Pennsylvania lawmakers are preparing to introduce bills that would legalize the use of semi-automatic rifles for big game hunting, a move supporters say will modernize outdated restrictions and bring the state in line with national practices.
Two Competing Proposals
State Representative Charity Krupa (R-51) and Senator Daniel Laughlin (R-49) are circulating memos for legislation that would amend the Pennsylvania Game Code. Both proposals would end the state’s long-standing prohibition on semi-automatic rifles for hunting deer, bear, and other large game animals.
Krupa’s bill would authorize hunters to use semi-automatic centerfire rifles with a maximum capacity of six rounds—five in the magazine and one in the chamber. Her memo argues that most other states allow semi-automatics under similar restrictions without adverse safety or wildlife impacts.
Laughlin’s measure takes a more conservative approach. His proposal would permit semi-automatic rifles for big game but cap capacity at three rounds, mirroring the rules already in place for semi-automatic shotguns used for turkey and waterfowl.
Addressing Misconceptions
Both lawmakers stress the distinction between semi-automatic and fully automatic firearms.
“Semi-automatic firearms discharge a single round per trigger pull and are legally distinct from fully automatic weapons, which are stringently regulated under federal law,” Krupa wrote in her memo.
She added that Pennsylvania’s current law “mistakenly conflates the two” and unfairly denies hunters access to widely available and lawful firearms.
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Laughlin echoed that point, noting that semi-automatic rifles are already widely accepted for hunting in other states. He argued that extending their use to big game would create consistency in Pennsylvania’s regulations while maintaining strict limits on magazine capacity.
Practical and Ethical Benefits
Krupa’s memo highlights several practical benefits of semi-automatic rifles. Faster follow-up shots, she wrote, can minimize suffering and reduce the chances of a wounded animal escaping.
She also pointed to Pennsylvania’s growing deer population, which contributes to crop damage, vehicle collisions, and ecological strain. Allowing hunters modern tools, she argued, would help the Game Commission better manage herd sizes.
Laughlin emphasized accessibility, noting that some hunters with physical limitations may find bolt-action or pump-action rifles more difficult to operate. Legalizing semi-automatics, he said, would broaden participation without compromising safety.
Neutral Commission, Pending Bills
The Pennsylvania Game Commission, which currently permits semi-automatic rifles for small game but not for big game, has taken a neutral stance on both measures.
“The legislation being proposed would change the law to make semiautomatic rifles legal for big game,” commission spokesman Travis Lau told lehighvalleylive.com. “The Game Commission is presently neutral on both bills, given that neither has been introduced.”
If passed, the bills would bring Pennsylvania closer to the majority of states that already allow semi-automatic rifles for big game hunting under regulated conditions. For now, the proposals await formal introduction in both chambers.
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