Can a porcupine shoot its quills?

Porcupine quills are loosely fastened to the body of the porcupine. When an enemy attacks a porcupine, the latter swings its tail into the attacker’s face. This makes the quills fly out making it seem as if the quills are being shot at the enemy. The porcupine’s quills are fine and silky during birth but they harden later. Interestingly, porcupines love salt.