WASHINGTON: In the wake of public outrage over legislative inactivity in the face of escalating gun violence, a group of bipartisan US Senators unveiled a narrow gun safety agreement.

According to reports, the plan includes measures to crack down on criminals who illegally straw purchase and sell guns, enhance criminal background check requirements for gun buyers under the age of 21, and subsidise mental health programmes.

Both sides claimed victory, but the agreement fell short of the White House's demands, which included banning assault weapons and raising the minimum age of purchasing certain firearms from 18 to 21.

The Senators' declaration comes a day after Americans rallied across the country to condemn escalating gun violence and call on politicians to act in the wake of many horrific shootings in recent weeks.  In 11 mass shootings around the United States earlier this month, at least 17 people were killed and 62 others were injured. 

Three people were killed and 14 others were injured in a shooting outside a nightclub in Chattanooga, Tennessee, last week.

On May 14, ten people were slain at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and on May 24, 19 children and two instructors were killed at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

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