In addition to defeating the compromise on background checks, U.S. senators on Wednesday defeated an amendment that would have given gun owners the right to carry concealed weapons across state lines.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas announced earlier this week his offer of “National Conceal-Carry Reciprocity Legislation.”
The amendment would “guarantee the rights of gun owners to carry concealed weapons across state lines and within other states that also have conceal-carry laws,” according to a press release from his office. The amendment would have expanded concealed-carry gun laws across state lines without requiring owners to obtain a permit in the other state.
Pro-gun lobbyists favored Cornyn’s addition to the overall legislation. It was backed by the National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
The Senate failed to pass the conceal-carry amendment 57-43. The background check legislation failed with a 54-46 vote.
This week the Senate also defeated five other amendments that would ban assault weapons, increase funding for criminal prosecution, make gun trafficking a federal crime, expand veterans’ gun rights, and ban high-capacity magazines.
An amendment to protect gun owners’ privacy passed, as well as mental health funding to improve services in schools and suicide prevention programs.
Each possible piece of legislation had to pass the 60-vote threshold.
Michele Richinick