Man who fired shotgun invokes Biden defense
Published 7:56 am Thursday, July 18, 2013
VANCOUVER, Wash. — A Vancouver man who fired a shotgun in the air to chase away car prowlers says he was following the advice of Vice President Joe Biden.
Jeffrey Barton pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a Clark County court to a charge of illegally discharging a firearm. The 52-year-old fired the shot Monday when he thought people were breaking into his vehicles.
Outside of court, Barton told KOIN “I did what Joe Biden told me to do. I went outside and fired my shotgun in the air.”
In an answer to a home defense question in February, the vice president said Americans don’t need semi-automatic weapons because a couple of blasts from a shotgun will scare off intruders.
Sheriff’s deputies said it’s not allowed except in self-defense.
