Bernie Sanders: Explaining gun-control loopholes is 'embarrassing'

NEW YORK, June 24 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders said it is "embarrassing" to have to explain to Americans why individuals on the terror watch list are still eligible to buy guns.

The comments came during an interview with Stephen Colbert, on CBS' The Late Show.

Colbert asked Sanders about his thoughts on the sit-in staged by Democrats in the House of Representatives. Sanders said the fact that it was necessary -- and that it appears unlikely the laws will change despite it -- is upsetting.

"It's almost embarrassing to have to explain it because it's so crazy," Sanders said. "We have Republicans who apparently think it is OK to keep people off of airplanes, for good reasons, because they are possible terrorists. We don't want to see that continue.

"And yet these very same people who can't get on a plane can apparently walk into a store and buy an AK-47, which can be used to mow down people. It's so crazy we have to argue about sane gun-control legislation that it's almost embarrassing to have to explain this to the American people."

Sanders has yet to officially end his presidential campaign despite the fact his rival, Hillary Clinton, has locked up the number of delegates necessary to clinch the nomination. Sanders has acknowledged he is unlikely to be the nominee and said Friday morning he will vote for Clinton in the general election.

Colbert asked Sanders whether he thought at the beginning of the campaign he would get as close as he did to becoming the nominee.

Sanders replied the campaign went "further and faster" than he thought it could, but was gratified by the support.