I really don't care either way and think that both sides of the discussion are stretching to make their point. I don't believe rifles are any more dangerous than any other firearm. On the other hand, in almost 50 years of hunting I can only think of 1 NY whitetail that I've taken that I couldn't have taken with a shotgun and that one I got with a muzzle loader. That said I just bought a .270, please don't ask me for a good reason for buying it.
NYS laws on what you can hunt with, and where, are messy. I'm opposed to calling a TC Encore in .270, with a pistol grip, a handgun - it's a handrifle. Why can you hunt with that where you can't hunt with a rifle? Where I hunt you can be standing 10 feet away from someone who is legally hunting with a rifle and not be legal yourself. If the neighbor legally shoots a deer with a .30-30 and it runs on to my place he's supposed to go home and get his shotgun before he retireves it??? Silly law.