Now that the great Sunday hunting debate appears to have been solved, some state lawmakers are ready to begin a new debate over the use of semiautomatic weapons to hunt big game in Pennsylvania.

The state has long had a prohibition on the use of semi-automatic weapons for big game, with a similar ban for small game lifted less than a decade ago. It didn’t take long for a pair of lawmakers to introduce differing proposals for semiautomatic weapons for big game for opposition to quickly form against it. We can’t disagree with some of those reactions.

We don’t think allowing the use of semiautomatic weapons will make a huge difference in big game populations, nor do we think it will make a huge difference in the number of hunters who take to the woods for big-game hunting. We’d also really like to think that a hunter doesn’t need a semiautomatic weapon to harvest a deer, elk or bear in our woods. And we can’t disagree with those who are uncomfortable with the idea of sharing the woods with hunters who can squeeze off shots more quickly if they missed their target with the first one. All of those criticisms are worthy of consideration as state lawmakers take up bills proposed by Republican Sen. Dan Laughlin and Republican House member Charity Krupa.

On the flip side, however, is the fact that 48 states allow semiautomatic weapons for big-game hunting, apparently without major issues. And, Pennsylvania’s neighbors are among states that allow use of such weapons. One could argue that Pennsylvania could benefit from consistency with the neighbors that the commonwealth is competing with for hunters, especially given Pennsylvania’s continued investment in game land expansion. Even New York state, whose gun laws are among the most strict in the nation, allows semiautomatic weapons for big game hunting.

There are public safety questions that need to be debated publicly – but this is an instance in which Pennsylvania should follow its neighbors’ lead.