A furious Barack Obama accused members of Congress of caving to the gun lobby on Wednesday after the best chance of reform in over a decade fell at the first hurdle.
Moderate Republicans and four Democrats bowed to pressure from the National Rifle Association and blocked a bipartisan Senate amendment that would have expanded background checks for gun purchases to gun shows and online sales.
Despite hopes that the national outrage which followed the Newtown school shooting would force Washington to act, a limited compromise amendment proposed by Republican Pat Toomey and Democrat Joe Manchin received 54 votes, short of the 60 votes needed.
As the measure fell, Patricia Maisch, a survivor of the mass shooting in Tucson, shouted “Shame on you” from the visitors gallery where she was sitting near bereaved Newtown families.
Obama condemns Senate for ‘shameful’ failure to pass gun control reform (Dan Roberts, Guardian)
Obama Blasts Gun Lobby After Failed Vote (Wall Street Journal, Washington Wire)
(Pics: AFPGetty Images/Getty Images)
