To amend S. 2507 so as to establish a national system to register all handguns and to license owners of such guns.

On Aug 8, 1972, the Senate voted 16–75 (S 2507). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 11–40, Republicans 6–35, Others 0–1, Independents 0–1. It was a bipartisan vote: majorities of both parties voted no. 17 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: 16
No: 75
Did not vote: 8
Date: Aug 8, 1972

By party

Democrats11 yes · 40 no · 4 didn’t vote
Republicans6 yes · 35 no · 4 didn’t vote
Others0 yes · 1 no
Independents0 yes · 1 no

Who broke with their party

John Varick Tunney D-CA voted yes
Abraham Alexander Ribicoff D-CT voted yes
Hiram Leong Fong R-HI voted yes
Harold Everett Hughes D-IA voted yes
Adlai Ewing III Stevenson D-IL voted yes
Charles Harting Percy R-IL voted yes
John Sherman Cooper R-KY voted yes
Edward Moore (Ted) Kennedy D-MA voted yes
Edward William Brooke III R-MA voted yes
Edmund Sixtus Muskie D-ME voted yes
Philip Aloysius Hart D-MI voted yes
Walter Frederick Mondale D-MN voted yes
Clifford Philip Case R-NJ voted yes
Harrison Arlington Williams Jr. D-NJ voted yes
Jacob Koppel Javits R-NY voted yes
Claiborne de Borda Pell D-RI voted yes
John Orlando Pastore D-RI voted yes

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To amend S. 2507 so as to establish a…: Senate Vote, Aug 8, 1972,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/92-S-753/to-amend-s-2507-so-as-to-establish-a (accessed 2026-10-17).