Joe Biden: Gun Advice

If you prefer to be armed, Vice President Joe Biden really wants you to get a shotgun. During an online town hall event recently, Biden advised women to get a “double-barrel 12-gauge shotgun” and fire “two blasts” outside if they feel threatened by a home intruder.

Well, now the vice president has some more gun advice. During an interview with Field and Stream, Biden advised gun owners to “just fire the shotgun through the door.” He also doubled-down on his claim that most people can “handle a shotgun a hell of a lot better than they can a semi-automatic weapon.”

Here’s a partial transcript of the interview via Field and Stream:

F&S: What about the other uses, for self-defense and target practice?

BIDEN: Well, the way in which we measure it is—I think most scholars would say—is that as long as you have a weapon sufficient to be able to provide your self-defense. I did one of these town-hall meetings on the Internet and one guy said, “Well, what happens when the end days come? What happens when there’s the earthquake? I live in California, and I have to protect myself.”

I said, “Well, you know, my shotgun will do better for you than your AR-15, because you want to keep someone away from your house, just fire the shotgun through the door.” Most people can handle a shotgun a hell of a lot better than they can a semi-automatic weapon in terms of both their aim and in terms of their ability to deter people coming. We can argue whether that’s true or not, but it is no argument that, for example, a shotgun could do the same job of protecting you. Now, granted, you can come back and say, “Well, a machine gun could do a better job of protecting me.” No one’s arguing we should make machine guns legal.

A Texas gun shop owner who spoke to TheBlaze refuted Biden’s claim that a 12-gauge shotgun is easier to handle and use than a semi-automatic rifle like the AR-15, which is known for its ease of use and accuracy.

He said a 12-gauge shotgun can be difficult to use for some people. Having taught many women how to shoot, the 21-year gun industry veteran, said the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle is “better suited for a lady.”

“It would be better for all-around home defense and it’s one of the most accurate guns out there,” he added.

In the same Field and Stream interview, Biden also said that anyone who needs a “clip” (actually a magazine) with 30 rounds in it is a “danger” to themselves.

“If you can’t get the bear or deer in four or five shots, you’ve got a problem,” he said.