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美国国家公共电台 NPR As Democrats Prepare To Take Power In Virginia, Gov. Northam Focuses On Gun Control

时间:2019-11-12 02:53来源:互联网 提供网友:nan   字体: [ ]
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MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

When Virginia Democrats2 swept control of the State House this week, one factor some voters cited was gun control. In May, a mass shooting in Virginia Beach killed 12 people. Afterwards, Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat1, convened3 a special session of the state Legislature.

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

He had hoped to pass gun control measures - what he called commonsense4 legislation. But Republicans were in control. They shelved the bills and ended the special session after just 90 minutes. Fast-forward to this week.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

RALPH NORTHAM: I have one question for you. Do you all like the color blue?

(CHEERING)

NORTHAM: I said, do you like the color blue? Because I'm here to officially declare today, November the 5, 2019, that Virginia is officially blue. Congratulations.

(CHEERING)

CHANG: Democrats will take control of the Legislature in January.

KELLY: Governor Northam joins me now from the governor's office in Richmond. Governor Northam, welcome back to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.

NORTHAM: Thanks so much for having me on.

KELLY: You and I last spoke5 shortly after that awful day in Virginia Beach of the shooting. You introduced eight measures then. We don't have time to tick through all of them, but they have to do with background checks...

NORTHAM: Yeah.

KELLY: ...With red flag laws, with bans. Will you be pushing for that same agenda this time or even more?

NORTHAM: Absolutely.

KELLY: OK.

NORTHAM: I will start with those eight pieces of what I call commonsense gun legislation. They have been proven to save lives, and that's what we want to do in Virginia. So we will start with those pieces of legislation. I'm sure there will be others that will be introduced. I think they will be well-vetted in both the House and the Senate. And you know, depending on what gets to my desk, I'll certainly consider those. And if we feel that they'll make Virginia safer, we'll move forward with them as well.

KELLY: Is your sense that any Republican minds have been changed on this issue? Do you have any hope of buy-in from Republican lawmakers?

NORTHAM: It's an interesting question. And you know, we were inundated7 with commercials and mailers during the campaign. And so some of the Republicans ran on commonsense gun legislation. So I look forward to seeing their response. I think that they listen to voters. I know they do. And seeing how this election went on Tuesday, I hope that they'll be at the table. They should be. This shouldn't be a partisan8 issue.

KELLY: May I ask about one specific change you advocated before? And it sounds like it's on your list - an assault weapons ban.

NORTHAM: Yes.

KELLY: What is your plan for assault weapons currently owned by Virginians, that are already out there? Will you confiscate9 them?

NORTHAM: Well - no, ma'am, not at this stage. What - we're looking at the banning the sales of assault weapons. We'll certainly, you know, again, vet6 these pieces of legislation. But that would be what we would start with.

KELLY: You would propose a ban on sales going forward?

NORTHAM: Absolutely.

KELLY: OK. In terms of pushback that you received last time, I'm curious about one other thing and whether it has changed. There's been a lot of reporting on the NRA...

NORTHAM: Yeah.

KELLY: ...And their leadership challenges and funding challenges. Is your sense that there is as much energy in the pro-gun rights lobby in your state as there was, I don't know, back in May or a year ago?

NORTHAM: You know, certainly, the advocacy is still out there. But, you know, I think that the - you know, for Virginians to experience what happened in our backyard on Memorial Day weekend, you know, I think the influence of the NRA, especially in Virginia, has weakened. And...

KELLY: You do?

NORTHAM: Yes, ma'am. And I think we'll continue to see that.

KELLY: But their pockets are deep and so is their influence, particularly in a Southern state like Virginia. Are you confident that you can overcome the power of that lobby and actually get eight pieces...

NORTHAM: I am.

KELLY: ...Of legislation through the State House?

NORTHAM: I am because the - you know, the Virginians spoke on Tuesday. And that's the most powerful thing out there, is their vote. And they did that despite the money that the NRA poured into Virginia.

KELLY: And can you get this done if you don't get any Republican buy-in? Are the votes there?

NORTHAM: Yes, ma'am, they are. I don't know of any Democrats that would be opposed to these eight pieces of commonsense legislation that we have proposed in the past and we will do again in January.

KELLY: Last thing - as you speak to voters in Virginia, what do they tell you, what is your sense of to what extent the gun issue was mobilizing people at the polls this week?

NORTHAM: It was a large factor. And you know, I saw that - the tragedy that we had in Virginia and then the Republicans' response when I brought them back to Richmond to just spend less than 90 minutes talking about commonsense gun legislation, that was a large factor. And people have said enough is enough. And you know, we've been talking about these things, but now we have the opportunity to take action, and that's what we intend to do in January.

KELLY: May I point out you still sound kind of bitter about that less than 90 minutes? Are you, hand over heart, determined10 to reach across the aisle11 and try to get Republicans on board this time around?

NORTHAM: I will. And I think probably folks know of my history. I served in the United States Army. I took care of wounded soldiers. I'm also a pediatrician. So I've seen what happens when toddlers pick up loaded firearms on the - you know, on the bedside table. So I have heard enough well-intended people say that our thoughts and prayers are with these families, but now it's time for legislators, for our leaders to come to Richmond and take votes and pass laws. And that's what I expect will happen in January.

KELLY: Governor, thank you.

NORTHAM: Thank you so much for having me. It's always good talking to you.

KELLY: And you. That's Ralph Northam. He is the governor of Virginia.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 democrat Xmkzf     
n.民主主义者,民主人士;民主党党员
参考例句:
  • The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
  • About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后,他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。
2 democrats 655beefefdcaf76097d489a3ff245f76     
n.民主主义者,民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
  • The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 convened fbc66e55ebdef2d409f2794046df6cf1     
召开( convene的过去式 ); 召集; (为正式会议而)聚集; 集合
参考例句:
  • The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
  • The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。
4 commonsense aXpyp     
adj.有常识的;明白事理的;注重实际的
参考例句:
  • It is commonsense to carry an umbrella in this weather.这种天气带把伞是很自然的。
  • These results are no more than a vindication of commonsense analysis.这些结果只不过是按常理分析得出的事实。
5 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
6 vet 2HfyG     
n.兽医,退役军人;vt.检查
参考例句:
  • I took my dog to the vet.我把狗带到兽医诊所看病。
  • Someone should vet this report before it goes out.这篇报道发表之前应该有人对它进行详查。
7 inundated b757ab1facad862c244d283c6bf1f666     
v.淹没( inundate的过去式和过去分词 );(洪水般地)涌来;充满;给予或交予(太多事物)使难以应付
参考例句:
  • We have been inundated with offers of help. 主动援助多得使我们应接不暇。
  • We have been inundated with every bit of information imaginable. 凡是想得到的各种各样的信息潮水般地向我们涌来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 partisan w4ZzY     
adj.党派性的;游击队的;n.游击队员;党徒
参考例句:
  • In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中,他们忘掉一切党派之争。
  • The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。
9 confiscate 8pizd     
v.没收(私人财产),把…充公
参考例句:
  • The police have the right to confiscate any forbidden objects they find.如发现违禁货物,警方有权查扣。
  • Did the teacher confiscate your toy?老师没收你的玩具了吗?
10 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
11 aisle qxPz3     
n.(教堂、教室、戏院等里的)过道,通道
参考例句:
  • The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
  • The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。
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