NEW YORK (AP) — Paul McCartney added his voice to Tony Bennett's campaign against gun violence Wednesday.

The former Beatle recorded a voice message that was part of a text-to-call operation for Bennett's Voices Against Violence campaign. McCartney and others encouraged Americans to send a text, which led to the singer's message and connected the caller to his or her local Senate office after providing a zip code.

But the Senate rejected a bipartisan attempt to ban assault weapons Wednesday, one of their leading answers to December's slayings of 20 children and six aides at an elementary in Newtown, Conn. The 54-46 vote fell along party lines, with most Democrats supporting the legislation and most Republicans rejecting it.

Bennett, 86, tweeted after the failed vote: "We will not stop until our voices are heard."

Families of Newton victims and others affected by gun violence have been lobbying lawmakers and appearing at news conferences.

Other celebrities who supported Bennett's campaign included Alec Baldwin, Gloria Estefan, Josh Groban and Juanes.

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Online:

http://www.voicesagainstviolence.com