Arizona Senate Republicans blocked a bid on Tuesday to push a vote on a bill that would require background checks on private gun sales.
The bill failed a procedural attempt from Sen. Martín Quezada to have the full chamber vote on it without committee approval first.
Republican Sen. Warren Petersen said the bill could stop law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves, saying it takes a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy.
Democratic Senator Rebecca Rios responded.
"If you read the paper, there were multiple police officers, armed police officers standing outside in the school parking lot when the guy was in the classroom killing children. So this armed 'good guy with a gun' is utter nonsense," Rios said.
A poll from Politico following the Uvalde tragedy showed about 81% of people support background checks for gun shows and private purchases.
