Expanded Background Checks Fail in Senate

In a setback for those who have supported national gun control legislation since the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, a "compromise" gun bill proposed by Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania) and Joe Manchin III (D-West Virginia) met defeat on the floor of the Senate Wednesday afternoon in a 54-46 vote. The legislation, championed by President Barack Obama, would have expanded background checks on those interested in buying guns.

A majority of the Senate voted in favor of the measure. But the bill needed 60 votes to pass due to procedural steps taken by Republicans who opposed the bill, according to CNN.

Family members of victims from Sandy Hook and other recent shootings looked on from the gallery as the votes were cast, according to the New York Times. According to the Times, two family members shouted "Shame on you!" at lawmakers before Vice President Joe Biden asked for decorum.

Erica Lafferty of Naugatuck, whose mother, Sandy Hook Elementary School Principal Dawn Hochsprung was murdered in the Dec. 14 attack, tweeted after the vote: "We will be back, I promise."  

Carlee Soto, sister of shooting victim Victoria Soto, tweeted: "Vote went no 54 we needed 60. I'm sorry Vick I tried." 

"[Majority leader] Harry Reid voted 'no' but because of him we will have a second chance at the vote. He is on our side but had to vote no to get a second vote," she added later.

National Rifle Association representative Chris W. Cox called the legislation "misguided" in a statement released after the vote, adding it would have criminalized "private transfers of firearms between honest citizens."

"The NRA will continue to work with Republicans and Democrats who are committed to protecting our children in schools, prosecuting violent criminals to the fullest extent of the law, and fixing our broken mental health system," said Cox. "We are grateful for the hard work and leadership of those Senators who chose to pursue meaningful solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems."

Malloy: 'The Members Who Voted Against This Proposal Should Be Ashamed of Themselves"

In Connecticut, gun control legislation has received a wholly different legislative reception.

Earlier this month, the general assembly passed -- and Gov. Dannel Malloy signed -- a bill giving Connecticut some of the toughest gun laws in the country. The legislation includes not only universal background checks, but also sweeping new gun laws that include expanded bans on high-powered weapons, high-capacity magazines.

"We are fortunate in Connecticut to be represented by two people in the United States Senate – Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy – who are clearly working to improve public safety," said Malloy following Wednesday's vote. "[W]hen the Senate cannot come together on an issue that is supported by the vast majority of Americans, there is little to no hope that common sense will prevail. The members who voted against this proposal should be ashamed of themselves."

Following the state legislation, Bristol-based gunmaker PTR Industries announced plans to relocate outside of Connecticut.

The bill was the most substantial gun control legislation to face a U.S. Senate vote in almost two decades, according to CNN.

From U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Greenwich, whose district covers Oxford

“I am outraged that the Senate failed to pass this commonsense legislation. With more than 90% of Americans supporting background checks, it is simply unfathomable that this obvious legislation did not garner the needed votes to pass the Senate and move onto the House of Representatives. The victims of Newtown – and the over 3,000 people who have been killed by gun violence since then – deserve better than that. 

 “If you cannot pass a background check, you should not own a gun. I am bitterly disappointed in this Congress' inability to pass commonsense gun violence prevention legislation, but I remain determined to work with my colleagues to ensure safer schools and communities for our children.”

- Paul Singley contributed to this report