The buckshot versus slug debate continues in Prince William County.
The Board of County Supervisors recently repealed an ordinance banning buckshot ammunition and is replacing it with slugs for hunting after the week-old measure came under fire from National Rifle Association and area hunters.
“The county is growing by leaps and bounds and we were trying to be proactive,” said Prince William police Sgt. Tim Rudy, who oversees the county’s Weapons Control Board. “We shouldn’t have to wait for something to happen to look at something to be as safe as possible.”
“In my 64 years, I have never heard of anyone getting hurt [by buckshot],” said Kenny Shepherd, a Nokesville hunter who said he would be forced to buy a new gun to handle slugs.
A Department of Game and Inland Fisheries review of the past 10 years where buckshot has been the legal ammunition in Prince William County found three incidents of injury, and the type of ammunition was not a contributing factor in any of them, said DGIF Sgt. Phil Parrish. During the same period statewide, there were two slug incidents in which the type of ammunition was not a contributing factor, he said.
More than 1,000 deer were killed last year by permitted hunters in Fairfax, over 1,800 in Prince William and nearly 7,000 in Loudoun, according to DGIF statistics.
Buckshot is the only ammunition allowed in Fairfax, Prince William and east of Belmont Ridge Road in Loudoun. West of that road, any legal firearm and ammunition is allowed, Parrish said.
Supervisor Corey Stewart, R-Occoquan, said he supports both types of ammunition.
“It is a decision that should simply be left up to the hunter,” said Philip Van Cleave, with the Virginia Citizens Defense League.
The NRA claimed that the Code of Virginia did not authorize the action taken by Prince William’s supervisors and that the move conflicted with the state’s constitutional right to hunt.
“I disagree with their analysis,” said Ross Horton, Prince William County attorney, who declined further comment because his decision has not been presented to the supervisors yet.
Prince William Votes
» April 18: Board votes 6-2 to ban buckshot and allow slugs
» April 25: Board votes 8-0 to repeal buckshot ban and not allow slugs
