Skip to main content

Read & React: Washington Man Cites Biden Shotgun Advice in Weapons Charge

Read & React: Washington Man Cites Biden Shotgun Advice in Weapons Charge

Back when Vice President Joe Biden offered his own home-defense tips — dangerous and illegal as they were — we wondered if anyone would actually discharge a weapon, then cite the second-highest public official in the country as defense.

Well, that's finally happened. According to Fox News, a Washington man has cited Biden's advice after facing weapons charges for illegally firing his shotgun while chasing prowlers away.

Jeffery Barton, 52, of Vancouver, Wash., entered a plea of not guilty Wednesday on a charge of illegally aiming or discharging a firearm. Barton said he was only following Biden's advice when he fired his shotgun while chasing a group of prowlers he suspected were trying to break into one of his vehicles.

Check out the video from KOIN-TV.


"I did what Joe Biden told me to do," Barton told KOIN-TV following his arraignment hearing. "I went outside and fired my shotgun in the air."

Well, he is right about that. During an online Q&A in February, Biden posited that all one needs for home defense is a double-barreled shotgun — not an AR-15, which he said are harder to aim and shoot — and shared the same advice he offers to his wife Jill: If she suspects someone is at their home with less-than-admirable intentions, just walk out on the porch and "fire two blasts" into the air.


Of course, that advice goes against basic firearms safety and, especially in urban areas, the law. So when the president's second-in-command to offer such irresponsible, dangerous advice, it immediately went viral and made Biden even more of a laughingstock around the firearms community.

Be that as it may, Barton's defense is still weak. Had he been a responsible gun owner, he would have taken the high road and neglected Biden's, er, wisdom in favor of safer firearm use.




Be advised, dear reader: Just because someone in the public spotlight — particularly one who has no clue what he's talking about — offers up some advice is no excuse for negligence.

What do you think? Is Barton justified in acting irresponsibly because of Biden's advice, or should he have taken a different route?

Current Magazine Cover

Enjoy articles like this?

Subscribe to the magazine.

Get access to everything Guns & Ammo has to offer.
Subscribe to the Magazine

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Videos - News - Industry

Guns & Ammo Magazine: March 2023 Issue

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Rifles

New Stocky's Rifle Stocks for 2023

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Rifles

New for 2023: Christensen Arms Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR)

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

New for 2023: All-American RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Suppressors

New for 2023: FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

New Big Bore Pistols for 2023: FN 510 Tactical and FN 545 Tactical

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Rifles

New for 2023: FN SCAR 15P Rifle Caliber Pistol

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

New for 2023: TaurusTX 22 Compact

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

First Look: Taurus Raging Hunter 460 Magnum Revolver With 10.5-Inch Barrel

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

New-for-2023 Taurus Judge Executive Grade 410/.45 Colt Revolver

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

Smith & Wesson Equalizer and the Brand New M&P 5.7 Pistol

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Optics

Acro Distance Challenge

Guns and Ammo Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Guns & Ammo App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now