What I don't get is that Datamax and others readily admit that Muzzleloaders and Rifles are different but share many similar qualities, and as the technology gets more similar their effectiveness is getting close to equal.
Well, the difference is, your muzzleloaders are comparable to rifle as compounds/crossbows are to recurves/longbows. Technically the crossbow/compound is still a bow, and a muzzleloader is still a rifle, however technology has come so far that the lines are blurred, aren't they ?
There are definitely some similarities to them, while there are also some major differences. Archery and archery equipment are very well defined, and they do not include crossbows.
Why yes, there IS a clear definition to what IS a bow and what isn't. Every state to my knowledge recognizes a crossbow as legal archery weapons. Some restrict its use only due to physical limitations (handicap permits) but still they recognize it as legal archery equipment. Some state say anyone can use them. Wait, I thought you and I agreed they are well defined ?
Now what I don't get, is that almost every state has a Muzzleloader Season and a Rifle/Shotgun Season along with an Archery Season. If Muzzleloaders and Rifles/Shotguns are seperated, why "blend" Archery and crossbow hunting?
Well, why were compound "allowed in" back when ? Why wasn't your argument valid then ? All I'm saying is, apply your anti-crossbow argument to compounds and in the end, you'll come to realize that IF compounds are archery equipment, surely too must crossbows be.
Just because a state allows a crossbow user to hunt during archery season, doesn't make it "archery". In the neighboring state of Massachusetts, 2 guys can get married .. but in 49 other states they aren't married .. just gay.
Hmmmmmm. Actually, if the married boys go to another state that state must recognize the marriage, even though its not legal in their state if I'm not mistaken. But what you are suggesting is that a crossbow is a bow in Arkansas, and when it goes across the state line to Kansas, it magically transforms into a gun ? Or it magically changes into something else ? No, c'mon, no one believes that. Its still a bow. It might be legal only for handicap people, but its recognized as a bow.