Tester: Background checks would have strengthened Second Amendment

Montana's junior U.S. senator expressed disappointment over Wednesday's failure to pass a proposal to strengthen background checks in some gun sales.

"It was an interesting day," Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said in a telephone press conference from Washington.

Tester and U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., split their vote on a plan proposed by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., and Patrick Toomey, R-Penn., designed to prevent criminals and the seriously mentally ill from purchasing firearms.

Checks now are required only when guns are purchased from federally licensed firearms dealers. The proposal by Manchi...