Senate rejects expanding background checks for gun purchases

WASHINGTON — The Senate has voted anew against expanding background checks for more gun purchases, rejecting the proposal a day after the latest U.S. mass shooting left 14 people dead in California.

Thursday’s 50-47 vote underscored that political gridlock over curbing firearms remains formidable in Washington, amid a rash of highly publicized U.S. shootings and last month’s terror attack in Paris.

The measure was co-authored by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania.

It would require background checks for all gun purchases online and at gun shows. Currently, the checks are only required for transactions from licensed gun dealers.

It’s the same proposal the Senate rejected in the months after the December 2012 slayings of 20 children and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut.