Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Sunday triggered an avalanche of mockery after declaring that he’s armed and dangerous in response to a question about the recent mass shootings in Atlanta, Georgia and Boulder, Colorado.
During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, the South Carolina Republican insisted that he needs an AR-15 assault-style rifle to prepare for “gangs” that might attack him following a natural disaster.
Graham’s remarks came after host Chris Wallace asked him to comment about a push from Democrats to enact a new assault weapons ban following two recent mass shootings.
“I would challenge [Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer] to bring the assault weapons ban to the floor of the United States Senate,” Graham told Wallace. “It won’t get 50 votes, much less 60.”
“I own an AR-15,” he continued. “If there’s a natural disaster in South Carolina where the cops can’t protect my neighborhood, my house will be the last ones that the gangs will come to because I can defend myself.”
Graham added: “You don’t have to have an AR-15 but if you have one lawfully, I think you should be allowed to keep it.”
Watch the interview and some of the reactions below.
If Lindsey Graham ever encounters a gang he’s fucked whether he owns an AR-15 or not.
I, for one, did not have “Lindsey Graham picking off gang bangers in a Road-Warrior-post-apocalyptic-South-Carolina” on my bingo card. https://t.co/kHeZ3s0EEY
I'm picturing a shirtless Lindsey Graham in a Rambo headband firing off an AR-15, and it's even more pathetic and hilarious than that couple in St. Louis. https://t.co/eEVs1keZfr
Same guy who got scared when a couple people at the airport heckled him is going to stand his ground against an entire gang? No, he's going to cry and pee his pants.