Senators Reach Deal on Bipartisan Gun Safety Framework

A bipartisan group of senators announced Sunday that they struck a deal on a gun safety framework.

The proposal includes enhanced background checks of buyers under 21, funding for mental health and school safety resources and state grants for "red flag" laws. Sen. Chris Murphy (D, CT), who lead the negotiations on behalf of the Democratic Party, called this "the moment where we break the logjam" and ultimately make a "meaningful difference" in reducing gun violence. While the deal falls short of what the Biden administration was looking to achieve, many Democrats have acknowledged that this legislation marks one of the most significant gun safety measure in decades.

Coverage of the "modest" bipartisan framework was similar across the spectrum. Some left-rated outlets cited mental health experts who said the majority of violent shooting are "not perpetrated by people with a history of mental illness." Right-rated outlets were more likely to emphasize how the proposal excludes a ban on assult weapons and an increase in the eligible age to buy semi-automatic rifles.