During an online Facebook town-hall forum hosted by Parents Magazine on Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden spoke candidly on the issue of gun control, urging Americans to buy shotguns rather than military-style assault weapons in order to protect themselves.
A woman by the name of Kate asked the VP if assault weapons and high-capacity magazines are banned, will "law abiding citizens ... then become more of a target to criminals?" In response, Biden, who is a gun owner himself, advised the woman to "buy a shotgun" and revealed the same advice that he gave his wife in ward off an intruder.
"We live in an area that's wooded and secluded," Biden said. "I said, 'Jill, if there's ever a problem, just walk out on the balcony here ... put that double-barreled shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house.'
"I promise you, whoever's coming in is not going to," the vice president continued. "You don't need an AR-15 [assault rifle]. It's harder to aim. It's harder to use. And in fact, you don't need 30 rounds to protect yourself," he reasoned.
"Buy a shotgun. Buy a shotgun," he said.
His "buy a shotgun" answer was met by some criticism from those who said his answer was off-base from the campaign he is leading to push for gun control measures under the Obama Administration. Conservative commentator Michelle Malkin wrote "Nice of Joe to take it upon himself to decide what others do and don't to protect himself," today on her website.
Watch the video footage below.
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