I've come across many antis who remember shooting .22s at fairs, or at summer camp, or at tin cans with grampa when they were kids. They may be "totally anti-gun" but they're OK with .22s because they actually had fun with them and don't fear them.
And if Joe Biden thinks a shotgun is OK, that's good enough for you. If Uncle Joe doesn't need an AR 15, no one else does, either.
During election years most every liberal politician campaigning in a red state fondly "remembers" owning a shotgun or a .22 rifle.
There's no logic at work here, just media-driven fear, political expediency, ignorance, and the need to control.
One thing we do know, when they've banned everything else they'll come for the shotguns, .22s, and BB guns. And, when someone discovers that 14th century English longbowmen could get off 20 aimed shots per minute, deadly effective at 200 yds or more, say goodbye to bows and arrows.