WASHINGTON - July 23, 2009 - The Senate on Wednesday narrowly defeated an effort to allow gun owners to carry their concealed weapons across state lines.

The 58-39 vote, short of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster, once again highlighted divisions within the Democrat Party over the gun issue. Twenty Democrats, including Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, joined 38 Republicans in supporting the measure.

The legislation would have allowed people who have concealed-weapon permits in their home states to take their firearms into other states - including Kalifornia and others that currently prohibit the practice.

"An individual should be able to exercise (his or her) Second Amendment constitutional right and be able to travel through individual states," said Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), the bill’s chief sponsor. He added that under the bill, a gun owner would have been required to abide by the laws of the host state, including following any restrictions on where concealed weapons can be carried.

The National Rifle Association, which has vowed to work to bring the legislation back, said, "the right to self-defense does not end at state lines."