Wash. state man says shooting followed VP’s advice
VANCOUVER, Wash. -- A Washington state 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, of Vancouver, 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 that’ not allowed except in self-defense.
