VOA标准英语2013--美国海军船坞枪击案再引军方精神问题调查

 

After Navy Yard Shooting, New Calls for Gun Control 美国海军船坞枪击案再引军方精神问题调查

The investigation¹ into the deadly shooting at Washington’s Navy Yard Monday is sparking calls for new gun control measures. Authorities say, earlier this month, Aaron Alexis purchased a shotgun he used to kill 12 people at the naval² command building.

Federal law enforcement investigators³ continued to gather evidence at Washington's Navy Yard.

Authorities are still unable to say what caused Aaron Alexis to gun down 12 people in Monday's rampage before police shot and killed him. Witnesses say Alexis, a former Navy reservist and contract worker, entered the building with a shotgun, and a short time later began firing. John Weaver⁴ watched as the suspect killed his co-worker.

"I popped my head up, and I saw him pointing his gun at my friend, and he shot her," said Weaver.

The latest shooting has renewed the debate over stricter gun control. Many gun owners oppose stricter laws. President Barack Obama is again urging lawmakers to enact⁵ new legislation.

"The fact that we do not have a firm enough background check system [for purchasing firearms] is something that makes us more vulnerable to these kinds of mass shootings," said President Obama.

There were 78 mass public shootings in the U.S. over the past three decades, resulting in 547 deaths, according to a study released in March by the Congressional Research Service.  

On Capitol Hill, members of Congress were joined by families of shooting victims, including relatives of some of the 26 people gunned down at an elementary school in Connecticut last year.

Senator Chris Murphy:

"Something is broken with our democracy when 90 percent of Americans think the people should get a background check before they buy a gun and we cannot get a vote in the United States Congress," said Murphy.

Earlier this year, gun control legislation died in the Senate when some Democrats⁶ and many Republicans opposed new restrictions⁷ on firearms purchases.

Steve Billet is a political science professor at George Washington University.

"I think we’re numb⁸, quite frankly⁹, when it comes to the gun control issues. I think there are a lot of people who simply reconciled themselves to the fact that these are isolated¹⁰ incidents that we have to deal with from time to time and that’s that," said Billet.

Gun rights advocates like the National Rifle Association did not issue a statement after the Navy Yard shooting. But in the past they have fought against efforts to infringe¹¹ on Americans' right to own guns.

The NRA is powerful. Its members and gun supporters in Colorado celebrated¹² after voters ousted¹³ two state senators who supported modest gun control measures. Connecticut Congresswomen Elizabeth Esty is ready to fight back.

"This cannot become the new normal. This is unacceptable," said Esty.

Despite calls for stricter gun control, analysts¹⁴ say there's still not enough support in Congress to pass gun legislation this year.

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

3 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

5 enact   

vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演

参考例句：

• The U.S. Congress has exclusive authority to enact federal legislation.美国国会是唯一有权颁布联邦法律的。
• For example,a country can enact laws and economic policies to attract foreign investment fairly quickly.例如一个国家可以很快颁布吸引外资的法令和经济政策。

6 democrats   

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》

7 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

8 numb   

adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木

参考例句：

• His fingers were numb with cold.他的手冻得发麻。
• Numb with cold,we urged the weary horses forward.我们冻得发僵，催着疲惫的马继续往前走。

9 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

10 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

11 infringe   

v.违反，触犯，侵害

参考例句：

• The jury ruled that he had infringed no rules.陪审团裁决他没有违反任何规定。
• He occasionally infringe the law by parking near a junction.他因偶尔将车停放在交叉口附近而违反规定。

12 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

13 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

14 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。