Drudge linked to a story by the Washington Free Beacon in which was a link to an interview that Biden gave to Field and Stream. Allow me to first provide the quote in particular that the thread title relates to:
"F&S: What about the other uses, for self-defense and target practice?
V.P. BIDEN: Well, the way in which we measure it isI think most scholars would sayis that as long as you have a weapon sufficient to be able to provide your self-defense. I did one of these town-hall meetings on the Internet and one guy said, Well, what happens when the end days come? What happens when theres the earthquake? I live in California, and I have to protect myself.
I said, 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. Most people can handle a shotgun a hell of a lot better than they can a semiautomatic weapon in terms of both their aim and in terms of their ability to deter people coming. We can argue whether thats true or not, but it is no argument that, for example, a shotgun could do the same job of protecting you. Now, granted, you can come back and say, Well, a machine gun could do a better job of protecting me. No ones arguing we should make machine guns legal."
Now, first the link to Washington Free Beacon's story:
Washington Free Beacon Story of Interview with Biden
Now, while this next link will take you to the Field and Stream interview, it is a fairly long interview. However, in the early part of the interview, Biden first alludes to the reasons for the 2nd Amendment. A little further in is the part that I quoted above.
Field and Stream Interview of Joe Biden
"F&S: What about the other uses, for self-defense and target practice?
V.P. BIDEN: Well, the way in which we measure it isI think most scholars would sayis that as long as you have a weapon sufficient to be able to provide your self-defense. I did one of these town-hall meetings on the Internet and one guy said, Well, what happens when the end days come? What happens when theres the earthquake? I live in California, and I have to protect myself.
I said, 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. Most people can handle a shotgun a hell of a lot better than they can a semiautomatic weapon in terms of both their aim and in terms of their ability to deter people coming. We can argue whether thats true or not, but it is no argument that, for example, a shotgun could do the same job of protecting you. Now, granted, you can come back and say, Well, a machine gun could do a better job of protecting me. No ones arguing we should make machine guns legal."
Now, first the link to Washington Free Beacon's story:
Washington Free Beacon Story of Interview with Biden
Now, while this next link will take you to the Field and Stream interview, it is a fairly long interview. However, in the early part of the interview, Biden first alludes to the reasons for the 2nd Amendment. A little further in is the part that I quoted above.
Field and Stream Interview of Joe Biden