Video above: Thousands rally in U.S. demanding action on gun laws

Senate negotiators in both parties are pushing to announce as soon as Sunday the outlines of an agreement on new measures to address gun violence, according to sources familiar with the talks.

The sources underscore that the agreement is in principle only and that thorny legislative text is not yet written.

Still, the agreement would be significant given how divided lawmakers have been over the gun issue, even in the wake of a series of devastating mass shootings, including one that killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

One source with knowledge of the discussions said negotiators are hoping to get 10 Republican senators to sign on to the agreement before it is announced, in order to show they can overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold. The Senate is currently evenly divided between the Democratic and GOP conferences with 50 seats each.

Sources involved in the talks said the agreement outline includes providing funding to incentivize states to implement "red flag" laws, an expansion of mental health services by growing a 10-state pilot program for behavioral health services to all 50 states, allowing juvenile records to be searched during background checks for those under 21 years of age, and funding for school security measures. It would also change the background check system to better crack down on criminals who evade that system by using smaller "hobbyists" to illegally buy guns.

The agreement is not expected to include a number of provisions pushed by President Joe Biden and gun control advocates, namely a renewal of the so-called assault weapons ban and raising the age to purchase semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.

The four main Senate negotiators -- Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and GOP Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina -- have been in talks all weekend to hammer out the final details and have also been in discussions with a larger bipartisan group of negotiators.

The House voted 223-204 last week to pass a wide-ranging package of gun control legislation called the Protecting Our Kids Act. The measure is not expected to pass the Senate, however, amid widespread GOP opposition to stricter gun control.

Passage of the legislation in the House took place hours after an emotional hearing on gun violence in which families of victims pleaded for more action.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland on Sunday praised the Senate negotiators for their work on the legislation but stopped short of voicing his support for the forthcoming package.

"Well, we would certainly vote on it and work on it," he said on "State of the Union" when asked if would vote for the bill, adding: "It's moving in the right direction. We're glad the Senate is finally awake about this."

CINCINNATI —

The shooting in Illinois, killing seven and injuring dozens, came days after President Joe Biden signed the strictest gun reform bill in three decades.

The bill imposes stricter background checks on juvenile gun buyers, encourages states to adopt red-flag laws and funds school youth mental health programs.

Monday's Independence Day massacre reignited firearm debates in the United States.

Many are calling for sweeping reform, while others disagree.

Sasha Martin works at Target World, a gun store, training center and firing range in Sharonville, Ohio.

"No, I wouldn't say firearms are the issue," Martin said. "I'd say individuals with mental health problems are the issue."

Martin explained the process of purchasing a gun, including a valid state ID and filling out ATF Form 4473, which is then turned in to the FBI.

The background check can go three ways: proceed, delay or deny.

"I just don't think from my personal experience people who are denied on firearm background checks aren't being prosecuted," Matin said. "I've seen the system work how it was intended, and nothing be done about it."

Gun shops often come under fire for the sale of long rifles, the weapon used in Monday's shooting.

"We really got to focus on the individual people; we can't attack these objects, these tools," Martin said. "I think that will only hurt us as a society."

Some lawmakers like Ohio State Sen. Cecil Thomas disagree.

He is spearheading a state bill that raises the age to buy a long ride, adopts a red flag law, extends the wait time for gun purchases and allows tracking of gun transfers.

"We're not trampling on your right to bear arms," Thomas said. "We just tried to minimize the potential for an incident."

Getting a tighter grip on Ohio's gun laws is something Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan Jr. believes is desperately needed.

"Anything we can do to make sure that we rid ourselves of weapons of community destruction," Sullivan said.

Sullivan added that if something is to change, it must start with honest conversations.

BOULDER, Colo. — Hundreds gathered at Fairview High School in Boulder for the largest vigil yet to mourn the 10 lives that were taken in Monday's shooting at the Table Mesa King Soopers.

"We are just here to support all the families and to show our appreciation and love for our community," attendee Monica Augustine said. "To let the people who lost loved ones know that they are not alone."

The vigil was organized by Moms Demand Action. The group was created after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut to advocate for gun reform laws. The organizer said they will soon push for gun laws in Colorado, but that was not the purpose of this gathering.

"When we are feeling bold, we will act," said Nicole LiaBraaten, a volunteer with the Colorado branch of Moms Demand Action. "Tonight, the action that we are taking is to come together to support one another and honor the lives of the 10 victims that were taken through this senseless act of violence."

U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse, who represents Boulder, also spoke, saying that he would would push for new gun laws as well.

"It has been a devastating week for Boulder, Colorado, and I know many of us are still in shock — in disbelief, about the tragedy that happened just a few days ago," Neguse said. "We can change the laws, we can work to save lives to protect our communities to ensure that violent tragedies like those that happened this week wont happen again. And I promise with all the public servants here that we will work to make that a reality."

This story was originally published by Sloan Dickey at KMGH.