The U.S. Senate on Wednesday defeated a bipartisan proposal backed by President Barack Obama to expand background checks on gun sales in wake of the December Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre that left 20 children and six educators dead. 

From The New York Times: 

In rapid succession, a bipartisan compromise to expand background checks for would-be gun purchasers, a ban on assault weapons and a ban on high-capacity gun magazines all failed to get the 60 votes needed under an agreement both parties had reached to consider the amendments.

The plan was brokered by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., and Pat Toomey, R-Penn.

Shortly after the vote, Obama denounced the Senate action. Joined by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., Obama said, “This was a pretty shameful day for Washington. But this effort is not over.”

From CNN: 

Fierce opposition by the powerful National Rifle Association led a backlash by conservative Republicans and a few Democrats from pro-gun states that doomed the amendment to the broader package of legislation.

Due to procedural steps by Republican opponents, the amendment required 60 votes to pass in the 100-member chamber, meaning Democrats and their Independent allies who hold 55 seats needed support from some GOP senators to push them through.

The final vote was 54 in favor to 46 opposed with two Republicans joining most Democrats in supporting the compromise.

Only four Republican senators joined 50 of the Senate’s 55 Democrats and independents in support, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Manchin told his colleagues earlier that regardless of the voting outcome, the issue of background checks “is not going to go away.”

From CNN: 

The NRA has said an expanded background check system would be the first step toward a national gun registry and therefore a violation of the constitutional right to bear arms.

Manchin and other supporters rejected that claim, noting the compromise amendment prohibited a national gun registry and criminalizes misusing background check data for that purpose.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said any claim that the bipartisan proposal would create a national gun registry and confiscation of guns is “absurd and false and wrong.”

"The legislation itself prohibits that," he said, adding "what should be clear to those senators who are considering this, because it's clear to the American people, is that this is common sense."

According to CNN, conservative Republicans introduced their proposal Wednesday as an alternative package that reflected the NRA position. The package lacked any expansion of background checks but called for more funding to better enforce the existing system. 

From The Wall Street Journal: 

Hours before the vote the so-called assault-weapons ban got an unexpected supporter in Mr. Reid, who voted against a similar ban nearly 20 years ago. In an emotional speech Wednesday morning, Mr. Reid called the guns "weapons of war."

"I firmly believe that as Americans we have the right to arm ourselves against criminals, but we do not need the ability to arm ourselves against the army," he said. "The United States military is not out to get us. Federal law enforcement and local police departments are not out to get us. These conspiracy theories are dangerous and they should be put to rest.”

A CNN/ORC International poll released last week reported that 86 percent of Americans say they support expanded background checks.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona, one of the Republicans who support the compromise, said to Toomey and Manchin, “You may not win today…but I will say that you did the right thing.” 

 

Read more of Neon Tommy’s coverage on gun control here.

Reach Executive Producer Agnus Dei Farrant here.