A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including several Republicans to overcome the “filibuster” rule of the chamber, announced on Sunday an agreement on a framework for possible gun safety legislation. The bill included support for state red flag laws, stricter background checks for firearms buyers under the age of 21 and a crackdown on a practice called “straw shopping,” but no other limits backed by Democrats and the president. Joe Biden, such as raising the age for buying semi-automatic rifles up to 21 or new limits on assault rifles. Ten Republicans have voiced support for the preliminary agreement, suggesting the measure could possibly go to a vote on the passage and overcome roadblocks by other Republicans who oppose most gun control measures. The conversations that led to the incident followed a series of high-profile mass shootings in the United States, including one at a school in Uvalde, Texas, last month that killed 19 young children and one also in May in a New York Buffalo. supermarket that killed 10 black victims. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democratic minors 21. “ Sumer said he wanted to pass a bill quickly in a Senate vote as soon as the legislative details are worked out. The United States has the highest rate of gun deaths among the richest countries in the world. But it is a country where many love gun rights, and a second amendment to its constitution protects the right to “bear and bear arms.” “Our plan saves lives while protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans,” the group, led by Democrat Chris Murphy and Republican John Cornyn, said in a statement. “We look forward to gaining broad, bipartisan support and passing our common sense proposal into law.” The deal was announced a day after tens of thousands gathered in Washington and hundreds of other parts of the United States to urge lawmakers to pass legislation aimed at curbing gun violence. Biden, a Democrat, on June 2 called for a ban on the sale of assault rifles and large-capacity magazines or, if that was not possible, to raise the minimum age for buying such weapons to 21 from 18. Biden also pushed for the sale of Liability shield that protects arms manufacturers from lawsuits for violence committed by individuals carrying their weapons. The National Rifle Association, an influential gun rights group closely aligned with Republicans, called Biden’s proposals a violation of the rights of lawful gun owners. The Republican opposition has been critical of blocking Democratic-backed gun control proposals in Congress for decades. The Senate is divided, with 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans, and the bill must have 60 votes to overcome a maneuver known as a philippaster. (Report by Richard Cowan in Washington and Brendan O’Brien in Chicago; Edited by Will Dunham and Scott Malone)
