Senate advances bipartisan gun safety bill, setting up final vote by week's end

The Senate on Tuesday night voted 64 to 34 to advance a bipartisan gun safety bill that if passed will strengthen background check requirements for gun buyers under 21 and provide federal funding for states to administer so-called red flag laws and mental health services.  

Fourteen Republicans voted in favor of the procedural measure to advance the bill, which follows two mass-shootings in May in which a total 21 people were killed including 19 Texas elementary school children.

The NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action is opposing the legislation, which Republican supporters say does not limit Americans' Second Amendment rights.

The vote Tuesday night followed a bipartisan group of senators, including 10 Republicans, agreeing on a draft bill, then releasing the final text of the measure hours before the voting. 

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the successful initial procedural vote sets up the bill to pass by the end of the week, according to The Hill newspaper.