美國年輕人呼吁控槍

Sutherland Springs, a small town in Texas, US, suddenly came to the world’s attention following a tragedy there on Nov 5.

11月5日，一場發(fā)生在美國得克薩斯州薩瑟蘭斯普林斯的慘劇，將全世界的目光都迅速匯聚到這座小城上。

At least 26 people were killed and about 20 others injured during a mass shooting in a church in the town, reported CNN. The victims ranged in age from 5 to 72 years old. It was the “deadliest mass shooting in the history of Texas”, said CNN.

據(jù)CNN報道，在該城一座教堂中發(fā)生的大規(guī)模槍擊案中，至少有26人喪生，約有20人受傷。受害者的年齡從5歲到72歲不等。CNN報道稱，這是“得克薩斯州有史以來最致命的一場大規(guī)模槍擊案”。

The attack came just around one month after a mass shooting in Las Vegas, the worst in modern US history, where 58 people were killed and more than 500 others injured, according to the Los Angeles Times.

據(jù)《洛杉磯時報》報道，這場襲擊僅僅發(fā)生在拉斯維加斯槍擊案一個月之后。拉斯維加斯槍擊案是美國近代史中傷亡最嚴(yán)重的一個，共造成58人喪生，500多人受傷。

These events made the US people think, once again, about gun control issues.

這一系列事件讓美國民眾再次反思起控槍問題。

According to a Pew Research Center study in 2017, about 40 percent of Americans say they either have a gun or live in a household with one. And the US has the highest rate of killings related to guns in the developed world. Over 11,000 people in the US died as a result of firearms in 2016, reported the BBC.

據(jù)皮尤研究中心2017年發(fā)布的一份研究顯示，約有40%的美國人表示他們自己或者家人持有槍支。在發(fā)達國家中，美國與槍擊相關(guān)的死亡率是最高的。據(jù)BBC報道，2016年美國死于槍擊的人數(shù)超過了11000人。

The large number of deaths involving guns has led to increased support for stricter gun control among young people. According to a study published by website Abodo in October, about 80 percent of US people aged 18 to 35 believe the country has a major problem with mass shootings. About 78 percent of young people think it’s too easy to buy a gun and 59 percent believe that gun violence would decrease if there were stricter gun laws, according to the study.

槍擊事件所造成的大量死亡人數(shù)在年輕人中引起了越來越多要求更嚴(yán)格控槍的呼聲。據(jù)Abodo網(wǎng)站10月發(fā)布的一份研究顯示，在18-35歲的美國人中，約有80%認(rèn)為大規(guī)模槍擊案在這個國家是一大問題。78%的年輕人認(rèn)為，(在美國)購買槍支過于容易，而有59%的年輕人相信，如果出臺一部更嚴(yán)格的管理槍支的法律，槍擊暴力將會減少。

Meanwhile, a GenForward survey published in 2016 found that about 90 percent of young American adults support criminal background checks for all gun sales.

與此同時，GenForward于2016年發(fā)布的一項調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn)，約有90%的美國年輕人支持在銷售槍支時調(diào)查(購買者的)犯罪記錄。

“Human behavior is predictable to a level, but also unpredictable,” Saajan Bhakta, 22, from Kansas, told the Guardian. “Being on top of it from the beginning helps prevent unnecessary events.”

“人類行為在某一層面上可以預(yù)見，但同時也是不可預(yù)測的，”現(xiàn)年22歲的Saajan Bhakta來自美國堪薩斯州，她在接受《衛(wèi)報》采訪時如此表示。”

However, the road to stricter gun control will certainly not be a smooth one.

然而，走向更嚴(yán)格的控槍之路絕不會一帆風(fēng)順。

The right of US people to carry guns is protected by the US constitution. Any US citizen (公民) over 21 without a criminal background or mental health problems can buy guns, which are even sold in supermarkets in some states.

美國人的持槍權(quán)利受到美國憲法的保護。任何已滿21歲，沒有犯罪記錄或者心理問題的美國公民都可以購買槍支。在美國的一些州中，槍支甚至在超市中就能買到。

Meanwhile, owning guns has become part of American culture. Gun use can be traced back to the early days of colonization, when European settlers used guns for self-defense and hunting.

與此同時，持槍也成為了美國文化的一部分。(美國人的)持槍歷史可以追溯回早期殖民時期，來自歐洲的移民者們持槍用于自衛(wèi)以及狩獵。

However, gun control is only part of the wider effort to prevent violence. As news site Vox put it, “Gun control can’t stop all violence. But it can help.”

然而，控槍只是預(yù)防暴力的一部分。正如新聞網(wǎng)站Vox所說的那樣，“控槍不能阻止所有的暴力。但它能夠有所幫助”。