Biden: 'You don't need an AR-15' when a shotgun will do
WASHINGTON (AP) - Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday that Americans don't need semi-automatic weapons to protect their homes because a couple of blasts from a shotgun will scare off intruders.
"Buy a shotgun, buy a shotgun," the vice president encouraged those worried about defending themselves. He was speaking in an online video as part of a Facebook town hall hosted by Parents Magazine on the administration's strategy for reducing gun violence, which he has led at the direction of President Barack Obama.
Biden said he keeps two shotguns and shells locked up at home and he's told his wife, Jill, to use them if she needs protection. He presumably was speaking about before he became vice president, a position that gives the couple full-time Secret Service protection.
"I said, 'Jill, if there's ever a problem, just walk out on the balcony ... take that double-barrel shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house,'" Biden said. "You don't need an AR-15. It's harder to aim, it's harder to use and in fact, you don't need 30 rounds to protect yourself."
Biden's answer came in response to a question posted by a Facebook user about whether the administration's proposal to ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines would make law-abiding citizens more of a target of criminals since they wouldn't have a sufficient way of protecting themselves. Biden bristled at the question, saying he's never heard such sentiments in the pages of Parents Magazine.
"But I'm delighted to answer them," he added quickly.
Biden said he learned his lessons on gun safety from his father, who was a hunter. He said as a child, he wasn't even allowed to point a cap gun at other children while playing cops and robbers. He said most gun owners are very responsible, but parents should make sure guns are locked up to keep children safe, just like pool gates and liquor cabinets.
He also said he doesn't think the Second Amendment's right to bear arms should be changed. He said limits on the use of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines is compatible with that right.
"Buy a shotgun, buy a shotgun," the vice president encouraged those worried about defending themselves. He was speaking in an online video as part of a Facebook town hall hosted by Parents Magazine on the administration's strategy for reducing gun violence, which he has led at the direction of President Barack Obama.
Biden said he keeps two shotguns and shells locked up at home and he's told his wife, Jill, to use them if she needs protection. He presumably was speaking about before he became vice president, a position that gives the couple full-time Secret Service protection.
"I said, 'Jill, if there's ever a problem, just walk out on the balcony ... take that double-barrel shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house,'" Biden said. "You don't need an AR-15. It's harder to aim, it's harder to use and in fact, you don't need 30 rounds to protect yourself."
Biden's answer came in response to a question posted by a Facebook user about whether the administration's proposal to ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines would make law-abiding citizens more of a target of criminals since they wouldn't have a sufficient way of protecting themselves. Biden bristled at the question, saying he's never heard such sentiments in the pages of Parents Magazine.
"But I'm delighted to answer them," he added quickly.
Biden said he learned his lessons on gun safety from his father, who was a hunter. He said as a child, he wasn't even allowed to point a cap gun at other children while playing cops and robbers. He said most gun owners are very responsible, but parents should make sure guns are locked up to keep children safe, just like pool gates and liquor cabinets.
He also said he doesn't think the Second Amendment's right to bear arms should be changed. He said limits on the use of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines is compatible with that right.
Biden doesn't need a brain, when plagiarizing will do.  This guy is about as useful as wet toilet paper.  I'm sick of this political BS.  He needs to get off his stupid fake high-horse stance and take his place among the rest of the amoebae.  Useless bag of air.
Biden said: "Jill, if there's ever a problem, just walk out on the balcony ... take that double-barrel shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house,'" Biden said. "You don't need an AR-15. It's harder to aim, it's harder to use and in fact, you don't need 30 rounds to protect yourself."
Just when you think it's impossible for Biden to top the stupid irresponsible statements he's previously made. Telling people to just start randomly pumping shotgun rounds off the porch when you hear a bump in the night. I'll just tell the police, "it's ok officer, Uncle Joe said its the right thing to do." Double barrel shotgun better for defense than an AR? Not hardly. Joe, quit speaking of things you know absolutely nothing about. Your idiot self is showing through yet again.
a 1/4" drill is the best drill there is. Â No one needs a 1/2" drill, they're just designed to drill big giant gaping holes and no one needs to do that! Â the world would be safer if everyone was limited to using only 1/4" drills.
Thanks, Mr.Windbag... I'll choose the tool that's best for the job - not you.
if it's home defense we're talking about, yes... a 12ga. is the #1 go to tool! Â But, I'll choose a reliable pump action over a side/side any day! Â Â but this isn't just about home defense.
If it's concealed carry, then a pistol is best, Mr.Windbag!  Hard to carry a shotgun around under my coat... and people get a little freaked out when I have one slung over my shoulder, so I'll just stick with the good ol' 1911 for carry.  But this isn't just about personal defense.
If it's ground squirrels the ruger 22-45 is exceptional, but my model 70 in 22-250 is a dream!  Also a perfect tool for coyote and other mid-sized critters.  But this isn't just about keeping a ranch in good working order.
If it's putting meat on the table, nothing beats the time-tested 30'06!  Capable of killing anything naturally occurring in N. America.  But this isn't just about hunting.
If it's about our duty as citizens to keep our government within it's Constitutional limits or defending against rioters and looters, defending our borders, etc... then something like the AR-15 is a nice start, certainly a fine choice as a go-to weapon.  And the AR-15 is good for varmints on the ranch, as well as a perfect platform for training new generations of gun owners.  But it's not just about protecting ourselves from a tyrannical government.
It's about ALL of those things (and more) Mr.Windbag. Â
Molon labe.
@Umhal: Well said.
what if the democrats were actually FOR guns? consider that everytime they talk about guns, more guns are sold than ever before. Â when obama was first elected, boom, more guns sold. Â nothing happened and people still had their guns. Â now that they are talking about it again, bang, prices of guns and ammunition are higher than ever.
fact of the matter is, democrats are good for gun manufacturers.
What does biden and a Harley have in common? Eventually the plugs go bad
Discharging a firearm outside your home is disallowed in almost all cities, towns, and municipalities, doing so will get you arrested. Pointing a firearm will get you arrested for menacing. If his father taught him firearm safety, then his father was a poor teacher or Biden was not paying attention. You NEVER point a gun at something you dont intend to kill. This man has not a clue and does nothing but bleat the to the beat of his bosses. And Id like to know which army on this planet uses a semi automatic only rifle as its so called assault weapon? None I think. So to recap, only armies, and police and criminals can have semi auto weapons? Umm, I dont think so. We should be allowed to protect ourselves with the weapons we choose.
This guy is stupid as a mud fence. Only thing less intellectual are people who voted for him.
I am waiting for him to now demonstrate how a shotgun is the best home defense weapon in all situations.Â
He can't, nor can anyone else. Even the best scatter gunner on the planet would need a rifle in certain home defense situations.
And then there is always the fact that the 2A has more intent than home defense. It is to guard against tyranny. But then you all know that. Its why the left is so anti 2A.
@Jack_BauerÂ
Love it when stupid people call other people stupid. Â It's truly entertaining, in a tragicomic way.
@Diogenes @Jack_Bauer Wow, great comment. From the 'I know you are but what am I' junior high cache of intellectual retorts.
Brainiac.
@Jack_Bauer @Playanekes @DiogenesÂ
Oh, that's precious. Â I don't think even you believe you're "swatting" anything out of a park. Â But do go ahead and keep at it, little guy! Â You'll make a big boy argument all on your own, some day!
Oh, and Playanekes? Â Diogenes was a Cynic, you moron.
@Jack_Bauer @Diogenes What do you expect from an epicurean?
..or maybe a stoic, I dunno. A democrat, for sure.
@Diogenes @Jack_Bauer Funny, but it appears that you've been out thought at every turn here.
Again, please continue to lob softballs around here. Folks are getting in some good batting practice swatting them out of the park.
@Jack_Bauer @DiogenesÂ
Oh, I wasn't about to waste a rebuttal on an obvious mental defective. Â Anyone who takes the screen name "Jack Bauer" isn't playing with a full deck. Â Torture porn fans aren't thinkers.
With all due respect Mr. Vice President, as a free American, I am guaranteed the rights afforded to me under the Constitution and Bill of Rights to make my own firearm decisions.Â
I like Joe, but he will never receive my vote. He doesn't trust me as a free person empowered to make my own decisions, therefore, I will never trust him as a leader.
@Torino_v2
"I am guaranteed the rights...to make my own firearm decisions." Â Yeah? Â So...twin guard towers with 40 mm chain guns? Â Flamethrower for massed charges? Â Bloop gun? Â Come on, man. Â You do not have a right to have unregulated access to any firearm of your choice. Â Hell, even Antonin Scalia, no liberal lion by any standard, said that Americans do not have the right to "keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose...." Â The government has the authority to regulate firearms. Â That means they can ban assault weapons if they so choose, which pretty much negates your comment.
@Diogenes@Torino_v2 "So...twin guard towers with 40 mm chain guns?"
"Hey, just what you see, Pal."Â -The gun store guy in Terminator.
I think it would help your argument if you eliminated the use of statistical absurdity. Perhaps or Piers Morgan can tell us exactly how many people in America have been murdered by 40mm-chain-gun-wielding citizens?
"...For whatever purpose" Right. For example, you can't use one to commit a crime, and you have to have a license to own a Browning M-2. Nobody disagrees with this. Pretty much settles that statement.
Could you tell us more about bloop guns and flamethrowers? Is that a big problem in America?
@Diogenes @Torino_v2 I could never afford twin 40mm guns. With all due respect, let's be serious about the argument. We're talking about a double barreled shotgun versus and AR-15, small arms. The government shouldn't be regulating the sale or proposing bans of any semi-automatic small arms.
I agree with you that the government has the authority to regulate firearms, they do so heavily already. It's why a fully automatic AR-15 will run about $15k last I checked. You are correct, they can ban "assault weapons" if they choose. I certainly hope they don't, it will have no impact on violent crime and infringe on the rights of millions.Â
In my opinion.
@Torino_v2Â @Diogenes
That was the only point I wanted to make, Torino. Â You said you have the right to pick your firearms without government regulation. Â "I am guaranteed the rights afforded to me under the Constitution and Bill of Rights to make my own firearm decisions." Â But you're not guaranteed that right. Â You're guaranteed the right to keep and bear arms, but the Bill of Rights is silent on the question of make and model, and therefore the government may allow or forbid various classes of firearm based only upon their purview and an articulated compelling interest.
@Diogenes @Torino_v2 Hey, mental midget, the 2A is already greatly infringed. And are conservatives supposed to agree with every opinion from a conservative Supreme?
It appears that flawed logic is your specialty. Please continue.
@Playanekes @Diogenes @Jack_Bauer @Torino_v2Â
Huh. Â Good point. Â Yeah, it would totally be the job of a Supreme Court Justice to come to your home and confiscate your guns. Â You are a genius. Â Not at all as dumb as you look. Â So smart, in fact, that I don't even think I have to bother telling you that your argument, as always, leaves a great deal to be desired.
@Diogenes @Jack_Bauer @Torino_v2 So, that's weird.
Scalia still hasn't come to take anybody's guns. Isn't that funny?
I've got a bunch of illegal fireworks in my shed, too. Helicopters have not been deployed. I've got a cop behind me who doesn't care if I shoot off the occasional bottle rocket. (Black Cats..used to be able to buy them in the convenience stores in Mississippi.  I probably still have 300 of 'em.)
@Diogenes @Jack_Bauer @Torino_v2 Nice deflection and continued failure. It pains me to have to define a plainly stated point but I will make an exception again seeing as how you seem to struggle with simple ideas. My response was in regard to your floating the idea that conservatives should agree with the decision of a Supreme because he might hold a similar ideology. I was merely pointing out that you were wrong, which in fact is redundant because if you are commenting, you are wrong.Â
And the Supremes can change their rulings. New arguments are brought to them. It's not written in stone.
@Jack_Bauer @Diogenes @Torino_v2Â
Doesn't matter if you agree with the Supreme Court. Â They are the sole body invested with the authority to interpret the Constitution, so they and I don't give a rip what you "think." Â You're irrelevant, and you always will be.
Ironic when you consider Joe Biden a prophet! Yup, you don't need an AR-15 when a shotgun will do! The guy in California who shot four people in carjackings yesterday stole a shotgun and went on a rampage, finally killing himself. Â
Amazing how KATU didn't cover the shotgun killings in California yesterday. I would have thought they'd be all over it, but nope! nothing! nada!
This comment has been deleted
When Sam Adams eventually migrates to DC, perhaps he will let us know about lip service costs?
All you guys are bad mouthing here, but you know he's right a shotgun and some double odd buck is the best home defence, you don't have to worry about shooting your neighbors.
@old_dollor Not quite.
and you have to worry about shooting those who you are trying to protect.Â
And then there are those perps who are out of shotgun range and or wearing armor.Â
Shotgun is good in a lot of situations but not all situations and trying to limit someones rights based on this premis is downright asinine.
Oh I agree but you have to worry about hitting the people you are trying to protect no matter what you shoot, and if they are out of range of my shotgun they are not a threat, cuz remember I'm not worried about them if they are out of my house. I own many guns and I'm not trying to limit what guns you have it's up to you, I do think we need better back ground checks though, and me personally don't have any need to have the ability to shoot 60 rounds a minute. Although fun I don't need it.Â
@old_dollor Except buckshot is an incredible penetrator and now with every pull of the trigger you have 8-9 rounds you are responsible/liable for going down range toward your neighbor.
You have to know the odds of that happening are pretty slim with the range they have. I don't live that close to my neighbors, by the time they hit them they will bounce off.
@old_dollor Given it's the choke which determines the pattern it's pretty easy to say the length of your barrel isn't important. Where an 18" barrel with cylinder bore (ie. no choke) will pattern 00 into a couple of inches at 15ft, anything you change from there will only tighten the pattern further.
Of course you aren't even debating. You just keep regurgitating lies, and every so often you try to distract away from the lie by suggesting my dislike for people trying to infringe on my rights indicates some sort of ulterior motive.
Do you know how long the barrel on my home defense shotgun is?
And we were doing so good just debating and then you start calling me names again, so we're done.Â
@old_dollor I think a great is that nobody here should have a legal -right- to tell the other which weapon they are more comfortable with.
My grandfather would have been most comfortable with his old service revolver. I would prefer a shotgun, but, at presently, I do not own one, and do not have any sort of CQB shotgun training.
I'm not going to tell you not to use one but I'm much more adept with a small-caliber carbine or a pistol, particularly in my home and community environment.
Above all, none of us needs the Vice President, surrounded by cops NOT carrying shotguns, to tell us what guns we should choose. That's just hash-head foreign-legion-guy nuts.  ...almost...
@old_dollor When they are pro-civil rights, which is in of itself rare, I agree with them. When they are anti-civil rights, which is most of the time, I dislike them. I get it, you're a bit slow on the uptake and probably a fawning sycophant of their's but I dislike them for what they say and do, not the letter next to their name.
@old_dollor And you continue to repeat a lie when you say that a shotgun doesn't penetrate. Unless you're changing the criteria to birdshot, in which case sure it won't over penetrate. Buckshot on the other hand, you're just plain old lying, like old Biden is.
As for the patterning, what do you have some sort of expander cone that will give you your insane claims of spread at home defense distance (15ft as per your own claim)?
Oh, and the reason I think it matters that you like the VP or the President is because you won't agree with anything they say doesn't matter if it's the right thing or not. Be honest now. Do you agree with anything they say or not?
All you gun gun advocates think you are the only ones who have ever shot a gun of course I have patterned my shotgun all 4 of them, and I did give you my response of why I thought it was best, I don't have to worry about shooting your neighbors, you don't have to worry about bullet pass through, and I've said those same things in this same thread before.
@old_dollor  So yes, you've never patterned your shotgun. You also haven't provided any rational for a shotgun being the best for home defense.
Why do you keep acting like my dislike for the P or VP matters in anyway? That's one of those uh duh moments, of course I don't like them, they want to take my rights away and they're sinking to ever lower lows to do it.
Now you're being ignorant cuz you have no idea what my shotgun pattern is you know what yours will do not mine. I only defended VP Biden on the premise that a shotgun is the best home defense and that's all, and I think you will still just argue with me about it because you hate the VP I'll bet you don't really like Obama either. huh? So this is really not about guns. Is it?
@old_dollor But you are ignorant; buckshot is an incredible penetrator, at 15ft your pattern is going to be a couple of inches, and the coup de grace is you think your shotgun can cut a person in half!!
If you're comfortable with that for your home defense great, and I appreciate the concession that you don't care what others use too. Though it's a bit odd since you were defending Biden where he was using the same train of ignorance to undermine people's rights.
I think you have got me all wrong and now you're saying I'm ignorant I don't care what kind of guns you have. Did I say we need to limit what kind of gun you have? I just said a shotgun is the best for home defence.
@old_dollor And by the way, if that is what you want to use, by all means do. But don't think your ignorance trumps other people's rights.
@old_dollor Have you ever patterned your shotgun at 15ft? Nobody is going to be cut in half, at that distance it's going to act more like a rifle in terms of coverage. Also you're talking about 00 buck, you're still going to get massive over penetration on almost all of the pellets.
Of course you're ignoring the misses having to use it. Hopefully it has proper sights and not just the front bead or rail only you have real practice using. Hopefully she can use a stock that is designed for you. Hopefully she's not so turned off by the painful recoil from the one time you tried to teach her to use it that she just doesn't bother and hopes the police arrive in time.
Nah, having a gun that your spouse can just as easily use is just so passe!
I disagree if someone breaks into my house (that's the only way I would shoot someone) I have one hall in my house 15 feet long, the shotgun will work better they would be mostly cut in half at that range and no bullet pass through.
@old_dollor What would be better? Any modern sport rifle. They weight less, are easier to maneuver, have better ergonomics, and are far and away easier to aim. All of that adds up to a better chance to stop the threat. Though not every shot can be a hit and not every shot stops the bad guy, that's just being realistic, and is also the reason why the police use "high" capacity magazines. We need them for the very same reasons. We're facing the very same criminals and we do it before the police are even aware that the incident has occurred.
Of course there are even better options, but thanks to people like Biden the better options have been made effectively illegal. An SBR'ed AR with an 11" barrel and suppressor, only further improve maneuverability and the likely-hood for a first shot hit (less flinch) or hits for any required follow up shots (less recoil). While also protecting everyone's hearing and preserving night vision.
I have several weapons at my ready. What would you think would be better? Keep in mind I don't think I'm going to have 15 intruders at once coming at me. I'm not one of those guys that think the government is trying to disarm me, and going to come after me. (i could tell you didn't like VP Biden, but that's a different issue)
@old_dollor A shotgun can certainly be effective, but I'd disagree about it being the best.
As for the VP, I dislike him because of what he says, not the other way around. If he talked about the need to deregulate silencers because of hearing damage and the need to reduce recoil, I'd like him more. If he talked about how a pistol grip, adjustable stock, detachable magazine, and lower powered optic gives the woman of the house the flexibility to deal with any problem, I'd like him a bunch more.
Instead he lies, gives illegal advice, he's blatantly misogynistic about the whole thing, and it's all in a blatant attempt to take away our rights.
If you mean shooting off the balcony like he sugest then we agree on that but still the best weapon for home defence is still a shotgun. I think you don't like our VP so no matter what he says you are not going to like it.
@old_dollor If you were talking about birdshot, sure. But you're not, you're talking about buckshot, which for all intents and purposes behaves like a bunch of pistol rounds all fired at once.
Maybe like Biden, you live out in the country where firing indiscriminately like VP suggests isn't illegal and your odds are low. For the rest of us, where inside of city limits firing like the VP suggests is illegal and/because the neighbors aren't all that far away. Common sense gun laws for the win, too bad neither you nor the VP would know them if they bit you in the rear.
@old_dollor Double odd. LOL!  That's an Americanism if there ever was one.
The word is "aught."Â Â 'Course, most Americans couldn't give a dooce.
Thanks I'm glad you liked it. So do you agree with what I wrote or not?
@old_dollorÂ
Actually...yeah, I really do agree with that. I have a hallway that's too narrow to wield a shotgun and only the police are allowed to have short ones, so, for that sort of thing I need a semiautomatic carbine or just the .45 that I currently use for the job. (Frangible)
And while I agree that a shotgun is the best weapon for that sort of thing in most circumstances, I just don't think it's my place to choose what's best for YOU, with the reasonable exception of fully-automatic machine guns.
Here.. *like*