Biden gives his expert advice on what weapons to use for protection after an earthquake
Do semi-automatic rifles have advantages over shotguns for self protection? Sure, for example, that you can fire more shots before you have to reload. They are also better at longer ranges than shotguns. AR-15s also don't have that much of recoil, which might be particularly important for smaller women. But do shotguns also have their advantages? Sure. It just seems foolish to categorically say that one is clearly better than the other for self defense.
Cops have been less safe after the assault weapon ban ended? Biden claims that there was a large benefit from these laws for police officer safety. Yet, it is pretty hard to look at this chart and see any evidence that police officer deaths from rifles were impacted beneficially by the assault weapon ban. Certainly not a large benefit as Biden claims. Deaths from handguns seems to have fallen after 1994, but there was no increase in that either after 2004.
"[G]uess what? A shotgun will keep you a lot safer, a double-barrel shotgun, than an assault weapon in someone's hands, who doesn't know how to used it, even one who does know how to use it. You know. It's harder to use an assault weapon to hit something than a shotgun, OK. So you want to keep people away during an earthquake, buy some shotgun shells," Biden was responding to a question that was raised during a Google Plus Hangout about reducing gun violence. . . .The remarkable point here is that the media reports Biden's advice without asking critics whether it makes any sense.
Cops have been less safe after the assault weapon ban ended? Biden claims that there was a large benefit from these laws for police officer safety. Yet, it is pretty hard to look at this chart and see any evidence that police officer deaths from rifles were impacted beneficially by the assault weapon ban. Certainly not a large benefit as Biden claims. Deaths from handguns seems to have fallen after 1994, but there was no increase in that either after 2004.
Data sources
Labels: JoeBiden, ObamaGunControl
posted by John Lott at 12:29 PM
5 Comments:
Expert advice? Biden is clueless.
The man has no knowledge of firearms, and what would work best in any given scenario.
Shotguns are short range weapons when it comes to self defense, and are just as easy to miss with than a rifle. Also, the effectiveness of shotshells diminish greatly with distance too.
Rifles have a longer range, a higher cartridge capacity than a shotgun, and maintain their energy for a far greater distance.
So, if I were to go up against looters who are armed with rifles, and I have a shotgun, guess who loses? I get picked off because I lack the range to eliminate the bad guys!
Generally, a 12 GA shotgun is going to recoil much harder than a semi-auto rifle in 5.56. A M-4 style rifle will be much more suitable for women and young adults due to the limited recoil of the configuration.
All things being the same, that 5.56 semi-auto is going to give the user faster shot follow-up. At anything 25 yards and over, you get much more accuracy and precision.
Couple that with a 55-gr soft-point cartridge for minimizing wall penetration, and you have an excellent self-defense tool that almost anyone in the house can handle.
That's not to say that a 12 GA shotgun is a bad choice. Given the pros and cons, the Semi-Auto 5.56 is just a better all around self-defense tool.
Biden's advice is uninformed, and extremely biased given his position on firearms over the years.
The President, VP, and the rest of the gun banners are trying to define the argument by skewing a needs test towards their perception of needs. The Second Amendment isn't about Biden's perception of needs, nor the president's, nor Schumer's. It's an enumerated right for a reason. It would behoove those who are conflicted about that reason to understand the history of our country's formation.
On April 14, 1775, General Gage received instructions from Secretary of State William Legge, Earl of Dartmouth, to disarm the colonist rebels.
The 2nd Amendment isn't about hunting, or politician's perceptions about what is best for self-defense. The 2nd Amendment is about controlling the government by preventing it from disarming the citizenry and making sure the citizenry has access to common military sidearms of the day.
Those that hate it can try and skew the truth and the history all they want, but any historical research of the time readily and easily refutes their propaganda.
We need to take control of the message. Instead of allowing the powers that be divide and conquer, we need to turn this around and ask why they are such extremists that they don't trust the public to own military style firearms when 99.98% of all ~300,000,000 firearms are never used illegally.
Military style rifles accounted for 18 deaths. Drunk driving accounted for 10,839. Why is there no call to ban all alcohol, or to limit the sale of kegs and cases of beer but exempting 6-packs? Or no legislation to put breathalyzer starters on all automobiles sold in the US?
http://www.investors.com/editorial-cartoons/michael-ramirez/640963-weapon-guide-for-the-uninformed
There are no ad-hominem attacks for those that partake in these non-enumerated rights.
~240 years ago the line in the sand was gun confiscation. It looks like we've come full circle.
If there's a rough parity between them, as Biden himself implies, then what's the issue of banning one over the other? Why is the Vice-President so eager to use the power of government to diminish the choices that people have with regard to their own safety? Biden talks like an arrogant Stalinist. The more he says, the less sense he makes.
Martin,
You, of course, are right on the money. The point is that they DON'T CARE! "One less political opponent" would be my guess as to their (Biden, Obama, Feinstein, etc., etc., )concern. If there were a mass shooting at a Republican function they would absolutely dance a jig (right before they declaired marshal law for "our safety").
Thank you Blaine. This whole mess is simply a means to obtain more control and not about our rights.
If we look further at Bonehead's assertion that shotguns are the way to go, could it be that he does know the difference and want's us at a disadvantage?
Outstanding observation Cory! I wish I could express myself the way you did, but King Arthur has enslaved my hands and fingers...
Post a Comment
<< Home