Update: Gun Amendment Fails, But Does Gain Bipartisan Support

The amendment to allow gun owners with concealed-carry permits from their states to carry concealed weapons in other states fell two votes short of the 60 it needed to pass on Wednesday in the Senate. But, the measure did receive some bipartisan support, with 20 Democrats joining the 38 Republicans who voted yes. Thirty-nine senators voted no and three senators didn't vote. The final tally cleared away the potential for a filibuster.

A showdown appeared to be brewing earlier Wednesday, as lawmakers prepared to duel over the amendment, which was tacked onto defense budget legislation by South Dakota Republican John Thune. This did not sit well with some Democrats, however, who began marshaling forces for a filibuster.

Although Democrats make up a three-fifths majority in the Senate, it was unclear whether enough of them could be persuaded to support a filibuster and hold off any cloture votes to end it. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) was among those who had flagged the measure for a possible filibuster, complaining that the legislation would hurt urban law enforcement.
He told Politico:

Each state has carefully crafted its concealed-carry laws in the way that makes the most sense to protect its citizens. Clearly, large, urban areas merit a different standard than rural areas. To gut the ability of local police and sheriffs to determine who should be able to carry a concealed weapon makes no sense.

The two Republican senators voting against the measure were Indiana's Richard Lugar and Ohio's George Voinovich.