To amend S. 2507 by changing the criteria by which handguns are judged to be safe and reliable.

On Aug 9, 1972, the Senate voted 35–57 (S 2507). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 6–43, Republicans 28–14, Others 1–0, Independents 0–1. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 20 members voted against their own party.

During the 92nd Congress (1971–1972), Richard Nixon was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 35
No: 57
Did not vote: 9
Date: Aug 9, 1972

By party

Democrats6 yes · 43 no · 6 didn’t vote
Republicans28 yes · 14 no · 3 didn’t vote
Others1 yes · 0 no
Independents0 yes · 1 no

Who broke with their party

Maurice Robert (Mike) Gravel D-AK voted yes
James Browning Allen D-AL voted yes
James Caleb Boggs R-DE voted no
William Victor Roth Jr. R-DE voted no
Hiram Leong Fong R-HI voted no
Charles Harting Percy R-IL voted no
John Sherman Cooper R-KY voted no
Marlow Webster Cook R-KY voted no
Edward William Brooke III R-MA voted no
Charles McCurdy Mathias Jr. R-MD voted no
Margaret Chase Smith R-ME voted no
Thomas Francis Eagleton D-MO voted yes
Lee Warren Metcalf D-MT voted yes
Michael Joseph (Mike) Mansfield D-MT voted yes
Clifford Philip Case R-NJ voted no
Jacob Koppel Javits R-NY voted no
Robert Taft Jr. R-OH voted no
Mark Odom Hatfield R-OR voted no
Hugh Doggett Scott Jr. R-PA voted no
William Proxmire D-WI voted yes

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

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Capitol Receipts, “To amend S. 2507 by changing the criteria by…: Senate Vote, Aug 9…,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/92-S-760/to-amend-s-2507-by-changing-the-criteria-by (accessed 2026-10-17).