www.gunowners.org
Jan 1998

Did Your Senator Support Your Gun Rights?



Those persons elected to Congress must be held accountable for their actions while in office. A major function of advocacy groups such as GOA is to make voting records available to members and supporters, because few people have the time to track down this information on their own.

Yet, it is imperative that individuals know how their rights are treated by those elected to represent them. This becomes particularly important when decisons must be made whether or not to continue to support a Member of Congress financially.

Actions truly speak louder than words. Below you will find descriptions of 8 votes by the Senate, 104th Congress. Following that is a record of how every Member voted. A similar file will be created for the 105th Congress, and each Congress thereafter, once a significant body of votes has been recorded.

  1. Government wiretapping of innocent citizens and gun owners. On June 6, 1995, the Senate voted for "roving wiretaps" by a vote of 77-19. This amendment to the government terror bill (S. 735) would allow government officials to wiretap one's home if a person under investigation visits the home -- even if one had no knowledge the person was a suspect. A vote against the amendment is rated as a "+".
  2. Anti-gun terror bill. On June 7, 1995, the Senate passed an anti-gun terror bill (S. 735) by a vote of 91-8. This version of the terror bill included: a BATF pay increase of $100 million; a provision authorizing "roving wiretaps" allowing government officials to wiretap one's home if a person under investigation visits the home -- even if one had no knowledge the person was a suspect; a weakening of the Posse Commitatus law to give the military more authority to get involved in law enforcement in certain circumstances; a grant of power to the FBI to conduct "fishing expeditions" and secure one's financial and travel records in certain circumstances without any evidence one has committed a crime; and finally, the "Randy Weaver entrapment provision" which extends the statute of limitations for violations under the National Firearms Act of 1934 from three to five years, thus ensuring that the BATF will have greater ability to entrap people like Randy Weaver, who are accused of NON-VIOLENT offenses (such as sawing-off a shotgun barrel about 1/4 of an inch too short). Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), even though she supported the final version, had this to say about some of the above concerns: "It is disturbing to me when the Congress is faced with a decision to increase protection for the people by chipping away at the edges of freedom." A vote against the bill is rated as a "+".
  3. Restricting taxpayer funding to anti-gun lobby groups -- First Vote. On November 9, 1995, the Senate rejected (by a vote of 49 to 46) the so-called Simpson-Istook provision which would restrict welfare to lobby organizations. This provision was of great interest to pro-gun groups as it would help "level the playing field" by severely limiting federal dollars to groups that have often lobbied for gun control -- groups like the American Bar Association, the American Association of Retired Persons and many, many others. A vote in favor of the amendment is rated as a "+".
  4. Restricting taxpayer funding to anti-gun lobby groups -- Second Vote. On November 9, 1995, the Senate passed a compromise version of the Simpson-Istook provision (see the previous explanation in vote number 3 above). The compromise which passed would only limit those non-profit groups with budgets of more than $3 million from both lobbying and receiving federal grants. A vote in favor of the amendment, which passed 49 to 47 as a rider to H.J. Res. 115, is rated as a "+".
  5. Anti-gun terror bill -- final passage. On April 17, 1996, the Senate passed the conference version of the anti-terrorism bill by a vote of 91-8. The final version of the bill (S. 735) contained several problems, including ones that will: order an "anti-hunter" rifle and ammo study; authorize a $40 million pay increase for the BATF (through the Treasury Department); potentially punish gun dealers (and individuals) for selling ammunition to someone they should have known would commit a violent crime; federalize many state crimes, thus tremendously increasing the scope and jurisdiction of the BATF; restrict the right of habeas corpus in such a way as to severely damage the ability of the courts to rescue honest gun owners who are unjustly incarcerated; allow the government to use "secret evidence" against certain individuals; remove protections against wiretapping wireless data; and require banks to freeze the assets of domestic groups in certain situations. A vote against the bill is rated as a "+".
  6. Taggants in gun powder. On September 12, 1996, the Senate voted (57-42) to keep an anti-gun amendment off of the Treasury-Postal appropriations bill (H.R. 3756). The Kerry amendment would have made funds available for a study of tagging explosive materials, including black and smokeless powders (thus setting the stage for registering ammunition). The amendment also sought to further demonize firearms by selectively examining the misuse of firearms by criminals. The study would not examine the number of times firearms are used to save the lives of decent citizens. A vote to defeat the amendment is rated as a "+".
  7. Lautenberg Domestic Confiscation Gun Ban. On September 12, 1996, the Senate passed the Lautenberg gun ban as an amendment to the Treasury-Postal appropriations bill (H.R. 3756). The Lautenberg Domestic Confiscation Gun Ban disarms gun owners for small (misdemeanor) offenses in the home -- "offenses" as slight as spanking a child or grabbing a spouse. This lifetime ban, in certain cases, can even be imposed without a trial by jury. It is also retroactive, so it does not matter if the offense occurred 20 years ago. The Senate passed the gun ban by a vote of 97-2. A vote against the Lautenberg amendment is rated as a "+".
  8. Kohl "Gun Free Zones" Ban. On September 12, 1996, the Senate failed to defeat an anti-gun amendment introduced by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI). The Kohl Gun Free Zones Ban creates a virtual one-half mile wide "gun free" circle around every American school (or a 1,000 foot zone going in any direction from any school) -- a zone which even includes home schools. The Senate failed by a 72-27 margin to keep the amendment off of the Treasury-Postal appropriations bill (H.R. 3756). A vote to defeat the Kohl amendment is rated as a "+".

KEY: + Favorable,  - Unfavorable,  ? Not voting,  P Present,  O Not then a member. 

                                1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8
---- Alabama
   HEFLIN (D-AL)                -    -    -    -    -    +    +    +     
   SHELBY (R-AL)                -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -    

---- Alaska
   MURKOWSKI (R-AK)             -    -    +    +    -    +    -    +     
   STEVENS (R-AK)               -    -    +    +    -    +    -    +     

---- Arizona
   KYL (R-AZ)                   -    -    +    +    -    +    -    +    
   MCCAIN (R-AZ)                -    -    +    +    -    +    -    +     

---- Arkansas
   BUMPERS (D-AR)               -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -      
   PRYOR (D-AR)                 ?    -    -    -    -    ?    -    -     

---- California
   BOXER (D-CA)                 -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -      
   FEINSTEIN (D-CA)             -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -     

---- Colorado
   BROWN, HANK (R-CO)           -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -   
   CAMPBELL (R-CO)              -    -    -    +    -    +    -    +    

---- Connecticut
   DODD (D-CT)                  -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -      
   LIEBERMAN (D-CT)             -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    

---- Delaware
   BIDEN (D-DE)                 -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    
   ROTH (R-DE)                  -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -     

---- Florida
   GRAHAM, BOB (D-FL)           -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -      
   MACK (R-FL)                  +    -    +    +    ?    +    -    -    

---- Georgia
   COVERDELL (R-GA)             +    -    +    +    -    +    -    -   
   NUNN (D-GA)                  -    -    -    -    -    +    -    -    

---- Hawaii
   AKAKA (D-HI)                 -    -    ?    ?    -    -    -    -    
   INOUYE (D-HI)                -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -     

---- Idaho
   CRAIG (R-ID)                 +    -    +    +    -    +    -    -   
   KEMPTHORNE (R-ID)            +    -    ?    +    -    +    -    -    

---- Illinois
   MOSELEY-BRAUN (D-IL)         -    +    -    -    +    -    -    -  
   SIMON (D-IL)                 -    +    -    -    +    -    -    -    

---- Indiana
   COATS (R-IN)                 -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -   
   LUGAR (R-IN)                 -    -    ?    ?    -    +    -    -    

---- Iowa
   GRASSLEY (R-IA)              -    -    +    +    -    +    -    +    
   HARKIN (D-IA)                -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -     

---- Kansas
   DOLE (R-KS)                  -    -    -    +    -    O    O    O    
   FRAHM (R-KS)                 O    O    O    O    O    +    -    -     
   KASSEBAUM (R-KS)             -    -    +    +    -    -    -    -    

---- Kentucky
   FORD (D-KY)                  -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    
   MCCONNELL (R-KY)             -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -    

---- Louisiana
   BREAUX (D-LA)                -    -    -    -    -    -    -    +   
   JOHNSTON, BENNETT (D-LA)     -    -    -    -    -    -    -    +     

---- Maine
   COHEN (R-ME)                 -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -    
   SNOWE (R-ME)                 -    -    -    -    -    +    -    -     

---- Maryland
   MIKULSKI (D-MD)              -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -      
   SARBANES (D-MD)              -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -      

---- Massachusetts
   KENNEDY, EDWARD (D-MA)       -    -    -    -    +    -    -    -     
   KERRY, JOHN (D-MA)           -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -     

---- Michigan
   ABRAHAM (R-MI)               -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -     
   LEVIN, CARL (D-MI)           -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -      

---- Minnesota
   GRAMS (R-MN)                 -    -    +    +    -    +    -    +     
   WELLSTONE (D-MN)             +    +    -    -    -    -    -    -     

---- Mississippi
   COCHRAN (R-MS)               -    -    +    +    -    +    -    +     
   LOTT (R-MS)                  -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -     

---- Missouri
   ASHCROFT (R-MO)              -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -     
   BOND (R-MO)                  -    -    +    +    -    +    -    +     

---- Montana
   BAUCUS (D-MT)                -    -    -    -    -    +    -    +     
   BURNS (R-MT)                 +    -    +    +    -    +    -    -    

---- Nebraska
   EXON (D-NE)                  -    -    -    -    -    +    -    -     
   KERREY, BOB (D-NE)           -    -    -    -    -    +    -    -     

---- Nevada
   BRYAN (D-NV)                 +    -    -    -    -    -    -    -     
   REID, HARRY (D-NV)           -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -      

---- New Hampshire
   GREGG (R-NH)                 +    -    +    +    -    +    -    +    
   SMITH, ROBERT C. (R-NH)      +    -    +    +    -    +    -    +     

---- New Jersey
   BRADLEY (D-NJ)               -    -    ?    ?    -    -    -    -      
   LAUTENBERG (D-NJ)            -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -     

---- New Mexico
   BINGAMAN (D-NM)              -    -    -    -    -    -    +    -    
   DOMENICI (R-NM)              ?    -    +    +    -    +    -    -     

---- New York
   D'AMATO (R-NY)               -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -   
   MOYNIHAN (D-NY)              -    +    -    -    +    -    -    -    

---- North Carolina
   FAIRCLOTH (R-NC)             +    -    +    +    -    +    -    +    
   HELMS (R-NC)                 -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -    

---- North Dakota
   CONRAD (D-ND)                ?    ?    -    -    -    -    -    -     
   DORGAN (D-ND)                +    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    

---- Ohio
   DEWINE (R-OH)                -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -    
   GLENN (D-OH)                 -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -     

---- Oklahoma
   INHOFE (R-OK)                +    -    +    +    -    +    -    +    
   NICKLES (R-OK)               -    -    +    +    -    +    -    +     

---- Oregon
   HATFIELD (R-OR)              +    +    +    +    +    +    ?    ?   
   PACKWOOD (R-OR)              +    +    O    O    O    O    O    O  
   WYDEN (D-OR)                 O    O    O    O    -    -    -    -    

---- Pennsylvania
   SANTORUM (R-PA)              -    -    +    +    -    +    -    +   
   SPECTER (R-PA)               +    -    -    -    -    +    -    -     

---- Rhode Island
   CHAFEE (R-RI)                +    -    +    +    -    -    -    -   
   PELL (D-RI)                  -    +    -    -    +    -    -    -     

---- South Carolina
   HOLLINGS (D-SC)              -    -    -    -    -    -    -    +    
   THURMOND (R-SC)              -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -    

---- South Dakota
   DASCHLE (D-SD)               -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    
   PRESSLER (R-SD)              +    -    +    +    -    +    -    -    

---- Tennessee
   FRIST (R-TN)                 -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -    
   THOMPSON (R-TN)              -    -    +    +    -    +    -    +     

---- Texas
   GRAMM, PHIL (R-TX)           ?    -    +    +    -    +    -    -    
   HUTCHISON, KAY BAILEY (R-TX) -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -     

---- Utah
   BENNETT (R-UT)               -    -    +    +    -    +    -    +    
   HATCH (R-UT)                 -    -    +    +    -    +    -    +    

---- Vermont
   JEFFORDS (R-VT)              -    -    -    -    -    +    -    +    
   LEAHY (D-VT)                 -    -    -    -    -    +    -    +   

---- Virginia
   ROBB (D-VA)                  -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -     
   WARNER (R-VA)                -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -    

---- Washington
   GORTON (R-WA)                -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -    
   MURRAY (D-WA)                -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    

---- West Virginia
   BYRD (D-WV)                  -    -    -    -    +    -    -    -   
   ROCKEFELLER (D-WV)           -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    

---- Wisconsin
   FEINGOLD (D-WI)              +    +    -    -    +    -    -    +  
   KOHL (D-WI)                  -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    

---- Wyoming
   SIMPSON (R-WY)               -    -    +    +    -    +    -    -   
   THOMAS (R-WY)                +    -    +    +    -    +    -    +

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