Gun control: What doomed the Senate's background check bill?

The Manchin-Toomey bill, which would extend background checks to gun shows and online sales, faces almost certain defeat

"We will not get the votes today," said Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) (left)
(Image credit: Allison Shelley/Getty Images)

The Manchin-Toomey bill, which would extend background checks to gun shows and online sales, seemed like gun-control advocates' best bet. It was co-authored by Pat Toomey, a Republican with an "A" rating from the NRA. The second-biggest gun rights group in the country initially endorsed it as a "pro-gun bill." (They have since pulled their support).

But on Wednesday, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) declared his own bill dead:

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Keith Wagstaff is a staff writer at TheWeek.com covering politics and current events. He has previously written for such publications as TIME, Details, VICE, and the Village Voice.