Assuming proper training and ammunition, they're perfectly capable for hunting small to medium game such as rabbits, coyotes, tyrants, wild hogs, and whitetail deer.
They are good hunting rifles for feral hogs actually, 30 round mags included.
Plus, banning certain magazine sizes or particular models of rifle isn't really going to fix anything, but things like universal background checks would probably help.
Ar-15s are potentially ok hunting rifles for large birds and small mammals although there are better options out there.
The main argument I've heard for an AR besides the larp thing is that it's easy to find compatible accessories because it's a popular "open source" common platform.
But honestly any hunter who is serious about hunting with .223 probably has a better gun that they hunt with.
let's be honest, it was designed as a lightweight emergency carbine made of space aged materials. 60 years later we're arguing if the founding fathers meant bump stocks and cmags when they said well regulated militia.
Y'know, this is in this weird spot where it's right between canon and as seen (which, by the way, can be explained even with canonical things). If it was truly as seen, the shots would have gone way wide. If it was truly canon, the Reps would be scrambling for a new candidate now.
Everyone's saying the guy used an AR but given the relatively small number of shots and the fact that the bullets went everywhere except where the guy was presumably aiming my bet is he was a Socialist Rifle Club guy with an SKS.