Daryl,

No, it was not a legislative response to technology advances. The rules on slugs, buckshot, and rifles have been the same since at least the 1960's, when I first starting paying attention to them. The regulations are set by the counties in Virginia, and are a patchwork of illogic. One of the most rural counties I know (they don't even have a grocery store!) is entirely farmland and forest, and King and Queen County disallows all centerfire rifles except 22 caliber for groundhogs (and then only for a few months). Yet Gloucester County, where I live, is much more densely populated, and allows centerfire rifles.

Allowing muzzleloading rifles was a relatively recent change, and was done at the state level. There is no dissent that has come to my attention, and I've heard no complaints at the county level about modern ML rifles and their capacity to accurately reach out to 200+ yards. I hope it stays that way.

Take care, Tom