6/96 Addendum: Key Votes
1. Barr Amendment. On March 13, 1996, the House of Representatives voted 246-171 to remove several anti-gun provisions from the House terror bill (H.R. 2703). While many harmful problems would still remain in the bill, the amendment introduced by Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA) did remove provisions that would have jeopardized the gun industry. The amendment stripped the bill of provisions that would have terrorized gun owners by severely punishing individuals (as well as gun dealers and manufacturers) for selling a gun to someone they should have known was going to use, or threaten to use, the firearm in a “crime of violence.” To punish the seller of a firearm under this standard is clearly ludicrous (unless all sellers are clairvoyant) and is a change in the current law, which requires that the seller “know” the gun will be used in a crime. Moreover, the amendment removed provisions that would have: ordered a taggants study on black and smokeless powder (thus setting the stage for registering ammunition); allowed FBI “fishing expeditions” into one’s financial and travel records (without any evidence one had committed a crime); allowed government officials to benefit from illegal wiretaps done in “good faith;” and allowed the government to use secret evidence in court in certain circumstances. A vote in favor of the Barr amendment is rated as a “+”.
2. Terror bill. On March 14, 1996, the House voted 229-191 to pass the “anti-terrorism” bill (H.R. 2703). Despite passage of the Barr amendment one day earlier, the bill still contained several harmful provisions, including many of the ones which are listed in vote number four. Problems unique to this version included a DeLauro amendment that would have severely punished gun owners for possessing a laser sighting device while committing an infraction as minor as speeding on a federal reservation. (Not only would this provision have stigmatized laser sights, it would have served as a first step to banning these items.) Another extremely harmful provision was the Schumer amendment to “centralize Federal, State and Local police.” A vote against the bill is rated as a “+”.
3. Gun Ban Repeal. On March 22, 1996, the House passed H.R. 125 to repeal the ban on certain semi-automatic firearms and the ban on large capacity magazines. The bill passed by a vote of 239-173. A vote in favor of the repeal is rated as a “+”.
4. Terror bill — final passage. On April 18, 1996, the House passed the conference version of the “anti-terrorism” bill by a vote of 293-133. 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; 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 (a modified version was reinserted after the Barr amendment struck it from the bill); 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 “+”.
1 2 3 4
—- Alabama
1 CALLAHAN (R-AL) + ? + –
2 EVERETT (R-AL) + – + –
3 BROWDER (D-AL) + – + –
4 BEVILL (D-AL) + – + –
5 CRAMER (D-AL) + – + –
6 BACHUS (R-AL) + – + –
7 HILLIARD (D-AL) – + + +
—- Alaska
YOUNG, DON (R-AK) + + + –
—- Arizona
1 SALMON (R-AZ) + + + –
2 PASTOR (D-AZ) – + – +
3 STUMP (R-AZ) + + + +
4 SHADEGG (R-AZ) + + + +
5 KOLBE (R-AZ) + – + –
6 HAYWORTH (R-AZ) + + + +
—- Arkansas
1 LINCOLN (D-AR) – – – –
2 THORNTON (D-AR) + + + –
3 HUTCHINSON (R-AR) + + + +
4 DICKEY (R-AR) + + + +
—- California
1 RIGGS (R-CA) + – + –
2 HERGER (R-CA) + + + +
3 FAZIO (D-CA) – + – –
4 DOOLITTLE (R-CA) + + + –
5 MATSUI (D-CA) – + – –
6 WOOLSEY (D-CA) – + – +
7 MILLER, GEORGE (D-CA) – + – –
8 PELOSI(D-CA) – + – +
9 DELLUMS (D-CA) – + – +
10 BAKER, BILL (R-CA) + + + –
11 POMBO (R-CA) + + + +
12 LANTOS (D-CA) – – – –
13 STARK (D-CA) – + ? +
14 ESHOO (D-CA) – + – +
15 CAMPBELL (R-CA) + + – +
16 LOFGREN (D-CA) + + – +
17 FARR (D-CA) – + – +
18 CONDIT (D-CA) + – – –
19 RADANOVICH (R-CA) + – ? +
20 DOOLEY (D-CA) – – – –
21 THOMAS, WILLIAM (R-CA) + – + –
22 SEASTRAND (R-CA) + + + –
23 GALLEGLY (R-CA) – – + –
24 BEILENSON (D-CA) – + – +
25 MCKEON (R-CA) – – ? –
26 BERMAN (D-CA) – + – +
27 MOORHEAD (R-CA) – – ? –
28 DREIER, DAVID (R-CA) + – ? –
29 WAXMAN (D-CA) ? + – +
30 BECERRA (D-CA) – + – +
31 MARTINEZ (D-CA) ? + – +
32 DIXON, JULIAN (D-CA) – + – –
33 ROYBAL-ALLARD (D-CA) – + – +
34 TORRES (D-CA) – + – +
35 WATERS (D-CA) + + ? +
36 HARMAN (D-CA) + – – –
37 MILLENDER-MCDONALD (D-CA) O O O +
38 HORN (R-CA) – – – –
39 ROYCE (R-CA) + – + –
40 LEWIS, JERRY (R-CA) + – ? –
41 KIM (R-CA) + – + –
42 BROWN, GEORGE (D-CA) – + – –
43 CALVERT (R-CA) + – ? –
44 BONO (R-CA) + – + –
45 ROHRABACHER (R-CA) + – + –
46 DORNAN, ROBERT (R-CA) + – + –
47 COX, CHRISTOPHER (R-CA) + – ? –
48 PACKARD (R-CA) – – + –
49 BILBRAY (R-CA) + – – –
50 FILNER (D-CA) – + – +
51 CUNNINGHAM (R-CA) + – ? –
52 HUNTER (R-CA) – – + –
—- Colorado
1 SCHROEDER (D-CO) – + ? +
2 SKAGGS (D-CO) + + – +
3 MCINNIS (R-CO) + + + –
4 ALLARD (R-CO) + + + –
5 HEFLEY (R-CO) + – + –
6 SCHAEFER (R-CO) + – + –
—- Connecticut
1 KENNELLY (D-CT) – + – –
2 GEJDENSON (D-CT) – + – –
3 DELAURO (D-CT) – + – –
4 SHAYS (R-CT) – – – –
5 FRANKS, GARY (R-CT) – – + –
6 JOHNSON, NANCY (R-CT) – – – –
—- Delaware
CASTLE (R-DE) – – – –
—- Florida
1 SCARBOROUGH (R-FL) + + + +
2 PETERSON, PETE (D-FL) – – + –
3 BROWN, CORRINE (D-FL) – + – –
4 FOWLER (R-FL) + – + –
5 THURMAN (D-FL) + + + –
6 STEARNS (R-FL) – + + –
7 MICA (R-FL) + + + –
8 MCCOLLUM (R-FL) – – + –
9 BILIRAKIS (R-FL) + – + –
10 YOUNG, BILL (R-FL) + – – –
11 GIBBONS (D-FL) – ? ? –
12 CANADY (R-FL) – – + –
13 MILLER (R-FL) + – – –
14 GOSS (R-FL) + – + –
15 WELDON (R-FL) + – + +
16 FOLEY (R-FL) + – + –
17 MEEK (D-FL) – ? – +
18 ROS-LEHTINEN (R-FL) – – – –
19 JOHNSTON, HARRY (D-FL) – + ? +
20 DEUTSCH (D-FL) – – – –
21 DIAZ-BALART (R-FL) – – + –
22 SHAW (R-FL) + – ? –
23 HASTINGS (D-FL) – + – –
—- Georgia
1 KINGSTON (R-GA) + – + –
2 BISHOP (D-GA) + – + –
3 COLLINS (R-GA) + – + –
4 LINDER (R-GA) + – + –
5 LEWIS, JOHN (D-GA) – + – +
6 GINGRICH (R-GA) O – O –
7 BARR (R-GA) + – + –
8 CHAMBLISS (R-GA) + – + –
9 DEAL (R-GA) + – + –
10 NORWOOD (R-GA) + – + –
11 MCKINNEY (D-GA) – + – +
—- Hawaii
1 ABERCROMBIE (D-HI) + + – +
2 MINK (D-HI) – + – –
—- Idaho
1 CHENOWETH (R-ID) ? + + +
2 CRAPO (R-ID) + + + +
—- Illinois
1 RUSH (D-IL) ? + – +
2 JACKSON (D-IL) – + – +
3 LIPINSKI (D-IL) – – – –
4 GUTIERREZ (D-IL) – + – +
5 FLANAGAN (R-IL) – – + –
6 HYDE (R-IL) – – – –
7 COLLINS, CARDISS (D-IL) ? ? ? +
8 CRANE (R-IL) + + + +
9 YATES (D-IL) – + – +
10 PORTER (R-IL) – – – –
11 WELLER (R-IL) + – + –
12 COSTELLO (D-IL) + + + –
13 FAWELL (R-IL) – – – –
14 HASTERT (R-IL) + – + –
15 EWING (R-IL) + – + –
16 MANZULLO (R-IL) + + + +
17 EVANS, LANE (D-IL) + + – +
18 LAHOOD (R-IL) + + + +
19 POSHARD (D-IL) + + + –
20 DURBIN (D-IL) – ? – –
—- Indiana
1 VISCLOSKY (D-IN) – + – +
2 MCINTOSH (R-IN) + + + –
3 ROEMER (D-IN) + – – –
4 SOUDER (R-IN) + + + +
5 BUYER (R-IN) – – + –
6 BURTON (R-IN) + – + –
7 MYERS (R-IN) + – ? +
8 HOSTETTLER (R-IN) + + + +
9 HAMILTON (D-IN) + – + –
10 JACOBS (D-IN) + + – +
—- Iowa
1 LEACH, JAMES (R-IA) – – – –
2 NUSSLE (R-IA) – – + –
3 LIGHTFOOT (R-IA) + – + –
4 GANSKE (R-IA) – – – –
5 LATHAM (R-IA) + – + –
—- Kansas
1 ROBERTS, PAT (R-KS) + – + –
2 BROWNBACK (R-KS) + – + –
3 MEYERS (R-KS) – – – –
4 TIAHRT (R-KS) + – + –
—- Kentucky
1 WHITFIELD (R-KY) + – + –
2 LEWIS (R-KY) + + + +
3 WARD (D-KY) – – – –
4 BUNNING (R-KY) + – + –
5 ROGERS (R-KY) + – + –
6 BAESLER (D-KY) – – – –
—- Louisiana
1 LIVINGSTON (R-LA) + – + –
2 JEFFERSON (D-LA) + + – –
3 TAUZIN (R-LA) + – + –
4 FIELDS, CLEO (D-LA) – + – +
5 MCCRERY (R-LA) + – + –
6 BAKER (R-LA) + – + –
7 HAYES (R-LA) + – + ?
—- Maine
1 LONGLEY (R-ME) + – + –
2 BALDACCI (D-ME) + – + –
—- Maryland
1 GILCHREST (R-MD) – – – –
2 EHRLICH (R-MD) + – + –
3 CARDIN (D-MD) – + – –
4 WYNN (D-MD) – + – +
5 HOYER (D-MD) – + – –
6 BARTLETT (R-MD) + + + –
7 CUMMINGS (D-MD) O O O O
8 MORELLA (R-MD) – + – –
—- Massachusetts
1 OLVER (D-MA) – + – +
2 NEAL, RICHARD (D-MA) – + – –
3 BLUTE (R-MA) – – – –
4 FRANK, BARNEY (D-MA) – + – +
5 MEEHAN (D-MA) – + – –
6 TORKILDSEN (R-MA) – – – –
7 MARKEY (D-MA) – + – +
8 KENNEDY, JOSEPH (D-MA) – + – +
9 MOAKLEY (D-MA) ? ? ? –
10 STUDDS (D-MA) – + – +
—- Michigan
1 STUPAK (D-MI) – – + –
2 HOEKSTRA (R-MI) + + + +
3 EHLERS (R-MI) + + + –
4 CAMP (R-MI) + – + –
5 BARCIA (D-MI) + + + +
6 UPTON (R-MI) + – + –
7 SMITH, NICK (R-MI) + – + –
8 CHRYSLER (R-MI) + – + –
9 KILDEE (D-MI) – + – +
10 BONIOR (D-MI) – + – +
11 KNOLLENBERG (R-MI) + – + –
12 LEVIN, SANDER (D-MI) – + – –
13 RIVERS (D-MI) + + – +
14 CONYERS (D-MI) – + – +
15 COLLINS, BARBARA (D-MI) – + – +
16 DINGELL (D-MI) + + + –
—- Minnesota
1 GUTKNECHT (R-MN) + – + –
2 MINGE (D-MN) + + – +
3 RAMSTAD (R-MN) + – – –
4 VENTO (D-MN) – + – –
5 SABO (D-MN) – + – +
6 LUTHER (D-MN) – – – –
7 PETERSON, COLLIN (D-MN) + + + +
8 OBERSTAR (D-MN) + + + +
—- Mississippi
1 WICKER (R-MS) + – + –
2 THOMPSON (D-MS) – + – ?
3 MONTGOMERY (D-MS) + – + –
4 PARKER (R-MS) + – + –
4 PARKER (D-MS) O O O O
5 TAYLOR, GENE (D-MS) + – + –
—- Missouri
1 CLAY (D-MO) – + ? +
2 TALENT (R-MO) + – + –
3 GEPHARDT (D-MO) – + – –
4 SKELTON (D-MO) + – + –
5 MCCARTHY (D-MO) – + – +
6 DANNER (D-MO) + – + –
7 HANCOCK (R-MO) + – + +
8 EMERSON (R-MO) + – + –
9 VOLKMER (D-MO) + – + –
—- Montana
WILLIAMS, PAT (D-MT) + + + +
—- Nebraska
1 BEREUTER (R-NE) – – – –
2 CHRISTENSEN (R-NE) + – + –
3 BARRETT (R-NE) – – + –
—- Nevada
1 ENSIGN (R-NV) + – + –
2 VUCANOVICH (R-NV) + – + –
—- New Hampshire
1 ZELIFF (R-NH) + + + +
2 BASS (R-NH) + + + +
—- New Jersey
1 ANDREWS, ROBERT (D-NJ) – – – –
2 LOBIONDO (R-NJ) + – + –
3 SAXTON (R-NJ) + – – –
4 SMITH, CHRISTOPHER (R-NJ) + – – –
5 ROUKEMA (R-NJ) – – – –
6 PALLONE (D-NJ) – – – –
7 FRANKS (R-NJ) – – – –
8 MARTINI (R-NJ) – – – –
9 TORRICELLI (D-NJ) – – – –
10 PAYNE, DONALD (D-NJ) – + – +
11 FRELINGHUYSEN (R-NJ) – – – –
12 ZIMMER (R-NJ) – – – –
13 MENENDEZ (D-NJ) – ? – –
—- New Mexico
1 SCHIFF (R-NM) – – + –
2 SKEEN (R-NM) + + + +
3 RICHARDSON (D-NM) + + + –
—- New York
1 FORBES (R-NY) + – + –
2 LAZIO (R-NY) – – – –
3 KING (R-NY) + + – +
4 FRISA (R-NY) + – + –
5 ACKERMAN (D-NY) – + – –
6 FLAKE (D-NY) – + – +
7 MANTON (D-NY) – – – –
8 NADLER (D-NY) – + – –
9 SCHUMER (D-NY) – + – –
10 TOWNS (D-NY) – + – +
11 OWENS, MAJOR (D-NY) – + – +
12 VELAZQUEZ (D-NY) – + – +
13 MOLINARI, SUSAN (R-NY) – – – –
14 MALONEY (D-NY) – + – –
15 RANGEL, CHARLES (D-NY) – + – +
16 SERRANO (D-NY) – + – +
17 ENGEL (D-NY) – + – –
18 LOWEY (D-NY) – + – –
19 KELLY (R-NY) + – + –
20 GILMAN (R-NY) – – + –
21 MCNULTY (D-NY) – – – –
22 SOLOMON (R-NY) + – + –
23 BOEHLERT (R-NY) – – – –
24 MCHUGH, JOHN (R-NY) + – + –
25 WALSH (R-NY) + + + +
26 HINCHEY (D-NY) + + + +
27 PAXON (R-NY) + – + –
28 SLAUGHTER, LOUISE (D-NY) – + – +
29 LAFALCE (D-NY) – + – +
30 QUINN (R-NY) – – – –
31 HOUGHTON (R-NY) – – – –
—- North Carolina
1 CLAYTON (D-NC) – + – +
2 FUNDERBURK (R-NC) + + + +
3 JONES (R-NC) + + + +
4 HEINEMAN (R-NC) – – + –
5 BURR (R-NC) + + + +
6 COBLE (R-NC) + – + –
7 ROSE (D-NC) – + + ?
8 HEFNER (D-NC) + + + –
9 MYRICK (R-NC) + – + –
10 BALLENGER (R-NC) + – + –
11 TAYLOR, CHARLES (R-NC) + – + –
12 WATT (D-NC) + + – +
—- North Dakota
POMEROY (D-ND) + – – –
—- Ohio
1 CHABOT (R-OH) + – + –
2 PORTMAN (R-OH) + – + –
3 HALL, TONY (D-OH) – ? – –
4 OXLEY (R-OH) – – + –
5 GILLMOR (R-OH) + + + –
6 CREMEANS (R-OH) + + + –
7 HOBSON (R-OH) + – + –
8 BOEHNER (R-OH) + – + –
9 KAPTUR (D-OH) – + – +
10 HOKE (R-OH) + – + –
11 STOKES (D-OH) ? ? ? +
12 KASICH (R-OH) + – – –
13 BROWN, SHERROD (D-OH) – + – +
14 SAWYER (D-OH) – + – –
15 PRYCE (R-OH) + – – –
16 REGULA (R-OH) – – + –
17 TRAFICANT (D-OH) + – – –
18 NEY (R-OH) + + + +
19 LATOURETTE (R-OH) + + + –
—- Oklahoma
1 LARGENT (R-OK) + – + –
2 COBURN (R-OK) + – + –
3 BREWSTER (D-OK) + – + –
4 WATTS (R-OK) + – + –
5 ISTOOK (R-OK) + – + –
6 LUCAS (R-OK) + – + –
—- Oregon
1 FURSE (D-OR) – + – +
2 COOLEY (R-OR) + + + +
4 DEFAZIO (D-OR) – + – +
5 BUNN (R-OR) + + + +
—- Pennsylvania
1 FOGLIETTA (D-PA) – + – +
2 FATTAH (D-PA) – + – +
3 BORSKI (D-PA) – – – –
4 KLINK (D-PA) + + + –
5 CLINGER (R-PA) – – + –
6 HOLDEN (D-PA) + – + –
7 WELDON (R-PA) – – + –
8 GREENWOOD (R-PA) – – – –
9 SHUSTER (R-PA) + – + –
10 MCDADE (R-PA) + – – –
11 KANJORSKI (D-PA) + + + –
12 MURTHA (D-PA) + + + –
13 FOX (R-PA) – – – –
14 COYNE, WILLIAM (D-PA) – + – +
15 MCHALE (D-PA) – – – –
16 WALKER (R-PA) – – + –
17 GEKAS (R-PA) + – + –
18 DOYLE (D-PA) + – – –
19 GOODLING (R-PA) – + + –
20 MASCARA (D-PA) + – + –
21 ENGLISH (R-PA) + – + –
—- Rhode Island
1 KENNEDY (D-RI) – + – +
2 REED (D-RI) – – – –
—- South Carolina
1 SANFORD (R-SC) + + + +
2 SPENCE (R-SC) + – + –
3 GRAHAM (R-SC) + + + +
4 INGLIS (R-SC) + – + –
5 SPRATT (D-SC) + – – –
6 CLYBURN (D-SC) – + – –
—- South Dakota
JOHNSON, TIMOTHY P. (D-SD)+ – + –
—- Tennessee
1 QUILLEN (R-TN) + ? + –
2 DUNCAN, JR. (R-TN) ? – + +
3 WAMP (R-TN) + + + +
4 HILLEARY (R-TN) + + + +
5 CLEMENT (D-TN) + – + –
6 GORDON (D-TN) + + + –
7 BRYANT (R-TN) + – + –
8 TANNER (D-TN) + – + ?
9 FORD, HAROLD (D-TN) – + – +
—- Texas
1 CHAPMAN (D-TX) ? ? + –
2 WILSON, CHARLES (D-TX) ? – + +
3 JOHNSON, SAM (R-TX) + – + –
4 HALL, RALPH (D-TX) + – + –
5 BRYANT, JOHN (D-TX) ? + – +
6 BARTON (R-TX) + – + –
7 ARCHER (R-TX) + – + –
8 FIELDS, JACK (R-TX) + – + ?
9 STOCKMAN (R-TX) + + + +
10 DOGGETT (D-TX) – + – +
11 EDWARDS, CHET (D-TX) + – – –
12 GEREN (D-TX) + – + –
13 THORNBERRY (R-TX) + – + –
14 LAUGHLIN (R-TX) ? – + –
15 DE LA GARZA (D-TX) ? ? + –
16 COLEMAN, RONALD (D-TX) + + – ?
17 STENHOLM (D-TX) + – + –
18 JACKSON-LEE (D-TX) – + – ?
19 COMBEST (R-TX) + – + –
20 GONZALEZ (D-TX) – + – –
21 SMITH, LAMAR (R-TX) + – + –
22 DELAY (R-TX) + – + –
23 BONILLA (R-TX) + + + +
24 FROST (D-TX) + – + –
25 BENTSEN (D-TX) + + – –
26 ARMEY (R-TX) + – + –
27 ORTIZ (D-TX) + – + –
28 TEJEDA (D-TX) + – + –
29 GREEN, GENE (D-TX) + + + –
30 JOHNSON, EDDIE (D-TX) – + – –
—- Utah
1 HANSEN (R-UT) + – + –
2 GREENE (R-UT) + – + –
3 ORTON (D-UT) + – + –
—- Vermont
SANDERS (I-VT) + + – +
—- Virginia
1 BATEMAN (R-VA) + – – –
2 PICKETT (D-VA) – + + –
3 SCOTT (D-VA) – + – +
4 SISISKY (D-VA) ? – + –
5 PAYNE, LEWIS (D-VA) + – + –
6 GOODLATTE (R-VA) + – + –
7 BLILEY (R-VA) + – + –
8 MORAN (D-VA) – + – –
9 BOUCHER (D-VA) + + + –
10 WOLF (R-VA) – – + –
11 DAVIS (R-VA) + – – –
—- Washington
1 WHITE (R-WA) + – + –
2 METCALF (R-WA) + – + +
3 SMITH (R-WA) + + + –
4 HASTINGS (R-WA) + + + +
5 NETHERCUTT (R-WA) + + + +
6 DICKS (D-WA) – + – –
7 MCDERMOTT (D-WA) – + – +
8 DUNN (R-WA) – – + –
9 TATE (R-WA) + + + +
—- West Virginia
1 MOLLOHAN (D-WV) + + + +
2 WISE (D-WV) + + + +
3 RAHALL (D-WV) + + + +
—- Wisconsin
1 NEUMANN (R-WI) + + + +
2 KLUG (R-WI) + – – –
3 GUNDERSON (R-WI) – – + –
4 KLECZKA (D-WI) – + – –
5 BARRETT, THOMAS (D-WI) – + – +
6 PETRI (R-WI) + – + –
7 OBEY (D-WI) + + + +
8 ROTH, TOBY (R-WI) + – + –
9 SENSENBRENNER (R-WI) + – + –
—- Wyoming
CUBIN (R-WY) + + + +
KEY: + Favorable, – Unfavorable, ? Not voting, P Present.
Senate Vote on Terror Bill
On April 17, 1996, the Senate passed the final version of the “anti-terrorism” bill (S. 735) by a vote of 91-8. Unlike the House, where conservatives made up a significant chunk of the opposition, conservative Senators were “missing in action.” The eight voting against the bill were Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Mark Hatfield (R-OR), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL), Pat Moynihan (D-NY), Claiborne Pell (D-RI) and Paul Simon (D-IL). All other Senators — except Sen. Connie Mack (R-FL) who did not vote — voted in favor of the bill. (The substance of the bill is identical to the #4 House vote entitled, “Terror bill — final passage.”)