VOA慢速英语:Shooting at Connecticut School has Americans Re-Examining Gun Laws

From VOA Learning English, this is IN THE NEWS in Special English.
来自美国之音慢速英语，这里是时事新闻报道。
 
This week, families and friends buried victims of the second worst attack on a school in the United States. A gunman killed 20 young children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut last Friday. Police believe 20 year old Adam Lanza killed his mother at home then took some of her guns with him to the school. They say he used a military-style assault rifle to carry out the shooting spree. Such weapons can fire ammunition quickly, without the shooter having to reload.
这个星期，家人和朋友安葬了美国第二大校园枪击案的受害者。上周五，一名枪手在康涅狄格州Newtown的一所小学杀害了20名年儿童和6名成年人。警方相信，20岁的Adam Lanza在家里杀害母亲，然后携带她的一些枪支来到学校。他们称，他使用一支军用突击步枪实施了此次枪击案。这种武器可以快速发射弹药而无需枪手重新装弹。

The attack shocked Americans whose opinions on gun laws have changed in the past week. A recent survey found that 52 percent of Americans questioned said they supported “major restrictions on guns or making them illegal.” 
这次袭击震惊了美国人，在过去一周他们对枪支法律的观点已经改变。最近一项调查发现，52%受访的美国人称，他们支持“严格限制枪支或让持枪非法。”

President Obama says he recognizes the need for change. He has called on Congress to reestablish an assault weapons ban that ended in 2004.
美国总统奥巴马称，他认识到变革的必要性。他呼吁国会重建已于2004年结束的攻击性武器禁令。

"We may never know all the reasons why this tragedy happened. We do know that every day since more Americans have died of gun violence. We know such violence has terrible consequences for our society. And if there is even one thing that we can do to prevent any of these events, we have a deep obligation, all of us, to try."
“我们可能永远不会知道这场悲剧发生的原因。但我们知道，从那以后每天有越来越多的美国人死于枪支暴力。我们知道，这种暴力行为对我们的社会产生了可怕的后果。如果仅有一件事我们能防止这类事件的发生，我们所有人就有强烈责任去尝试这样做。”

The president has named Vice President Joe Biden to lead an effort to propose gun law reforms. He also called for background investigations for anyone buying weapons from a private dealer.
奥巴马任命副总统乔•拜登负责枪支法律改革提案。他还呼吁对任何从私人经销商处购买武器者进行背景调查。

No matter how hard the president tries, he will face opposition from gun rights activists. The second amendment to the Constitution protects the right of Americans to carry and use arms.
不管奥巴马如何努力尝试，他都将面临枪支权利活动家的反对。宪法第二修正案保障了美国人携带和使用武器的权利。

The 4,000,000 member National Rifle Association is one of the most influential organizations in the United States. On Friday, the NRA’s chief executive, Wayne LaPierre, told reporters that armed guards can prevent tragedies like the one in Newtown.
拥有4,000,000会员的全国步枪协会是美国最有影响力的组织之一。周五，全国步枪协会的首席执行官Wayne LaPierre告诉记者，持枪警卫可以防止Newtown这类悲剧的发生。

“The only way -- they only way -- to stop a monster from killing our kids is to be personally involved and invested in a plan of absolute protection. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”
“他们阻止恶魔杀死我们孩子的唯一办法是亲自参与并投资一项绝对保护的方案，这也是唯一的办法。唯一制止持枪坏人的做法是好人持枪。”

Mr. LaPierre blamed movies and video games for creating a violent culture for children.
LaPierre先生指责电影和电子游戏为孩子们创造了一种暴力文化。

The NRA has protected the rights of gun owners for over 140 years. The group is widely recognized as a major political force. Observers say the NRA spends millions of dollars on television advertising and campaign donations every year to influence members of Congress.
全国步枪协会140多年以来一直保护枪支拥有者的权利。该组织被广泛认为是一个重要的政治力量。观察家称，全国步枪协会每年在电视广告和竞选捐款上花费数百万美元来影响国会议员。

One thing the NRA cannot control is the sale of gun manufacturers. This week, an American investment company announced plans to sell the manufacturer of the rifle reportedly used in the school shooting.
全国步枪协会无法控制的事情之一是枪支制造商的销售。本周，一家美国投资公司宣布计划出售一家枪支制造商，据说这次校园枪击案使用的就是它们生产的步枪。

Cerberus Capital Management said it was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the attack. Cerberus said it has no desire to take part in the debate over gun ownership rights. But the company said it immediately plans to start looking for a buyer for Freedom Group, the country’s biggest manufacturer of guns and ammunition. Cerberus bought Freedom Group with the help of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System and other investors.
Cerberus资本管理公司称，他们对这次袭击深感震惊和悲痛。Cerberus称不希望参与枪支所有权的争论。但该公司表示，会立即开始寻找美国最大枪支和弹药制造商自由集团的下家。Cerberus公司在加州教师退休金系统和其它投资者的帮助购买了自由集团。