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Guns

Votes on background checks, the weapons that may be sold, and the records federal agencies may keep.

Democratic side: Tighter limits on firearmsRepublican side: Fewer restrictions on lawful gun owners

6 of these 6 votes split the parties — 4 in the House and 2 in the Senate — and only those place anyone on the scale. Which end is which is read from the votes: it is the side most Democrats took on most of them.

The 6 votes behind this value

Each was chosen by hand, and the sentence under it is the written reason for what a yea and a nay each did. Under that is how each party voted, which is where the two ends of the scale come from. Every one links to its full roll call, where you can see the question as the chamber put it and how every member voted.

  • Stop the VA reporting beneficiaries to the background check system

    H.R. 4366 · Senate · 118th Congress · Roll 268 · 2023-10-25 · 53–45 · Amendment Agreed to

    An amendment barring the VA from reporting to the Justice Department the beneficiaries it has found unable to manage their own affairs, who are currently entered in the background check database. A nay leaves that reporting in place.

    Democrats 2–44, Republicans 48–0. Most Democrats voted nay and most Republicans yea.

  • Void the stabilising brace rule (Senate)

    H.J.Res. 44 · Senate · 118th Congress · Roll 171 · 2023-06-22 · 49–50 · Joint Resolution Defeated

    The Senate's vote on the same resolution. A nay leaves the ATF rule in force.

    Democrats 0–46, Republicans 49–0. Most Democrats voted nay and most Republicans yea.

  • Void the ATF rule on pistols with stabilising braces

    H.J.Res. 44 · House · 118th Congress · Roll 251 · 2023-06-13 · 219–210 · Passed

    H.J.Res. 44 strikes the ATF rule treating braced pistols as short-barrel rifles under the National Firearms Act. A nay leaves the rule in force.

    Democrats 2–208, Republicans 217–2. Most Democrats voted nay and most Republicans yea.

  • Ban the sale of assault weapons

    H.R. 1808 · House · 117th Congress · Roll 857 · 2022-07-29 · 217–213 · Passed

    Passage of the Assault Weapons Ban, prohibiting the sale and manufacture of the listed semi-automatic firearms.

    Democrats 215–5, Republicans 2–208. Most Democrats voted yea and most Republicans nay.

  • Close the default-proceed 'Charleston loophole'

    H.R. 1446 · House · 117th Congress · Roll 76 · 2021-03-11 · 219–210 · Passed

    Passage of the Enhanced Background Checks Act, lengthening the window before a sale may proceed without a completed check.

    Democrats 217–2, Republicans 2–208. Most Democrats voted yea and most Republicans nay.

  • Require background checks on nearly all gun sales

    H.R. 8 · House · 117th Congress · Roll 74 · 2021-03-11 · 227–203 · Passed

    Passage of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, extending the check requirement to most private firearm transfers.

    Democrats 219–1, Republicans 8–202. Most Democrats voted yea and most Republicans nay.

The method behind all 12 values, including what it deliberately does not measure.