Graham: Christmas Presents at Risk Under Background Checks Bill

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Congress doesn’t have the votes to pass a gun bill that includes universal background checks, saying the public has been misled by the measure’s proponents.

“Does that mean if a father gives a gun to his son for Christmas, they have to go through a background check? That’s what they were trying to sell. That won’t work,” Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said Monday on Fox News.

Graham cited statistics that show the inadequacy of background checks.

“Criminals will never go through a background check; 76,000 people failed a background check in 2010,” Graham said. “If you fail a background check in this country, what happens to you? Absolutely nothing.”

Graham gave the example of a woman from his state who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to trying to kill the president in 2005, yet was able to legally buy a gun this year.

“Before you expand the background check system to include private individuals, let’s start prosecuting people who violate the law that exists today,” Graham said.