(CNN) - A Washington state man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to illegally firing a shotgun to scare people off his property, saying he was just following Vice President Joe Biden's advice.
Jeffery Barton, 52, said at his arraignment in Clark County that he thought people were trying to break into his car and fired his shotgun to frighten them away.
"I did what Joe Biden told me to do," Barton told CNN affiliate KOIN. "I went outside and fired my shotgun in the air."
In February, at the height of the gun control debate that dominated Washington following the Newtown elementary school shooting, Biden dispensed some general advice during an online question-and-answer session.
"If you want to protect yourself, get a double-barreled shot gun," he said.
He added that he tells his wife, Jill, that "if there's ever a problem just walk out on the balcony here ... put that double-barreled shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house."
His comments were likely intended to underscore the position that shotguns were sufficient for self-defense, rather than high-capacity or semi-automatic weapons.
Barton faces one count of illegal aiming or discharging a firearm.
According to KOIN, officials are still investigating whether a large party got out of control near Barton's home and was possibly related to the incident. But they say there's no evidence, as of now, that there were people on Barton's property.