The expanded gun background check amendment failed in the Senate this afternoon.
SETBACK FOR OBAMA–
Here’s the roll call vote on the Manchin Amendment.
Red State Democrats up for reelection voted against the bill.
Reuters reported:
The Senate on Wednesday rejected a bipartisan plan to expand background checks for gun buyers, dealing a sharp blow to President Barack Obama’s campaign to curb gun violence after the Newtown school massacre.
Despite emotional pleas from families of victims of the Newtown, Connecticut, shootings and broad public support nationwide, the plan to extend background checks to online and gun-show sales failed on a 54-46 vote, six votes short of the 60-vote hurdle needed to clear the Senate.
The amendment negotiated by Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania was seen as Obama’s best hope to pass meaningful gun-control legislation after the December massacre of 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown.
Other measures backed by the Democratic president – including a proposal to ban rapid-firing “assault” weapons like the one used in Connecticut and a limit on ammunition magazines – also are expected to fail as the Senate conducts nine consecutive votes on gun-control legislation.
UPDATE: Walk of Shame—
Barack Obama will give a statement this hour on his gun legislation.
