Activists, survivors applaud 'new beginning' with Senate's gun deal -- but want more done

Gun safety advocates and organizations on Sunday quickly applauded the anti-gun violence framework announced by a bipartisan group of senators -- but some called for further action.

The agreement, if passed into law, includes provisions that would increase investments in mental health services and fund school safety resources as well as expand the federal background check system. It would also incentivize creating "red flag" laws to prevent people who are a danger to themselves or others from having firearms.

Recent mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, have renewed efforts to pass legislation intended to address gun violence.

However, the deal released Sunday reflected how narrowly Democrats control Congress, in that it mixed modest new gun restrictions -- rather than the broader bans favored by the party -- with other provisions in order to earn a filibuster-proof amount of Republican voters.

Former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, a mass shooting survivor, wrote on Twitter, "Eleven years ago, a bullet changed my life forever. Six of my constituents were killed, and several more injured. And Congress has failed to get anything done since.

"But today, our country takes an important step forward with the announcement of a bipartisan framework on gun safety. This bipartisan agreement on gun safety could be the first time in 30 years that Congress takes major action on gun safety."

Giffords was shot in the head at a meeting with constituents near Tucson, Arizona, in 2011.

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords poses for pictures at a memorial on the National Mall to remember victims of gun violence where members of Congress spoke to call for action on gun safety. Tom Williams/AP

Other gun-control advocates also praised the Senate deal -- which is pending a further agreement on the draft bill itself -- but called on Congress to do more.

MORE: Senate group agrees on the broad outline of new gun law after Uvalde massacre

"In a less broken society, we would be able to require background checks every single time someone wants to buy a gun, and we would ban assault rifles outright," said March for Our Lives co-founder David Hogg, who was a student during the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.