VOA慢速英语2013 President Obama Preparing to Receive Gun Policy Recommendations

 

President Obama Preparing to Receive Gun Policy Recommendations

From Learning English, this is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

Almost a month has passed since a gunman killed twenty children and six adults at a school in Newtown, Connecticut.  The shooter was found to have many weapons.

After the killings¹, President Obama ordered Vice² President Joe Biden to lead a task force on how to reduce gun violence. Mr. Biden and his group are likely to present their ideas to the president by next Tuesday. 

The task force includes representatives of hunting organizations, support groups for victims of gun violence, filmmakers and other members of the media. It also includes law enforcement officials, religious leaders and medical experts. 

Vice President Biden says their ideas might include more complete investigations³ of those seeking to buy guns. He says the proposals may include a ban on ammunition⁴ clips that carry many bullets. He is appealing for compromise.

“There has got to be some common ground here, to not solve every problem, but diminish the probability that what we have seen in these mass shootings will occur, and diminish the probability that our children are at risk in their schools.”

The vice president met strong opposition⁵ this week in talks with a representative of the National Rifle Association, the NRA. The group opposes efforts to strengthen gun laws. It also is critical of steps it says would violate the Second Amendment⁶ of the United States Constitution. The Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear, or possess, arms.

David Keene is president of the NRA. He says it is clear that the Obama administration has already decided⁷ its positions on firearms. He said the NRA is preparing to energize⁸ its members for a fight.  

President Obama is expected to seek congressional action on the Biden group’s proposals. He also may approve executive orders designed to reduce gun violence.

American lawmakers may not act any time soon on gun-control proposals. Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell warned recently that gun legislation may have to wait until after Congress acts on spending and debt concerns.

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is among those who want Congress to act. She suffered severe injuries in a deadly shooting two years ago in Arizona. She and her husband launched a new effort this week. They hope to fight the influence of the NRA and other gun rights supporters in Congress. 

Another activist⁹ for gun control says he believes Mr. Obama will soon make recommendations on the issue. Dan Gross is president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. He told VOA he believes the president will offer detailed¹⁰ proposals in his State of the Union message to Congress.

“I expect to hear specifics and that is based on conversations we have been having [with the White House]. You know, the inauguration¹¹ is probably too soon. But the State of the Union, based on appropriately urgent timing¹² of this task force, we would expect to hear specifics.”  

President Obama is expected to announce new policies on gun violence shortly after he begins his second term.

1 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

4 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。

5 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。

6 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。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 energize   

vt.给予(某人或某物)精力、能量

参考例句：

• It is used to energize the city.它的作用是为城市供给能量。
• This is a great way to energize yourself and give yourself more power!这种方法非常棒，可以激活你的能量，让你有更多的活力！

9 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

10 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

11 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

12 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。