Is Joe Biden's Home-Defense Advice Dangerous?

by
posted on March 22, 2013
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
bs_2015_fs.jpg (2)

The Myth
"Just fire the shotgun through the door" is good advice to protect your home.

The Origin
When interviewed by Field and Stream magazine for his thoughts on guns and why he's pushing for bans on magazines and AR-15-style rifles, Vice President Joe Biden reiterated his advice to a town hall meeting participant who asked how he should protect himself.

In the Field and Stream interview, Biden said that he told the gentleman: “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.”

The Dangerous Truth
As responsible gun owners know, what Vice President Biden said flies against nearly every NRA gun safety rule. As an NRA Certified Firearm Instructor, I teach students to always identify their target and know what's behind it. But, as I am not an expert because I have not fired an actual shot in self-defense, I will defer to one.

The Expert Deferral
"Anyone who pulls a trigger has a moral, and often legal, obligation to identify exactly what they are shooting at. If blindly 'shooting through the door' is acceptable, we must plan on maiming Girl Scouts selling cookies, pets trying to get inside, the FedEx man, family members that have misplaced their keys, and so on. An obvious and rare exception to this is if Jack Nicholson's character in the movie "The Shining" is chopping through that door.

"As a former Special Forces Breacher and Assaulter, I know most of the variables that come with shooting through doors (most of which knowledge is classified). On a technical level, before breaching any door I step back and ask myself questions about the door's location, construction, ammunition type on hand, and the threat's skills and knowledge.

"But instead, I suggest that our great nations' firearm owners outright ignore the Vice President's dangerous advice and stick to their own common sense, which is:

"Know your target and shoot for center mass. It is America’s grassroots, common sense approach to threat control that is advisable and not the ridiculous thinking of the Executive Office that will protect us.

"As for anyone planning to go over to the Biden’s home, please reconsider; knocking on his door may be your last mistake."

From Ronny SwegerUS Army, Ret.Co-Founder / Executive DirectorThe FEW-The Foundation for Exceptional Warriors www.exceptionalwarriors.org

The Conclusion
Choose for yourself, but I'll take the master door breacher and highly decorated Afghanistani war veteran's advice over the Veep's on this one.

Latest

Bear Walking By River
Bear Walking By River

A Brown Bear Hunt On Baranof

A spring hunt for brown bear on Alaska’s Baranof Island is a bucket-list experience, and, on the author’s hunt, included buckets of rain. 

Smith & Wesson Adds .30-30 Win. to Model 1854 Line

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. has announced the release of its Model 1854 chambered in .30-30 Winchester.

Hardware Review: Savage Axis 2 Pro

This year Savage has upped the budget bolt-action ante with the introduction of the Axis 2 Pro. You don’t get something for nothing, and upgraded features do bump up the price a bit, but also the overall value.

First Look: Barnett’s Hyper Raptor T-Rex Crossbow

New for 2025, Barnett has introduced its Hyper Raptor T-Rex, transforming the hunting experience with an Integrated Planetary De-Cocking System.

Treestand Site Prep 101: Attract Bigger Bucks

We examine multiple ways to make the bucks you want get close to your stand.

New for 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II .22 LR Revolver

Charter Arms, manufacturers of 100-percent American-made revolvers for more than 60 years, has announced the introduction of the new Pathfinder II .22 double-action/single-action (DA/SA) revolver, chambered in .22 Long Rifle.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.