新奇事件簿 美国多家知名公司呼吁枪支管控

An increasing number of companies are announcing plans to sever¹ ties with the USA's National Rifle Association (NRA) following the latest high-school shooting massacre². The tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in South Florida, in which 17 students and staff lost their lives, could be a watershed³ for gun control in the USA. Many high profile companies are calling for gun control and are cutting ties with the powerful NRA lobby group. United Airlines, Delta⁴ Airlines and Hertz are among many companies to end special discounts and benefits for NRA staff and members. There is also a growing campaign on social media for greater gun control in the USA.

由于近期发生的高校枪击屠杀事件，有越来越多的公司宣布与美国步枪协会（NRA）断绝联系。枪击悲剧发生于南佛罗里达州的马乔里·斯通曼·道格拉斯高中，有17名学生和教员在枪击案中丧生。此次案件或成为美国枪支管控的转折点。许多高知名度公司呼吁对枪支进行管控并断绝与NRA强大游说团体的联系。众多公司都停止为NRA员工和成员提供特别折扣和福利，美国联合航空公司、三角洲航空公司以及赫兹是其中三家。美国社交媒体上也有越来越多的运动呼吁枪支管控。

The NRA made a statement attacking the failure of both school and federal systems for the high school tragedy. It said: "The law-abiding members of the NRA had nothing at all to do with the failure of that school's security preparedness, the failure of America's mental health system...or the cruel failures of both federal and local law enforcement." It added that: "Despite that, some corporations have decided⁵ to punish NRA membership in a shameful⁶ display of political and civic⁷ cowardice⁸." An NRA spokesman hit back at the companies, saying: "The loss of a discount will neither scare nor distract one single NRA member from our mission to stand and defend individual freedoms."

NRA发表声明攻击这场高校悲剧中学校以及联邦制度的过失。声明称：“NRA的守法成员们与此次事件中学校安全预案过失、美国心理健康体系失误或联邦以及当地执法机关失误无关。”声明还说道：“尽管如此，一些公司还是决定以一种政治以及市民怯懦的可耻行为惩罚NRA的成员。”NRA发言人回击了这些公司并说道：“折扣的损失不会吓走或转移任何一名NRA成员拥护和捍卫个人自由的使命。

1 sever   

v.切开，割开；断绝，中断

参考例句：

• She wanted to sever all her connections with the firm.她想断绝和那家公司的所有联系。
• We must never sever the cultural vein of our nation.我们不能割断民族的文化血脉。

2 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

3 watershed   

n.转折点，分水岭，分界线

参考例句：

• Our marriage was at a watershed.我们的婚姻到了一个转折关头。
• It forms the watershed between the two rivers.它成了两条河流的分水岭。

4 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

5 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。

6 shameful   

adj.可耻的，不道德的

参考例句：

• It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己，真不害臊。
• We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。

7 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

8 cowardice   

n.胆小，怯懦

参考例句：

• His cowardice reflects on his character.他的胆怯对他的性格带来不良影响。
• His refusal to help simply pinpointed his cowardice.他拒绝帮助正显示他的胆小。