U.S. Senate bill drops assault weapons ban

 　　WASHINGTON, March 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry¹ Reid said Tuesday he would not include a renewal² of the federal assault weapons ban in a package of gun reform legislation to be introduced in the Senate, which signals the measure still lacks enough support in Congress.

　　Reid told reporters that the proposed renewal of the assault weapons ban, sponsored by Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, could not win even 40 votes in the Democrats³-controlled Senate.

　　"I have to get something on the floor so we can have votes on that issue and the other issues we talked about," said Reid, adding that he would offer Feinstein's proposal separately as an amendment⁴.

　　Feinstein's proposal will revive a decade-long ban on the sale of more than 150 types of military-style semi-automatic weapons, which expired in 2004.

　　Her measure was one of four approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee over the last two weeks. The other measures also include providing more school safety aid, expanding federal background checks on gun sales and strengthening prosecution⁵ of illegal gun traffickers.

　　There are 53 Democrats in the 100-member Senate, and two independents who usually vote with them. Gun control supporters and advocates believe a package of gun control legislation has better chance to pass through Senate than Republican-controlled House.

　　Feinstein introduced her measure in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting massacre⁶ in Connecticut last December. The tragedy which took the lives of 20 children and six adults has renewed a nationwide debate over gun violence and gun control efforts.

1 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

2 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

3 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》

4 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

5 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

6 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！