英语博客：Analysis Time - New Gun Laws

 　　Facing powerful opposition¹ to new gun laws, President Barack Obama is considering(1) 19 steps that he could take through executive action(2). The steps could include punishing(3) people who lie on gun sale background checks(4), getting more complete records in the federal background check database(5), more federal research into gun use, ordering tougher(6) penalties against gun trafficking, and giving schools flexibility² to improve safety. "My starting point is not to worry(7) about the politics," said the President. "My starting point is to focus on what makes sense, on what works." At the same time Obama said that he will not back off(8) of his support for sweeping³(9) gun legislation that requires  congressional support. There is, however, great opposition from the very influential⁴ gun lobby(10). "Will all of these (changes) get through Congress? I don't know," Obama said at a news conference on Monday.

　　1. 'To consider' is to think about before making a decision. The word 'considering' is used a lot in English in the same way as 'understanding that' or 'taking into account'.

　　a. We're considering buying the house; we'll make a decision in a few weeks.

　　b. Considering the bank's past mistakes, I wouldn't invest in them.

　　2. 'Executive action' is the ability of the President to pass laws, or make changes to laws without Congress. This power is limited. The word 'executive' comes from the word 'to execute' meaning to put into action, and also to kill. It is, therefore, used as the title of the head of a company. The person who makes the decisions.

　　3. 'The steps could include punishing...' this sentence has a list of verbs, all in the gerund form. You wouldn't actually use the infinitive⁵ form of the verbs instead; the gerund sounds more normal.

　　a. To make a cabinet, the steps include buying and cutting the wood, finishing it, drilling holes, measuring, and putting it all together.

　　b. The steps to make a good cake should include buying good quality ingredients, and having the right setting on the oven.

　　4. 'A background check' is an investigation⁶ into someone's background or personal, past life. 'Background' is like the back scene of something, a picture, or a person.

　　a. You have to have a background check before you can become a teacher.

　　b. His background check revealed that he had been in prison for stealing.

　　5. 'Database' is a collection of information or 'data'. It is like a big file.

　　a. Your computer's database is full; you need to get more memory.

　　b. They lost information from their database.

　　6. 'Tough' or 'tougher' can be used when talking about penalties, punishments, laws, or luck.

　　a. He lost his job and then crashed his car; what tough luck!

　　b. We must have tougher punishments for violent crimes.

　　7. "My starting point is not to worry.." here you could say 'to not worry'. There is only a slight difference. If you want to emphasize that you are deliberately⁷ avoiding worrying, then it is more effective to have 'not' first. The other way around emphasizes the whole meaning rather than the negative of the verb.

　　a. I will control my classroom by not paying attention to noisy, distracting students.

　　b. They were advised not to go on the lake while it was frozen.

　　8. 'To back off' means to walk away from, to back away, to leave alone, or to forget. I have mentioned it before in a previous podcast. In this instant, it describes how President Obama doesnot want to walk away from proposed changes.

　　9. 'Sweeping ' is often used when talking about the making or changing of laws. When a big change is made it is described in this way.

　　a. Sweeping changes have been made to the way the office is run.

　　b. Sweeping legislation about school safety will be proposed.

　　10. 'Lobby' is a noun and a verb. The verb means to try and influence, and the noun is a group of people who do just that. It is also the entry into a hotel, where you book your room, or like an ante room or a gallery.

　　a. The environmentalists are lobbying for forest preservation⁸.

　　b. The turkey protection lobby is asking for more rights for turkeys.

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1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

3 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

4 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

5 infinitive   

n.不定词；adj.不定词的

参考例句：

• The use of the split infinitive is now generally acceptable.分裂不定式的用法现在已被广泛接受。
• Modal verbs generally take the bare infinitive.情态动词通常用不带to的不定式。

6 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。

7 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

8 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。