The US Senate has blocked measures that would have stopped the sale of guns to suspected terrorists.
A number of proposals aimed at toughening up gun controls were rejected by the senate.
It came after Democratic senators attempted to add amendments to a spending bill. The legislation would have banned suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms.
Another gun control amendment called for universal background checks for gun purchasers. Lawmakers also voted on Republican versions of the two proposals last night.
The vote came just over a week after gunman Omar Mateen murdered 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando. The mass shooting - the worst in US history - has reignited the country's gun debate debate.
However, there is some hope a compromise can be reached between Republicans and Democrats, with Republican Senator Susan Collins saying she will today unveil a "bipartisan compromise to help keep guns from terrorists":
TOMORROW @ 1:45 pm: Sen Collins & others to unveil bipartisan compromise to help keep guns from terrorists & make America safer #mepolitics
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) June 21, 2016
Yesterday's votes on the proposed measures were called following a marathon filibuster by Democratic senators last week, which was commenced by Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy.
He has been a prominent gun control campaigner in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in his home state in 2012.
In a series of Twitter posts following yesterday's vote, Murphy said: "I am disappointed in results of the votes tonight. But I know we will not stop fighting to end gun violence.
"This country is rising up to demand safer, stronger gun laws. Millions of Americans are speaking out & they will not be silenced," he added.
Dear gun lobby - I'm not going anywhere. I'm not backing down. I'm not giving up. And I got millions of folks with me. #Enough
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 20, 2016
After the Senate vote, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton tweeted the word 'enough' followed by the names of all those killed in the Orlando shooting.
Enough. -H pic.twitter.com/3herO6i1Pr
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 21, 2016
