Senators are focused on deadly gun violence after two mass shootings in the U.S. in the past week.
Illinois Democrat Richard Durbin opened a hearing and called the crimes unspeakable while pointing to the devastating impact on the families of victims.
Durbin called gun violence an epidemic in America and argued effective legislation to curb it is long overdue.
Ten people were killed in a deadly mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado Monday.
Another eight were killed in a series of shootings in the Atlanta area last week. Six of the victims were women of Asian descent.
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