The Senate voted 51-48 early Thursday morning in favor of the legislation. Both of Arkansas' senators -- Republicans John Boozman and Tom Cotton -- supported the measure.

Arkansas pastors ask two senators to rethink expanded background checks August 16, 2013 by Associated Press | Updated July 8, 2015 at 9:37 a.m.

Despite opposition from advocacy groups, both of Arkansas’s U.S. Senators — Republicans John Boozman and Tom Cotton — have publicly backed the legislation.

Arkansas’s four representatives and two senators, all of whom are Republicans, voted for the bill in lockstep with most of their party. Democrats have universally opposed it.