The final vote was 73-25, and came a few hours after Vice President Al Gore broke a 50-50 tie in favor of a gun control amendment that most Republicans opposed.

Passage sent the measure to the House, where Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., has signaled support for fresh limits on guns.

The Senate's legislation requires background checks for all sales at gun shows. It also would close what gun control advocates said was a loophole that allows anyone to pawn a gun and reclaim it without undergoing a check.
