Washington (CNN) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put proposed gun legislation on pause Thursday, setting it aside for now after the defeat a day earlier of major provisions sought by President Barack Obama and Democrats in the aftermath of the Newtown school massacre. The move emphasized the solid victory for the National Rifle Association and its conservative Republican allies in what Obama called "round one" of the fight for tougher gun laws. It also shifted the gun debate from details of particular proposals to political sniping by both sides in an attempt to generate public support on the divisive issue.
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NEW: Sen. Cornyn denies a political motive in GOP opposition to tougher gun laws
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Sen. Reid says the Senate will return to the gun legislation at some point
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Now comes the blame game, an analyst says
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The Senate defeated key provisions on Wednesday
Barack Obama
Obama
On Wednesday, @placeholder angrily accused Senate Republicans of doing the NRA's bidding in opposing a bipartisan compromise that would expand background checks for private transactions at gun shows and all Internet sales.
Republican
GOP
Speaking on the Senate floor, Cornyn tried to position @placeholder as the ones seeking new gun laws by challenging Reid and Democrats to work with them instead of putting the measure aside.
Republican
GOP
One was a @placeholder plan to protect the privacy of gun owners while the other was a bipartisan proposal to strengthen mental health programs.
Senate
Senate
It needed 60 votes to pass under an agreement reached by @placeholder leaders that applied to all the amendments.
Republican
GOP
@placeholder opponents of the new gun laws parroted the NRA position that expanding background checks would be a step toward a national gun registry and eventual federal confiscation of firearms, a claim that Obama and sponsors of the compromise called false.
National Rifle Association
Republican opponents of the new gun laws parroted the @placeholder position that expanding background checks would be a step toward a national gun registry and eventual federal confiscation of firearms, a claim that Obama and sponsors of the compromise called false.