To make an amendment with respect to effective gun law enforcement, enhanced penalties, and facilitation of background checks at gun shows.

On May 14, 1999, the Senate voted 48–47 on “On the Amendment” (S 254). Result: Amendment Agreed to. By party: Republicans 47–7, Democrats 1–40. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 8 members voted against their own party.

During the 106th Congress (1999–2000), Bill Clinton was president, and Republicans held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Result: Amendment Agreed to
Yes: 48
No: 47
Did not vote: 7
Date: May 14, 1999

By party

Republicans47 yes · 7 no · 2 didn’t vote
Democrats1 yes · 40 no · 5 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

Peter G. Fitzgerald R-IL voted no
Robert C. Smith R-NH voted no
John Hubbard Chafee R-RI voted no
Fred Dalton Thompson R-TN voted no
John William Warner R-VA voted no
Robert Carlyle Byrd D-WV voted yes
Craig Lyle Thomas R-WY voted no
Michael B. Enzi R-WY voted no

How each senator voted: Yes

Frank Hughes Murkowski R-AK
Theodore Fulton (Ted) Stevens R-AK
Jefferson Beauregard (Jeff) Sessions III R-AL
Richard C. Shelby R-AL
Timothy Hutchinson R-AR
John Sidney Mccain III R-AZ
Jon Llewellyn Kyl R-AZ
A. Wayne Allard R-CO
Ben Nighthorse Campbell R-CO
William Victor Roth Jr. R-DE
Connie Mack III R-FL
Paul Coverdell R-GA
Charles Ernest Grassley R-IA
Larry Edwin Craig R-ID
Michael Dean Crapo R-ID
Richard Green Lugar R-IN
Charles Patrick (Pat) Roberts R-KS
Sam Dale Brownback R-KS
Addison Mitchell (Mitch) Mcconnell R-KY
James Paul David Bunning R-KY
Olympia Jean Snowe R-ME
Susan Margaret Collins R-ME
Spencer Abraham R-MI
Rod Grams R-MN
Christopher Samuel (Kit) Bond R-MO
John David Ashcroft R-MO
Chester Trent Lott R-MS
William Thad Cochran R-MS
Conrad Burns R-MT
Jesse Helms R-NC
Charles Timothy (Chuck) Hagel R-NE
Judd Alan Gregg R-NH
Pete Vichi Domenici R-NM
George Victor Voinovich R-OH
Michael Dewine R-OH
Donald Lee Nickles R-OK
Gordon Harold Smith R-OR
Arlen Specter R-PA
Richard John (Rick) Santorum R-PA
James Strom Thurmond R-SC
William H. Frist R-TN
Kathryn Ann Bailey (Kay) Hutchison R-TX
William Philip (Phil) Gramm R-TX
Orrin Grant Hatch R-UT
Robert Foster (Bob) Bennett R-UT
James Merrill Jeffords R-VT
Thomas Slade Gorton III (Slade) R-WA
Robert Carlyle Byrd D-WV

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To make an amendment with respect to…: Senate Vote, May 14, 1999,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/106-S-118/to-make-an-amendment-with-respect-to-effective-gun (accessed 2026-10-16).