Senate negotiators announce a deal on guns

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate bargainers have announced a bipartisan framework responding to last month’s mass shootings in New York and Texas.

It’s a noteworthy though limited breakthrough offering modest gun curbs and bolstered efforts to improve school safety and mental health programs.

The proposal falls far short of tougher steps long sought by President Joe Biden and many Democrats. Even so, the deal was embraced by Biden, and enactment would signal a significant turnabout after years of stalemate in Congress. Twenty senators, including 10 Republicans, released a statement calling for passage.

That’s potentially crucial because the biggest obstacle to enacting the measure is probably in the 50-50 Senate, where at least 10 GOP votes will be needed.