VOA标准英语2012--California Leads US in Restrictive Gun Laws

 

California Leads US in Restrictive Gun Laws

 

There are few restrictions¹ on owning guns in most U.S. states. Guns are widely used for hunting and sport, and for self-protection.

California and several other states, including New York and Massachusetts, limit the sale of some firearms, ammunition² and accessories. California bans the sale of high-capacity ammunition clips and military-style assault rifles to the public. Buyers of other guns must wait 10 days while state and federal authorities investigate the purchaser for a possible criminal record or history of serious mental illness. California registers handguns, and beginning in 2014, will also keep records on rifles and shotguns sold in the state.

Los Angeles Police Detective Richard Tompkins says neighboring states are less strict.

“People do leave the state and buy those weapons out of state and then bring them back into our state. Some people will do it just to possess them. Some people will do it to sell on the open market in the state of California,” Tompkins said.

The sale of guns and ammunition over the Internet is unrestricted in some places. In California, firearms must be sold through a licensed³ dealer⁴. But with inconsistent laws from state to state, and even county to county, there are gaps in enforcement, says Daniel Vice⁵ of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

“As we saw in the Colorado shooting, you can buy thousands of rounds of ammunition online," Vice said. "You can buy full suits of body armor online. You can even go online to find private gun sellers who will sell you assault weapons no questions asked -- no background check, no record of sale. Why do we allow that to happen in America today?”

Former U.S. Army Ranger⁶ and gun collector Frank Sharp says most American gun users are law-abiding citizens who are exercising a basic right. He says he was shocked at the recent carnage in a Colorado movie theater.

“There's hardly any way to describe how terrible that incident is," Sharp said. "But I don't think that turning people like me into criminals prevents it. I think that had someone been in that theater lawfully⁷ carrying a firearm, there might have been a completely different outcome.”

Los Angeles Detective Richard Tompkins says inconsistent laws cause problems for law enforcement.

“It's hard with the different laws at state level and very few laws on the federal side,” he said.

For some, the federal government's reluctance⁸ to pass gun control legislation is the right approach. They say that restricting the rights of gun owners will not address the problem of violent crime. Others say that placing more limits on gun sales can reduce the violence, and that we are overdue⁹ for a national conversation on the issue. 

 

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

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 licensed   

adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The new drug has not yet been licensed in the US. 这种新药尚未在美国获得许可。
• Is that gun licensed? 那支枪有持枪执照吗？

4 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

5 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。

6 ranger   

n.国家公园管理员，护林员；骑兵巡逻队员

参考例句：

• He was the head ranger of the national park.他曾是国家公园的首席看守员。
• He loved working as a ranger.他喜欢做护林人。

7 lawfully   

adv.守法地，合法地；合理地

参考例句：

• Lawfully established contracts shall be protected by law. 依法成立的合同应受法律保护。 来自口语例句
• As my lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, till death parts us. 当成是我的合法丈夫，无论疾病灾难，直到死亡把我们分开。 来自电影对白

8 reluctance   

n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿

参考例句：

• The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
• He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。

9 overdue   

adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的

参考例句：

• The plane is overdue and has been delayed by the bad weather.飞机晚点了，被坏天气耽搁了。
• The landlady is angry because the rent is overdue.女房东生气了，因为房租过期未付。