Joe Biden- Ferrari Drivers and Gun Owners Both 'Just Like the Feel' of Excitement
During an interview on a popular MSNBC morning show, Vice President Joe Biden compared the desire for gun owners in America to own some of the more controversial automatic firearms to a passion of driving high-end sports cars.
"It used to be we were dealing almost exclusively with hunters," Biden said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Thursday. "There's a whole new sort of group of individuals now who, I don't know what the numbers are, that never hunt at all, but they own guns for one of two reasons: self protection or they just like the feel of that AR-15 at the range … they like the way it feels. You know, it's like driving a Ferrari."
Biden then referred to public polling data that showed that the public had widespread support for measures some lawmakers have resisted, such as background checks and limits on magazine capacities.
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"The people are far ahead of politicians … I mean so far ahead. You saw it in immigration; you saw it in marriage issues. You're seeing it now, the public has moved to a different place," Biden said.
The vice president then highlighted public support for including a ban on assault-style weapons and ammunition clips larger than 10 rounds, insisting that if those measures had been in place the body count in Newtown would have been less.
"If there had only been 10 bullets in each clip, [the shooter] would have had to change the clip an additional three to five times," he said. "One of those kids would be alive. Somebody would be alive."
"What is the inconvenience? What are we doing? What are we doing to impact on a gun owners' right if he only has a clip with ten rounds in it instead of 30 rounds in it?" he asked.
In the wake of the tragedy in Newtown, President Obama selected Biden to lead the initiative on gun control. The Vice President held talks earlier this year with those involved in the debate such as gun owners, gun control advocates, businesses, mental health care experts and even video game makers to develop a comprehensive bill on gun control.
