How the Antler Rating works

1. Every bill gets one code, from its text

• +1 protects or expands the ability of law-abiding adults to keep, carry or buy firearms
• −1 restricts it
• 0 no real effect either way
• Mixed bills: each major firearms section is coded and the bill gets the average

A yes vote takes the bill's code; a no vote takes the opposite. Missed votes are not scored. Large bills that are mostly about other subjects (budgets, tax packages) are scored only if there is a separate vote on the firearms part.

2. Weight by type of action

• Floor passage vote, sponsoring a bill, signing or vetoing a bill, executive order: 3
• Amendment or committee vote, lawsuit or brief: 2
• Cosponsoring a bill: 1.5
• Verbatim, dated public statement: 1 (at most 5 per term)

3. Weight by recency

• Last 4 years: 1
• 4–8 years ago: 0.5
• Over 8 years ago: 0.25

4. The score

Score = 50 + 50 × Σ(weight × recency × code) ÷ Σ(weight × recency)

See every vote and bill we scored, with links to the official records.

All +1 gives 100, all −1 gives 0, an even split gives 50. A score needs at least 5 actions with a combined weight × recency of 10 or more; otherwise the official is Still in Velvet.

5. The scale

Records that protect the right grow antlers: Button Buck (55) up to 10-Point (95+). Records that restrict it use hunting-regulation terms that describe restricted access: Fence Row, Posted and Closed Season (0–14). A mixed record in the middle is a Deer Crossing. The names describe the record, not the person.

6. Non-Typical (talk vs. record)

A flag, not a score, applied the same way on either side. It is shown when either test is met, using the official's dated public statements on firearms:

• All talk: 5 or more firearms statements in the last 4 years, but fewer than 3 scored votes, bills or official actions.
• Says one thing, votes another: the statements, coded the same way as bills, point the opposite direction from the official's score (statements average above 0 while the score is under 45, or below 0 while the score is over 55).

7. Out of Season (conduct)

A separate flag for conduct, not policy: calling for or excusing violence against officials, judges, election workers, police or opponents; urging armed resistance to a law or court order; or directing threats at private citizens over the gun issue. It applies the same way at every rack, and the official's response is shown with it.

8. Fairness rules

• Primary sources only. Advocacy-group scorecards are never used as evidence.
• Any official or office can send a response or correction at any time. Responses are posted with the rating, and corrections are dated.
• Whole delegations are rated at once, every party, so no one is singled out.
• Corrections are dated and posted on this site and on screen.