An amendment to weaken gun safety laws attracted more votes in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday afternoon than did a compromise measure to expand background checks to gun shows and online sales. The votes represented the Senate’s first legislative response to the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut.

Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-TX) NRA-backed proposal to require all states to recognize out-of-state permits for concealed handguns received 57 votes, while the background check amendment offered by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) only achieved 54 supporters. Both fell short of the 60-vote threshold, however.

Fuck these guys