Pa. House committee approves studies ban on hunting rifles

A House committee approved Monday a study to determine whether some parts of the state should have a ban on using rifles for hunting -- a study prompted by the accidental shooting of a pregnant 18-year-old.
The study was proposed by Rep. Paul Semmel, R-Lehigh, in response to the shooting of Casey Burns on Nov. 30 while she was sitting in a car in her driveway.
The independent study -- done in conjunction with the Game Commission -- would analyze population densities and recommend parts of the state where the use of rifles should be limited. Hunting with rifles is already prohibited in six counties: Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia.
The legislation was approved by the House Game and Fisheries Committee by a 25-1 vote and could be voted on by the full House next month.
The hunter who shot Burns, Craig T. Wentzel, pleaded guilty to violating hunting regulations and was sentenced to six months of probation and ordered to pay $2,700 in fines. Burns was seven months pregnant when she was shot in the head and has since given birth to a baby girl.