In the December 31, 2012 Letters to the Editor, David Irons asked “Who hunts with assault weapons.”

Answer: In Montana semiautomatic rifles, with large capacity clips, that some would call assault rifles (AR-15 and Mini-14s), are used to hunt rabbits in the winter when their fur is white and used to make hats. Some of these hunters have been known to use full automatic rifles (M-16) that they legally own.

Also: Sheep and cattle ranchers use these rifles to hunt wolves and coyotes that prey on their livestock.

This is true in most western states where ranching is common.

PS: When I lived in Montana (1940s to the 1970s), rabbit hunters harvested several million rabbits each winter.

— Michael Stoianoff

Anchorage