How Congress Voted on Federal Gun Laws

How Congress actually voted on federal gun laws.

Final tallies from the official record, with party breakdowns where the record lists them.

See what each law does on the Timeline.

YesNo

Firearm Owners Protection Act

Senate
July 9, 1985 · Passage of S. 49
79–15
Official record: Voteview, UCLA

Firearm Owners Protection Act

House
April 10, 1986 · Passage of H.R. 4332
292–130
Official record: Voteview, UCLA

Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act

House
November 10, 1993 · Passage of H.R. 1025 (Roll Call 564)
238–189
Republicans
54 yes · 119 no
Democrats
184 yes · 69 no
Independents
0 yes · 1 no
Official record: Clerk of the House

Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act

Senate
November 20, 1993 · Passage of H.R. 1025, as amended
63–36
Official record: Clinton Presidential Library

Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act

House
November 23, 1993 · Conference report agreed to
238–187

The Senate agreed to the conference report by voice vote on November 24. Signed into law November 30, 1993.

Official record: Clinton Presidential Library

Assault Weapons Ban (stand-alone bill)

House
May 5, 1994 · Passage of H.R. 4296 (Roll Call 156)
216–214
Republicans
38 yes · 137 no
Democrats
177 yes · 77 no
Independents
1 yes · 0 no

Decided by two votes. The ban became law later in 1994 inside the crime bill below.

Official record: Clerk of the House

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (includes the Assault Weapons Ban)

House
August 21, 1994 · Conference report on H.R. 3355 (Roll Call 416)
235–195
Republicans
46 yes · 131 no
Democrats
188 yes · 64 no
Independents
1 yes · 0 no
Official record: Clerk of the House

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (includes the Assault Weapons Ban)

Senate
August 25, 1994 · Conference report on H.R. 3355
61–38

The ban expired September 13, 2004, and was not renewed.

Official record: Voteview, UCLA

Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act

Senate
July 29, 2005 · Passage of S. 397 (Roll Call 219)
65–31
Republicans
50 yes · 2 no
Democrats
14 yes · 29 no
Independents
1 yes · 0 no
Official record: U.S. Senate

Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act

House
October 20, 2005 · Passage of S. 397 (Roll Call 534)
283–144
Republicans
223 yes · 4 no
Democrats
59 yes · 140 no
Independents
1 yes · 0 no

Signed into law October 26, 2005.

Official record: Clerk of the House

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

Senate
June 23, 2022 · Motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 2938
65–33

15 Republicans voted yes.

Official record: Senate floor record

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

House
June 24, 2022 · Concurring in the Senate amendments to S. 2938
234–193

14 Republicans voted yes. Signed into law June 25, 2022.

Official record: House Republican Cloakroom

More records are added as each one is verified.

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