英闻天下——345 US Senate Considers Banning Assault Weapons

 　　The United States Senate is considering a ban on military-style assault weapons.

 

　　The proposal comes in the wake the Newtown, Connecticut shooting where 20 children and 6 adults were killed.

 

　　Gun-control efforts currently face an uphill battle against a powerful pro-gun lobby and a strong U.S. tradition of hunting and gun ownership.

 

　　Critics of the proposal say it is an attack on the second amendment¹.

 

　　Ed Flynn, Milwaukee Wisconsin's Police Chief, claims this view is misguided.

 

　　"This bill does not take guns out of the hands of Americans, it does not strip them of the second amendment rights, in fact if we want to be intellectually honest the issues raised here have more to do with commerce than they do with the second amendment. A lot of people make a lot of money selling arms and ammunition². This isn't inherently a bad thing but it can tempt³ to search for a grasp for false logic⁴."

 

　　The proposed ban on assault weapons makes up one of four gun-control bills, which are likely to be considered by the full Senate, according to congressional aides.

1 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。

2 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

3 tempt   

vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣

参考例句：

• Nothing could tempt him to such a course of action.什么都不能诱使他去那样做。
• The fact that she had become wealthy did not tempt her to alter her frugal way of life.她有钱了，可这丝毫没能让她改变节俭的生活习惯。

4 logic   

n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性

参考例句：

• What sort of logic is that?这是什么逻辑？
• I don't follow the logic of your argument.我不明白你的论点逻辑性何在。