Should hunters switch to 'green' bullets? (Mega-Barf)

CNN ^ | 3/4/2009 | John D. Sutter

[Red in Blue PA]

(CNN) -- Three years ago, Phillip Loughlin made a choice he knew would brand him as an outsider with many of his fellow hunters:

"It made sense," Loughlin said of his switch to more environmentally friendly ammo, which doesn't contain lead. "I believe that we need to do a little bit to take care of the rest of the habitat and the environment -- not just what we want to shoot out of it."

Lead, a toxic metal that can lower the IQs of children, is the essential element in most ammunition on the market today.

But greener alternatives are gaining visibility -- and stirring controversy -- as some hunters, scientists, environmentalists and public health officials worry about lead ammunition's threat to the environment and public health.

Hunting groups oppose limits on lead ammunition, saying there's no risk and alternatives are too expensive.

The scope of the trend is difficult to measure. Americans spent an estimated $1.08 billion on ammunition in fiscal year 2008, according to tax reports from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. But the bureau does not track ammunition sales by type.

[Red in Blue PA]

I am not a hunter but I can see where this is headed.

These guys do not stop, and do not waver.

Neither shall we.

[TalonDJ]

"It made sense," Loughlin said of his switch to more environmentally friendly ammo, which doesn't contain lead.

Lead is all natural. Comes right of the earth and everything.

[allmost]

Where does lead come from? Nature. We extract and refine it but in doing so create an imbalance.

[ltc8k6]

Barnes has been making copper bullets for a long time.

[Red Badger]

Yes, as long as that “green” is from copper oxides..........

[Red in Blue PA]

Call me crazy, but I think if Winchester and Remington label their bullets “green” bullets it will kill their sales.

We aren’t Manhattanites.

Thank God.

[Smokin' Joe]

I bit into a lot of lead birdshot over the years (If there is one pellet left in the critter, I seem to get it).

I'm a great-grandpa now, and still can think better than any two democrats. Maybe they need to quit chewing on tenement paint and gnaw on the real thing.

[txnativegop]

Yes they have, I have never had a rifle that shot them worth a darn. My friends have rifles that do quite well with them.
My only complaint is the cost. Way too expensive. I will take one of the old Rem Cor-Lokt or Win. Silver-Tips any day. Cheaper too.

[KitJ]

I don’t know. I’m a hunter and avid shooter. I kind of wonder about putting that toxic stuff (lead) into the wilds. In fact, they ought to regulate the labs that make all that lead....

What’s that?

Lead comes from the GROUND? In the WILD? It’s already IN the wilderness?!? Scandalous!!

Naturally occurring. Who knew?

(please don’t make me put a /sarc on this...)

[Red Badger]

We extract and refine it but in doing so create an imbalance.

But it is illegal to put it back in.......................

[Navy Patriot]

Cool, I’ll use depleted Uranium.

[cripplecreek]

Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.

Build a better green bullet and the hunters will also beat a path to your door.

Seems simple to me.

[Red in Blue PA]

“I’m a great-grandpa now, and still can think better than any two democrats. Maybe they need to quit chewing on tenement paint and gnaw on the real thing. “

That would make a great tagline!

[allmost]

It doesn't make any sense :)
From the article you'd think that children were wandering around in the wilderness eating lead deposits. Maybe they are, bambi got in somehow...

[allmost]

Dr. William Cornatzer, a dermatologist and falconer, saw a presentation about the potential dangers of lead at a board meeting of the Peregrine Fund, a group devoted to conserving birds of prey. He decided to collect and test venison samples that were going to be donated to a local program for the hungry. About half of the 100 samples -- all shot by hunters -- tested positive for lead, he said. Food banks and shelters pulled the meat from their shelves after the report.

He didn't test any natural carcasses for comparison.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

There is a better green bullet - steel. Of course, it’s also armor piercing, so that’s restricted...

Too bad that copper is also poisonous and controlled! They’ll ban lead bullets, force everyone to go to copper. Then ban copper for the same reason as lead. Leaving you with, well, rubber, maybe plastics?

[Niteranger68]

I doubt Phillip Loughlin is even a real person.

[George Smiley]

No. Green-tipped means armour-piercing.

[ejonesie22]

Ya know that does really sound stupid doesn’t it.

[Oldpuppymax]

NEA members and other democrats do far more to lower IQs than lead.