Senators reach bipartisan deal on gun reforms framework

A bipartisan group of senators announced Sunday that they had reached agreement for a framework of gun safety measures that would include red flag laws, background checks and funds to secure schools — but wouldn’t raise the age to buy certain rifles to 21.

“Today, we are announcing a commonsense, bipartisan proposal to protect America’s children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across our country. Families are scared, and it is our duty to come together and get something done that will help restore their sense of safety and security in their communities,” the group of 20 senators said in a statement.

The negotiations were led by Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and Republicans John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, in response to the outrage over the horrific mass shootings last month in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas, that claimed the lives of 31 people.

The White House praised the agreement and thanked the senators for “their tireless work to produce this proposal.”