Sen. Ayotte confronted by daughter of Newtown victim at town hall meeting

The daughter of the slain principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School confronted Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) at a town hall meeting on Tuesday for voting against legislation to expand criminal background checks.

"You had mentioned that day the burden on owners of gun stores that the expanded background checks would cost. I am just wondering why the burden of my mother being gunned down in the halls of her elementary school isn't as important as that," Erica Lafferty said.

"Erica, I, certainly let me just say, I'm obviously so sorry," Ayotte replied. "And, I think that ultimately when we look at what happened in Sandy Hook, I understand that's what drove this whole discussion -- all of us want to make sure that doesn't happen again."

The senator said expand criminal background checks wouldn't have prevented the Sandy Hook school shooting, which left 20 young children and six adults dead. She said she supported efforts to restrict the mentally ill from purchasing firearms.

The Senate voted 54-46 in favor of a bipartisan amendment to a larger gun bill that would require background checks on firearm sales at gun shows and on the Internet. However, the Senate failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a Republican-led filibuster.

Ayotte's approval rating has dropped 15 points since October, according to Public Policy Polling. Half of the voters in New Hampshire said her "no" vote would make them less likely to support her re-election, while only 23 percent said it would make them more likely to support her.

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