Beware of good ol’ Joe Biden and his guns

The Washington Times ^ | 22 February 2013 | Wes Pruden

[COBOL2Java]

Joe Biden, a gun nut. Who knew?

The veep never fails to entertain, even when he’s trying not to, and this time his boss is probably not amused. Joe famously pushed President Obama to endorse same-sex marriage by sniffing the orange blossoms first, but if his advice for Americans to buy a shotgun to protect the homeplace was an attempt to convert the president to a Second Amendment aficionado, he’ll no doubt fail.

Joe’s endorsement of domestic mayhem in the cause of survival predictably infuriated those who are so terrified of guns that on certain playgrounds even little boys who make an imaginary gun with tiny thumb and forefinger risk having their hands seized, or at least being sentenced to a trip to the principal’s office, followed by suspension.

Firing from the hip is always dangerous. When someone named “Kate” asked the veep, on a Facebook forum sponsored by Parents magazine, whether the president’s attempt to disarm America would make “law-abiding citizens become more of a target to criminals,” good old Joe’s working-class instincts from his origins overcame diplomacy, tact and discretion.

“Is this Parents magazine?” he asked in disbelief. “I have Parents magazine in my home, I’ve never heard anybody in Parents magazine ask these kinds of questions, but I’m delighted to answer them. Kate, if you want to protect yourself, get a double-barreled shotgun.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

No doubt. Everyone has his own preference, and this topic can get as surly as politics or religion. I just stated a different perspective and one that makes sense to me from having studied it from those who know more about it than I do.

I know that the shot pattern is smaller than most people think and that you can miss. People make the mistake of thinking they can just point a shotgun, and that’s often why they miss. But the fact that you can miss even in the close ranges of home defense is why you don’t want to use a .308 with full metal jackets in your home or any other round that can go through a dozen houses on your street.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Government shouldn’t get the idea that we will allow them to choose for us. Never encourage that notion.

[endthematrix]

Poor Joe, he’ll never will get the adulation of young gals asking whether he wears boxers or briefs.

[endthematrix]

Dang, that’s sick...but scary true!

[trebb]

The severe decline of class and decorum at the top of our government is disgusting. They’ve turned it into a low-life-scum scam game with a bunch of “Fast Eddies” running the show. Our founders would be ashamed and we need to be.

[Pontiac]

I recently had a female family member ask me what gun to get for self defense. I told her to get a Glock 23. I said, any home intrusion will put you with in 10ft of the intruder. You don't want to be carrying anything where someone could reach out and grab the barrel.

I will take your side against MeOnTheBeach on this one.

You have to take many factors in to consideration when choosing a home defense weapon. In the case of your female family member I think Me really did not consider the fact that you were recommending a weapon for a woman.

For a woman or elderly person one has to consider weight and recoil. Many woman and elderly the weight of a fully loader shotgun may make it difficult to control and the recoil of a shotgun may be intolerable.

I will also disagree with Me concerning the intruder grabbing the barrel of the shotgun. Even a shot gun with a short barrel will extend out from you body about 2 feet when at the shoulder ready to fire. A pistol on the other hand can be held at the beltline pointed at a near target essentially not extending from the body at all. This is a shooting technique that should be practiced to ensure that you have learned how to aim in this shooting position.

Another advantage of a pistol is in shooting around corners. With a shotgun you basically have to move in to a hallway exposing yourself. With a pistol you can shoot one handed around a corner or doorway shooing from cover.

[MeOnTheBeach]

"I will also disagree with Me concerning the intruder grabbing the barrel of the shotgun."

Well...you're wrong. How's that? :-D

The potential intruder is her ex who knows the house, he's threatened her life.

She's only recently been trained how used a firearm. So you're talking about nervousness and fear x 10.

In reality, not theory-craft, a shotgun is a bad choice in a dark house with a scared, inexperienced female wielder. One side swipe with a hand, arm, chair, etc in the dark and it's over. Especially against someone that knows the house really well. Where to hide, where she's coming from, field of view.

A handgun is the best choice in this instance. And the guy is really really big too. Even if you get grabbed or knocked down, if you're hand is still on that gun, you can still defend yourself.

[Pontiac]

Well...you're wrong. How's that? :-D

I frequently am.

Even when I’m right.

Just ask my wife ;)

[Pontiac]

The other problem with a bullet is that, if/when you miss, the bullet can go through several walls and still be lethal.

Modern safety slugs are pretty reliable. They are expensive but you don’t really have to practice with them. Just load them up in your pistol and swap them out with your usual plinkers when you want to practice.