Biden says a shotgun will scare off intruders

POSTED BY: GEEZER
UPDATED: Thursday, May 7, 2026 16:24
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NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press

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.

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http://www.wtop.com/209/3228938/Biden-says-a-shotgun-will-scare-off-in
truders

So, anyone here who's familiar with gun safety think its a good idea to "... just walk out on the balcony ... take that double-barrel shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house..."?

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Certainly it's safer than using an AR-15 with metal-jacketed rounds to try to "defend" your home in an urban environment.



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Well, assuming one is a extreme pedant who takes everything literally - even then, I don't see a huge problem. If it's fired into the air to intimidate intruders, worse case scenario is some pellets raining down harmlessly.

So, yeah, I find that a whole lot better than an assualt rifle that could punch through the walls of a house a few blocks away.






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I have to wonder, though - would the scenario Biden describes fall under that class of "citizens using guns to thwart crimes" that some have claimed happens several million times per year in this country?



"I supported Bush in 2000 and 2004 and intellegence [sic] had very little to do with that decision." - Hero

"I was wrong" - Hero, 2012

Mitt Romney, introducing his running mate: "Join me in welcoming the next President of the United States, Paul Ryan!"

Rappy's response? "You're lying, gullible ( believing in some BS you heard on msnbc ) or hard of hearing."

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Personally, though, I'd recommend a pump-action shotgun myself, rather than a double-barrel model. I also recommend loading shells in sequential order: blank (no shot pellets at all, just powder and wadding), followed by birdshot (very small pellets), followed by buckshot (larger pellets), followed by slugs.

And if you can find them cheap enough, try the "less than lethal" beanbag or rubber ball rounds after (or in place of) the blanks.



"I supported Bush in 2000 and 2004 and intellegence [sic] had very little to do with that decision." - Hero

"I was wrong" - Hero, 2012

Mitt Romney, introducing his running mate: "Join me in welcoming the next President of the United States, Paul Ryan!"

Rappy's response? "You're lying, gullible ( believing in some BS you heard on msnbc ) or hard of hearing."

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Originally posted by GEEZER:
So, anyone here who's familiar with gun safety think its a good idea to "... just walk out on the balcony ... take that double-barrel shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house..."?

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Safety is not the issue. First of all, its bad tactics. Its dark, bad guys are coming to rob and kill you and your family in your home which you know better then they do. The Vice President advises you to give away two of your most valuable resources: surprise and position.

Also, its likely illegal. Most Cities and towns have ordinances against things like 'Discharging a Firearm Within City Limits'. Many States also have the Castle Doctrine (which requires you to be inside your home and bars premptive action or pursuit). Self defense is a pretty good defense, but it requires an actual threat, not the percieved threat the Vice President suggested. In effect the Vice President has advised millions of Americans to commit a crime if they feel nervous.

I also note for the record that having discharged both barrels you are now unarmed unless you take the time to reload, which for double barreled shotguns is an involved task taking considerable time during which you are now vulnerable (as opposed to just ejecting a spent magazine and slapping in a new one).

Better advice along the same line is to use a semi-automatic shotgun such as my Benelli Super Nova which carries three rounds and one in the chamber thus having fired my two warning shots (hopefully not accidently killing my supermodel girlfriend, the neighbor's dog, or my daughter's boyfriend in the process) I can then be assurred of two additional rounds to actually fight with should the need arise. Also reloading is easier.

Even better advice (again, assuming you want to give warning shots) is to take along either a semi-automatic handgun or assault rifle with large capacity magazines so that on the off chance your warning is ignored you remain a viable threat for the entire fight.

Our police instructer told me the average number of total shots fired in situation such as this is between 12 and 16. Having a gun does you no good if you run out of bullets before the other guy does.

In the meantime, I'm sure the Secret Service is happy knowing the Mrs. Biden is ready to back them up if needed.

H

Hero...must be right on all of this. ALL of the rest of us are wrong. Chrisisall, 2012

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
Personally, though, I'd recommend a pump-action shotgun myself, rather than a double-barrel model. I also recommend loading shells in sequential order: blank (no shot pellets at all, just powder and wadding), followed by birdshot (very small pellets), followed by buckshot (larger pellets), followed by slugs.

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They make a nice combo round that combines a couple buckshot pellets on top of a slug. Perfect for home defense.

H

Hero...must be right on all of this. ALL of the rest of us are wrong. Chrisisall, 2012

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
Certainly it's safer than using an AR-15 with metal-jacketed rounds to try to "defend" your home in an urban environment.

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Hmm. So in your mind firing a couple of rounds of 00 buckshot - 30 pellets with about the same weight (ETA) each as an individual .223 round - at random into the night as a first response in the hope of scaring off an intruder is safer for your family and neighbors than firing .223 rounds at an identified target, or asking the intruder to leave rather than get shot.

Please never come around me with a gun, Mike. Your concept of gun safety is suspect, to say the least.


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Quote:

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
Certainly it's safer than using an AR-15 with metal-jacketed rounds to try to "defend" your home in an urban environment.

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Who the hell is Biden to tell American citizens what they do or don't NEED ?

Isn't that kinda up for them to decide ?

Or are we once again seeing big daddy govt Leftist downplaying that annoying thing called FREEDOM.

And at what point of the home invasion does one take the time to walk out onto the back deck, assuming there IS one, and start blasting away into the night , to fend off would be attackers ? Is it when you THINK you hear something? After they're already in the house ? Or do you just randomly wander out back, aiming higher than Obama does when he shoots skeet, and start blasting away ?

I just love the audio of Biden ... " just buy a shot gun ". Hope to see / hear that quote a few times come the next election cycle.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

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