That Time Joe Biden Blasted Gun Control and Praised the NRA

in Authors, Current Events, Jordan Michaels, This Week
That Time Joe Biden Blasted Gun Control and Praised the NRA
Biden supported a bill that rolled back gun control. (Photo: Joe Biden Facebook)

If elected on November 3, former Vice President Joe Biden will pursue the most comprehensive gun control scheme in the history of the United States. His plan includes banning “assault weapons” and “high-capacity” magazines, enacting universal background checks, and prohibiting the online sale of ammunition and gun parts.

But there was a time in the not-so-distant past when then-Sen. Biden was singing a different song. In 1986, Congress passed the Firearm Owners Protection Act to roll back the most extreme restrictions imposed by the Gun Control Act of 1968 – and Biden was one of the bill’s supporters.

What’s more, during the debate on the Senate floor, Biden praised the National Rifle Association and expressed doubt in the ability of gun control laws to reduce crime.  

“I give credit to Senator Hatch and the National Rifle Association for their willingness to compromise and develop a revised bill that would strike a fair balance between unnecessary restrictions and regulations on lawful ownership of rifles and handguns and the legitimate interests of law enforcement in carrying out their responsibilities,” he said in July of 1986.

“During my twelve-and-half years as a member of this body, I have never believed that additional gun control or federal registration of guns would reduce crime,” he continued. “I am convinced that a criminal who wants a firearm can get one through illegal, untraceable, unregistered sources, with or without gun control. In my opinion a national register or ban of handguns would be impossible to carry out and may not result in reductions in crime.”

SEE ALSO: Proof Joe Biden & Kamala Harris Back Gun Confiscation

That Time Joe Biden Blasted Gun Control and Praised the NRA
A transcript of Biden’s comments on the Senate floor in 1985.

Just a few years after making these statements, Biden was pushing the 1994 “assault weapon” ban. The ban prohibited a variety of semi-automatic firearms, but it did not reduce crime and cost the Democrats control of Congress that year.

Today, along with promoting his radical anti-gun platform, Biden brags that he’s “taken on the National Rifle Association (NRA) on the national stage and won – twice.” During a February debate in South Carolina, he took aim at both the NRA and gun manufacturers: “If I’m elected — NRA, I’m coming for you, and gun manufacturers, I’m gonna take you on and I’m gonna beat you,” he said.

SEE ALSO: Biden Would Ban and Criminalize Best Selling Centerfire Rifle: The Modern Sporting Rifle

Biden’s defenders say his stance on gun control has “evolved.” This article from the Everytown publication The Trace, for example, uses that language, and argues that Biden has just followed the evolving opinions of the American people.

But Biden’s reversal is extreme—even by Washington’s standards. His position moved from blasting gun control as ineffective to pursuing more gun control than any other presidential candidate. Biden was unable to implement his agenda as vice president, but if Democrats take control of the Senate and he wins the White House, he’ll have the chance to make his flip-flop complete.

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About the author: Jordan Michaels has been reviewing firearm-related products for over six years and enjoying them for much longer. With family in Canada, he’s seen first hand how quickly the right to self-defense can be stripped from law-abiding citizens. He escaped that statist paradise at a young age, married a sixth-generation Texan, and currently lives in Tyler. Got a hot tip? Send him an email at [email protected].

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  • Jerry April 8, 2022, 11:55 am

    Okay, so it was between 1984 and 1994 that they switched him for the body double? Heinlein’s ‘Double Star’ begat ‘Dave’, ‘Moon over Parador, and at least one ‘Mission; Impossible’ episode; still a good read for being a 70-yearold sci-fi, (albiet itself inspired by ‘Prisoner of Zenda’) and better than most conspiranoid stuff. Does make one wonder, what made him flip? I can remember Ms Giffords saying she was in her right mind, and she wouldnt go after guns, one of the most-asked questions of her recovery untill she answered it, but not long after that she, too, flipped. Seem to recall hearing, her boyfriend badgered her into thinking she was brain-damaged to say that, then after the flip she said she was in her right mind. Cant recall the wit who said, nobody in politics is in his right mind, was it Franlkin?

  • Leigh October 31, 2020, 10:58 am

    How long has Bernie Sanders been in?

    When did being a politician become a career?

  • Leigh October 31, 2020, 10:57 am

    That was before he was paid by Bloomberg and gun-grabbers…just sayin’…

  • mrpski October 30, 2020, 3:29 pm

    Even though by the time I write this many, if not most, will have voted I pray that blind eyes will be opened and deaf ears will hear all of these deceitful statements that the liberal side of our country have made over the last 60+ years, never mind the outright, blatant statements made in the last 4 years. First the lies through the educational system, then government lies, then basic morals and human decency until the weird, pornagraphic and demonic are praised in the mainstream media and entertainment arts. Wake up America! We finally have a leader that is trumpeting grace and the evil in this world does not like it. You have a choice all right….A choice to reject what is the good that this country was founded on or the choice to believe the lies buried underneath all the sweet words. Freedom is not free, and mercy triumphs over judgement, rebellion, anarchy and strife. Do not elect a man, who will be dead before most of us are regardless of who you vote for. Elect a cause, a return to the land of the free and the home of the brave founded by the God fearing men that created it. Wake up America!

    • Rusty October 31, 2020, 12:12 pm

      I wonder how much grace he had for Stormy, or if Melania’s photo spreads are, or are not, deemed pornographic. I do know they are NSFW…

  • Stephen October 30, 2020, 12:56 pm

    Joe the “yes”man for whoever is in power.

  • Michael J October 30, 2020, 12:02 pm

    Flip, flop Joe probably can’t remember. But we do.

  • Dav October 30, 2020, 11:20 am

    He’s been in politics for 36 years. This is why we need absolute term limits for all elected officials and appointed bureaucrats.

  • renny October 30, 2020, 10:20 am

    he is a politician, lifelong, he will go where he thinks the votes are. absolutely NO real convictions

  • Mike V October 29, 2020, 8:32 am

    Chameleon sock puppet.

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