Gun Control News 2013: Senate Defeats Filibuster Attempt of New Gun Regulations

The U.S. Senate has successfully avoided a filibuster of new gun control measures introduced today, in a rare show of bipartisanship for the often-deadlocked body.

"By a 68-31 margin, senators moved to open formal consideration of a package of reforms to expand background checks, improve school safety and combat gun trafficking," the Los Angeles Times writes.

Still, 16 Republicans senators voted not to begin debate, as did two Democratic senators. One Democrat did not cast a vote.

Republicans had threatened to filibuster the bill, claiming that new gun control measures violate the Second Amendment. "This bill is a clear overreach that will predominantly punish and harass our neighbors, friends and family," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said.

But more than 100 days after the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 20 children and six adults dead, the Senate will finally consider new regulations on firearms.

Some prominent Republicans opposed the filibuster attempt, citing Sandy Hook and recent polls which show support for background checks for firearms purchases above 90 percent nationwide.

Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, often an ally to McConnell, voted to move forward with the bill.

Over the past several days, the White House has urged the Senate to take up consideration of the bill, with both the president and the first lady speaking in separate engagements about gun violence and the need for restrictions to prevent firearms sales to criminals or the mentally unstable.

"The administration urges the Congress to make the legislation even stronger by adding provisions to keep weapons of war and high-capacity ammunition magazines that facilitate mass killings off the nation's streets," said a statement from the Office of Management and Budget.

Of course, the Senate is only considering the bill. The debate ahead will be definitely be contentious. If we're lucky, it will also be productive.