美国国家公共电台 NPR--Democratic senators call on Republicans to do something about gun safety

Democratic senators call on Republicans to do something about gun safety

Transcript¹

Another mass shooting and lawmakers talk tough about gun safety — yet possibly getting nothing done. As some in Congress try to find common ground on background checks, can this time be different?

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

U.S. senators are in the midst of heated discussions to develop new gun legislation after Uvalde, Texas, where 21 people were killed, 19 of them children. It's not clear a deal can be reached next week when they meet. But some are expressing cautious optimism that a plan to at least set some limits on gun purchases could be in the works. NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales has more.

CLAUDIA GRISALES, BYLINE²: A desperate crowd outside the Capitol chanted for Congress to pass gun safety legislation.

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UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: We need them to pass the bills and the laws now - not later, now.

GRISALES: The demonstrators included gun violence survivors³ who wanted to hear about action from lawmakers.

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UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting) Now. Now. Now. Now. Now.

GRISALES: But as is often routine, only Democratic lawmakers were there to greet them.

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KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: It is crippling to be this angry and this infuriated by the lack of action by people who hold all the power.

GRISALES: That's New York Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. While her party holds control of the White House and Congress, they fall 10 votes short in the Senate to approve bills to address the country's mass shootings. Back on the Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says while Democrats⁴ have been burned before, they're going to try for a deal with the GOP again.

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CHUCK SCHUMER: Not trying everything is not acceptable to the families who have lost their loved ones.

GRISALES: Schumer now says if these new talks fail, a vote will be on tap regardless to show where every senator stands.

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SCHUMER: I want to be clear - this is not an invite to negotiate indefinitely.

GRISALES: One of those key negotiators is Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn, who visited the scene of the shooting. Back on the Senate floor on Thursday, Cornyn said it was supposed to be the end of the school year for Robb Elementary.

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JOHN CORNYN: Instead of celebrating the last day of school, 21 families are making funeral arrangements.

GRISALES: Cornyn has led past negotiations⁵ for Republicans on narrow limits to gun access. Cornyn said the shooting has shattered the small town.

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CORNYN: Uvalde is about a town of about 15,000 people, about 65 miles from the U.S.-Mexican border. There's one high school football team, one H-E-B grocery store and one post office. The families in Uvalde have known each other and loved each other's children for as long as they can remember.

GRISALES: Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell said he encouraged Cornyn after his Texas trip to negotiate with Democrats. Cornyn, like other key Republicans, has been in discussions with Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy. Back at the rally outside the Capitol, Murphy says there's still hope for a deal.

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CHRIS MURPHY: We will be engaged in bipartisan conversations to try to find a path forward.

GRISALES: Murphy was elected to Congress just before the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in his home state 10 years ago and has worked since on gun control measures. Murphy admits it can be a long and arduous⁶ journey, but says relentless⁷ commitment is what leads to major social change.

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MURPHY: They are so confident that the status quo will finally break that they never, ever give up. And we are never, ever giving up.

(CHEERING)

GRISALES: The coming days will dictate⁸ if both parties can reach a bipartisan deal or once again serve as a reminder⁹ that Congress is powerless to stop such future attacks.

Claudia Grisales, NPR News, Washington.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

4 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》

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

6 arduous   

adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的

参考例句：

• We must have patience in doing arduous work.我们做艰苦的工作要有耐性。
• The task was more arduous than he had calculated.这项任务比他所估计的要艰巨得多。

7 relentless   

adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的

参考例句：

• The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
• Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。

8 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

9 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。