used as such.
But the AR-style of rifle comes in other calibers, many of which are powerful enough for something like deer or other large game.
And it seems a lot of people are picking them up for hunting in general.
Hunting with AR-style rifles, also known by some as Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs) and others simply as ARs, has seen a remarkable increase in use in the field by sportsman over the past decade. This is according to recent research from the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation (OSCF). A survey conducted by Responsive Management for OSCF found 41 percent of hunters now use AR-style rifles for hunting, up from 25 percent in 2014.
This rise is attributed to the firearms’ modularity, versatility and increased accessibility.
“The growing use of ARs for hunting is on the rise, which does not surprise me,” said OSCF executive director Jim Curcuruto. “The survey showed that over half of hunters who do not currently use ARs have expressed interest in using them in the future.”
The survey, which included responses from more than 500 hunters across various demographics, examined preferences in hunting firearms and reasons for using ARs. Nearly a quarter of AR hunters surveyed have been using the firearm for six to 10 years, and around 57 percent adopted the platform in the past five years. Maybe surprisingly, large game, including deer and elk, is the most common target for AR hunters, with 80 percent of respondents citing it as their main quarry. That is up from 57 percent in 2014 and is likely due to two factors: 1) more people have become familiar with the benefits of using an AR-platform rifle and 2) the platform offers many more chamberings in calibers better suited for larger game. Big game, primarily deer, is also the most hunted game in North America. Small game, such as rabbits and squirrels, remained stable in preference.
The survey didn’t specify predator hunters, but it is likely their numbers, interest in and use of the AR platform has remained fairly consistent as well. Predator hunters were among the first group of hunters to really latch on to and make widespread use of ARs, particularly the AR-15 whose original chambering in .223 Rem. remains ideal for smaller critters such as coyotes, foxes, bobcats and ground hogs.
Now, I reiterate that whether or not a firearm is useful for hunting isn't relevant when discussing the right to keep and bear arms. The only thing the Second Amendment was meant to preserve our right to hunt is tyrants. Whether a gun can take an elk or a moose isn't important. It's whether we can defend this nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic with it.
And the AR-15 is well suited for that.
But there are a lot of ordinary voters who don't understand that. They don't comprehend that hunting isn't what the Second Amendment is about and think that if a gun isn't a hunting weapon, there's no reason to have it.
For those, well, it's useful to point out how many people are hunting with these non-hunting rifles, and are hunting more and more kinds of game, which should be a useful talking point when dealing with these low-information types.
No, it shouldn't matter, but that's in an ideal world. We don't live in an ideal world. We live in this one, so anything that can be used to undermine the anti-gun argument is a good thing.