Letter to the editor: Rifles in Pittsburgh parks an accident waiting to happen

Pittsburgh officials approved a major expansion of bow hunting in city parks (“Pittsburgh expands limited archery season in various city parks,” July 15, TribLIVE). This expansion includes the use of high-powered rifles in some parks: “USDA-contracted marksmen conducted limited hunts in Frick and Riverview parks … .” City officials have now approved the use of high-powered rifles in additional parks this year: “USDA-contracted shooters will cull (kill) additional deer in Schenley and Emerald View parks during overnight hours after the archery season wraps up.”

The rifle typically used in these deer-killing programs is the .223 caliber bolt-action rifle with 55-grain bullets (some vendors use the AR-15 semi-­automatic assault rifle). The maximum range of the .223/55-grain ammunition is 2.20 miles. So, if there’s a misfire, missed shot or ricochet, anyone within a 2.20-mile radius is in lethal danger.

The city calls this its “deer management program.” I don’t think there were any objective deer population studies, browsing impact studies or any studies showing a deer problem, nor established base lines, and so they can’t assess the success or failure of this “program.” It cost taxpayers $100,000.

The use of high-powered rifles in Frick and other city parks is a serious safety threat and an accident waiting to happen.

George Nagle

Mt. Lebanon