John Thune

The gun amendment has gone down on a 58-39 vote in the Senate, the first real blow to the gun lobby in some time and a victory for Democrats who decided that federalizing conceal and carry laws was one step too far.

Senate Democrats on Wednesday banded together to defeat — barely — a Republican proposal to allow concealed weapons to be carried across state lines.

The courts have held that the right to bear arms is a fundamental, individual right under our Constitution. My bipartisan amendment supported by more than 25 senators would ensure that right ...