(VOVworld) – The US Senate rejected 4 measures to restrict guns sales on Monday.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., joins Senate Democrats in calling for stricter gun control legislation in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Orlando last week. (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

All 4 measures to expand background checks and restrict the sale of guns to people on the suspected terrorists list needed 13 more votes to pass the Senate. 2 of the measures were initiated by the Democratic Party and 2 by the Republican Party.

The bloodiest shooting in US history on June 12 has increased pressure on law-makers to take action. The failure of the gun control measures is more evidence of the enormous political power of gun rights advocates in the Senate and the National Rifle Association (NRA). Republicans said the bills drafted by the Democratics were too restrictive and violated gun owner’s rights. Democratics said the Republican bills were “too weak”.