After two devastating gun shootings in the United States, senators from Democrats and Republicans have introduced a bill for a slight tightening of gun laws.

The text presented on Tuesday provides, among other things, for extended background checks on gun buyers under the age of 21.

In addition, financial incentives are to be created for the individual states to temporarily remove the guns from potentially dangerous gun owners.

Billions are also planned for safety in schools and better psychiatric care in the country.

The reform project does not go as far as demanded by US President Joe Biden.

During the election campaign, the president had promised, among other things, to ban the sale of assault rifles to private individuals.

A majority of Americans want gun laws to be tightened.

But their will is not reflected in the political system - because small states have been blocking it in the Senate for decades.

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy on Tuesday called it the "most important anti-gun violence law in nearly 30 years."

"This bill will save thousands of lives." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also spoke of "progress" that would "save lives."

At the same time, he admitted that his party would have wished for more far-reaching measures.

"While it's not all we want, this law is badly needed."

Gun massacre last month

Two serious attacks in May sparked renewed debate in the United States about tightening gun laws.

First, in the state of New York, an 18-year-old shot dead ten people in front of and in a supermarket with an assault rifle, apparently for racist reasons.

At an elementary school in the small Texas town of Uvalde, an 18-year-old killed 19 children and two teachers.

After the attacks, the Democrats called for stricter gun laws.

However, they are dependent on cooperation with the opposition Republicans, who have a blocking minority in the Senate and have opposed restrictions on the right to own guns for decades.

In view of the political polarization in the USA, the fact that both parties were able to agree on a legal text on gun law is already a success.

Coming into effect soon

Republican negotiator Senator John Cornyn said Tuesday the bill puts an emphasis on school safety and mental health services and includes "no new restrictions on law-abiding gun owners."

Democrats are hoping to get the bill through the Senate and then the House of Representatives in the coming days, so Biden can sign the text into law soon.