奥巴马演讲视频：奥巴马联合拜登发表演说，宣布控枪对策并签署行政命

THE VICE 1 PRESIDENT: Before I begin today, let me say to the families of the innocents who were murdered 33 days ago, our heart goes out to you. And you show incredible courage -- incredible courage -- being here. And the President and I are going to do everything in our power to honor the memory of your children and your wives with the work we take up here today.

It's been 33 days since the nation's heart was broken by the horrific, senseless violence that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School -- 20 -- 20 beautiful first-graders gunned down in a place that's supposed to be their second sanctuary 2. Six members of the staff killed trying to save those children. It's literally 3 been hard for the nation to comprehend, hard for the nation to fathom 4.

And I know for the families who are here that time is not measured in days, but it's measured in minutes, in seconds, since you received that news. Another minute without your daughter. Another minute without your son. Another minute without your wife. Another minute without your mom.

I want to personally thank Chris and Lynn McDonald, who lost their beautiful daughter, Grace, and the other parents who I had a chance to speak to, for their suggestions and for -- again, just for the courage of all of you to be here today. I admire the grace and the resolve that you all are showing. And I must say I've been deeply affected 5 by your faith, as well. And the President and I are going to do everything to try to match the resolve you've demonstrated.

No one can know for certain if this senseless act could have been prevented, but we all know we have a moral obligation -- a moral obligation -- to do everything in our power to diminish the prospect 6 that something like this could happen again.

As the President knows, I've worked in this field a long time -- in the United States Senate, having chaired a committee that had jurisdiction 7 over these issues of guns and crime, and having drafted the first gun violence legislation -- the last gun violence legislation, I should say. And I have no illusions about what we're up against or how hard the task is in front of us. But I also have never seen the nation's conscience so shaken by what happened at Sandy Hook. The world has changed, and it's demanding action.

It's in this context that the President asked me to put together, along with Cabinet members, a set of recommendations about how we should proceed to meet that moral obligation we have. And toward that end, the Cabinet members and I sat down with 229 groups -- not just individuals, representing groups -- 229 groups from law enforcement agencies to public health officials, to gun officials, to gun advocacy groups, to sportsmen and hunters and religious leaders. And I've spoken with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle 9, had extensive conversations with mayors and governors and county officials.

And the recommendations we provided to the President on Monday call for executive actions he could sign, legislation he could call for, and long-term research that should be undertaken. They're based on the emerging consensus 10 we heard from all the groups with whom we spoke 8, including some of you who are victims of this god-awful occurrence -- ways to keep guns out of the wrong hands, as well as ways to take comprehensive action to prevent violence in the first place.

We should do as much as we can, as quickly as we can. And we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. So some of what you will hear from the President will happen immediately; some will take some time. But we have begun. And we are starting here today and we're going to resolve to continue this fight.

During the meetings that we held, we met with a young man who's here today -- I think Colin Goddard is here. Where are you, Colin? Colin was one of the survivors 11 of the Virginia Tech massacre 12. He was in the classroom. He calls himself one of the "lucky seven." And he'll tell you he was shot four times on that day and he has three bullets that are still inside him.

And when I asked Colin about what he thought we should be doing, he said, "I'm not here because of what happened to me. I'm here because of what happened to me keeps happening to other people and we have to do something about it."

Colin, we will. Colin, I promise you, we will. This is our intention. We must do what we can now. And there's no person who is more committed to acting 13 on this moral obligation we have than the President of the United States of America.

Ladies and gentlemen, President Barack Obama. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. Please have a seat. Good afternoon, everybody.

Let me begin by thanking our Vice President, Joe Biden, for your dedication 14, Joe, to this issue, for bringing so many different voices to the table. Because while reducing gun violence is a complicated challenge, protecting our children from harm shouldn't be a divisive one.

Over the month since the tragedy in Newtown, we've heard from so many, and, obviously, none have affected us more than the families of those gorgeous children and their teachers and guardians 15 who were lost. And so we're grateful to all of you for taking the time to be here, and recognizing that we honor their memories in part by doing everything we can to prevent this from happening again.

But we also heard from some unexpected people. In particular, I started getting a lot of letters from kids. Four of them are here today -- Grant Fritz, Julia Stokes, Hinna Zeejah, and Teja Goode. They're pretty representative of some of the messages that I got. These are some pretty smart letters from some pretty smart young people.

Hinna, a third-grader -- you can go ahead and wave, Hinna. That's you -- (laughter.) Hinna wrote, "I feel terrible for the parents who lost their children…I love my country and [I] want everybody to be happy and safe."

And then, Grant -- go ahead and wave, Grant. (Laughter.) Grant said, "I think there should be some changes. We should learn from what happened at Sandy Hook…I feel really bad."

And then, Julia said -- Julia, where are you? There you go -- "I'm not scared for my safety, I'm scared for others. I have four brothers and sisters and I know I would not be able to bear the thought of losing any of them."

These are our kids. This is what they're thinking about. And so what we should be thinking about is our responsibility to care for them, and shield them from harm, and give them the tools they need to grow up and do everything that they're capable of doing -- not just to pursue their own dreams, but to help build this country. This is our first task as a society, keeping our children safe. This is how we will be judged. And their voices should compel us to change.

And that's why, last month, I asked Joe to lead an effort, along with members of my Cabinet, to come up with some concrete steps we can take right now to keep our children safe, to help prevent mass shootings, to reduce the broader epidemic 16 of gun violence in this country.

And we can't put this off any longer. Just last Thursday, as TV networks were covering one of Joe's meetings on this topic, news broke of another school shooting, this one in California. In the month since 20 precious children and six brave adults were violently taken from us at Sandy Hook Elementary, more than 900 of our fellow Americans have reportedly died at the end of a gun -- 900 in the past month. And every day we wait, that number will keep growing.

So I'm putting forward a specific set of proposals based on the work of Joe's task force. And in the days ahead, I intend to use whatever weight this office holds to make them a reality. Because while there is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence completely, no piece of legislation that will prevent every tragedy, every act of evil, if there is even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there is even one life that can be saved, then we've got an obligation to try.

And I'm going to do my part. As soon as I'm finished speaking here, I will sit at that desk and I will sign a directive giving law enforcement, schools, mental health professionals and the public health community some of the tools they need to help reduce gun violence.

We will make it easier to keep guns out of the hands of criminals by strengthening the background check system. We will help schools hire more resource officers if they want them and develop emergency preparedness plans. We will make sure mental health professionals know their options for reporting threats of violence -- even as we acknowledge that someone with a mental illness is far more likely to be a victim of violent crime than the perpetrator.

And while year after year, those who oppose even modest gun safety measures have threatened to defund scientific or medical research into the causes of gun violence, I will direct the Centers for Disease Control to go ahead and study the best ways to reduce it -- and Congress should fund research into the effects that violent video games have on young minds. We don't benefit from ignorance. We don't benefit from not knowing the science of this epidemic of violence.

These are a few of the 23 executive actions that I'm announcing today. But as important as these steps are, they are in no way a substitute for action from members of Congress. To make a real and lasting 17 difference, Congress, too, must act -- and Congress must act soon. And I'm calling on Congress to pass some very specific proposals right away.

First: It's time for Congress to require a universal background check for anyone trying to buy a gun. (Applause.) The law already requires licensed 18 gun dealers 20 to run background checks, and over the last 14 years that's kept 1.5 million of the wrong people from getting their hands on a gun. But it's hard to enforce that law when as many as 40 percent of all gun purchases are conducted without a background check. That's not safe. That's not smart. It's not fair to responsible gun buyers or sellers.

If you want to buy a gun -- whether it's from a licensed dealer 19 or a private seller -- you should at least have to show you are not a felon 21 or somebody legally prohibited from buying one. This is common sense. And an overwhelming majority of Americans agree with us on the need for universal background checks -- including more than 70 percent of the National Rifle Association's members, according to one survey. So there's no reason we can't do this.

Second: Congress should restore a ban on military-style assault weapons, and a 10-round limit for magazines. (Applause.) The type of assault rifle used in Aurora 22, for example, when paired with high-capacity magazines, has one purpose -- to pump out as many bullets as possible, as quickly as possible; to do as much damage, using bullets often designed to inflict 23 maximum damage.

And that's what allowed the gunman in Aurora to shoot 70 people -- 70 people -- killing 24 12 in a matter of minutes. Weapons designed for the theater of war have no place in a movie theater. A majority of Americans agree with us on this.

And, by the way, so did Ronald Reagan, one of the staunchest defenders 25 of the Second Amendment 26, who wrote to Congress in 1994, urging them -- this is Ronald Reagan speaking -- urging them to "listen to the American public and to the law enforcement community and support a ban on the further manufacture of [military-style assault] weapons." (Applause.)

And finally, Congress needs to help, rather than hinder, law enforcement as it does its job. We should get tougher on people who buy guns with the express purpose of turning around and selling them to criminals. And we should severely 27 punish anybody who helps them do this. Since Congress hasn't confirmed a director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in six years, they should confirm Todd Jones, who will be -- who has been Acting, and I will be nominating for the post. (Applause.)

And at a time when budget cuts are forcing many communities to reduce their police force, we should put more cops back on the job and back on our streets.

Let me be absolutely clear. Like most Americans, I believe the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. I respect our strong tradition of gun ownership and the rights of hunters and sportsmen. There are millions of responsible, law-abiding gun owners in America who cherish their right to bear arms for hunting, or sport, or protection, or collection.

I also believe most gun owners agree that we can respect the Second Amendment while keeping an irresponsible, law-breaking few from inflicting 28 harm on a massive scale. I believe most of them agree that if America worked harder to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, there would be fewer atrocities 29 like the one that occurred in Newtown. That's what these reforms are designed to do. They're common-sense measures. They have the support of the majority of the American people.

And yet, that doesn't mean any of this is going to be easy to enact 30 or implement 31. If it were, we'd already have universal background checks. The ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines never would have been allowed to expire. More of our fellow Americans might still be alive, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries and graduations.

This will be difficult. There will be pundits 32 and politicians and special interest lobbyists publicly warning of a tyrannical, all-out assault on liberty -- not because that's true, but because they want to gin up fear or higher ratings or revenue for themselves. And behind the scenes, they'll do everything they can to block any common-sense reform and make sure nothing changes whatsoever 33.

The only way we will be able to change is if their audience, their constituents 34, their membership says this time must be different -- that this time, we must do something to protect our communities and our kids.

I will put everything I've got into this, and so will Joe. But I tell you, the only way we can change is if the American people demand it. And by the way, that doesn't just mean from certain parts of the country. We're going to need voices in those areas, in those congressional districts, where the tradition of gun ownership is strong to speak up and to say this is important. It can't just be the usual suspects. We have to examine ourselves and our hearts, and ask ourselves what is important.

This will not happen unless the American people demand it. If parents and teachers, police officers and pastors 35, if hunters and sportsmen, if responsible gun owners, if Americans of every background stand up and say, enough; we've suffered too much pain and care too much about our children to allow this to continue -- then change will come. That's what it's going to take.

In the letter that Julia wrote me, she said, "I know that laws have to be passed by Congress, but I beg you to try very hard." (Laughter.) Julia, I will try very hard. But she's right. The most important changes we can make depend on congressional action. They need to bring these proposals up for a vote, and the American people need to make sure that they do.

Get them on record. Ask your member of Congress if they support universal background checks to keep guns out of the wrong hands. Ask them if they support renewing a ban on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. And if they say no, ask them why not. Ask them what's more important -- doing whatever it takes to get a A grade from the gun lobby that funds their campaigns, or giving parents some peace of mind when they drop their child off for first grade? (Applause.)

This is the land of the free, and it always will be. As Americans, we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights that no man or government can take away from us. But we've also long recognized, as our Founders 36 recognized, that with rights come responsibilities. Along with our freedom to live our lives as we will comes an obligation to allow others to do the same. We don't live in isolation 37. We live in a society, a government of, and by, and for the people. We are responsible for each other.

The right to worship freely and safely, that right was denied to Sikhs in Oak Creek 38, Wisconsin. The right to assemble peaceably, that right was denied shoppers in Clackamas, Oregon, and moviegoers in Aurora, Colorado. That most fundamental set of rights to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness -- fundamental rights that were denied to college students at Virginia Tech, and high school students at Columbine, and elementary school students in Newtown, and kids on street corners in Chicago on too frequent a basis to tolerate, and all the families who've never imagined that they'd lose a loved one to a bullet -- those rights are at stake. We're responsible.

When I visited Newtown last month, I spent some private time with many of the families who lost their children that day. And one was the family of Grace McDonald. Grace's parents are here. Grace was seven years old when she was struck down -- just a gorgeous, caring, joyful 39 little girl. I'm told she loved pink. She loved the beach. She dreamed of becoming a painter.

And so just before I left, Chris, her father, gave me one of her paintings, and I hung it in my private study just off the Oval Office. And every time I look at that painting, I think about Grace. And I think about the life that she lived and the life that lay ahead of her, and most of all, I think about how, when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now -- for Grace. For the 25 other innocent children and devoted 40 educators who had so much left to give. For the men and women in big cities and small towns who fall victim to senseless violence each and every day. For all the Americans who are counting on us to keep them safe from harm. Let's do the right thing. Let's do the right thing for them, and for this country that we love so much. (Applause.)

Thank you. Let's sign these orders. (Applause.)

(The executive orders are signed.) (Applause.)

All right, there we go. (Applause.)

END

点击收听单词发音  






1
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。












2
sanctuary

  
 


n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区


参考例句：





There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。












3
literally

  
 


adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实


参考例句：





He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。












4
fathom

  
 


v.领悟，彻底了解


参考例句：





I really couldn't fathom what he was talking about.我真搞不懂他在说些什么。
What these people hoped to achieve is hard to fathom.这些人希望实现些什么目标难以揣测。












5
affected

  
 


adj.不自然的，假装的


参考例句：





She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。












6
prospect

  
 


n.前景，前途；景色，视野


参考例句：





This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。












7
jurisdiction

  
 


n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权


参考例句：





It doesn't lie within my jurisdiction to set you free.我无权将你释放。
Changzhou is under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province.常州隶属江苏省。












8
spoke

  
 


n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说


参考例句：





They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。












9
aisle

  
 


n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道


参考例句：





The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。












10
consensus

  
 


n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识


参考例句：





Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？












11
survivors

  
 


幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )


参考例句：





The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者












12
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！












13
acting

  
 


n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的


参考例句：





Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。












14
dedication

  
 


n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞


参考例句：





We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。












15
guardians

  
 


监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者


参考例句：





Farmers should be guardians of the countryside. 农民应是乡村的保卫者。
The police are guardians of law and order. 警察是法律和秩序的护卫者。












16
epidemic

  
 


n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的


参考例句：





That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。












17
lasting

  
 


adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持


参考例句：





The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。












18
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？












19
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。












20
dealers

  
 


n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者


参考例句：





There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。












21
felon

  
 


n.重罪犯；adj.残忍的


参考例句：





He's a convicted felon.他是个已定罪的重犯。
Hitler's early "successes" were only the startling depredations of a resolute felon.希特勒的早期“胜利 ”，只不过是一个死心塌地的恶棍出人意料地抢掠得手而已。












22
aurora

  
 


n.极光


参考例句：





The aurora is one of nature's most awesome spectacles.极光是自然界最可畏的奇观之一。
Over the polar regions we should see aurora.在极地高空,我们会看到极光。












23
inflict

  
 


vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担


参考例句：





Don't inflict your ideas on me.不要把你的想法强加于我。
Don't inflict damage on any person.不要伤害任何人。












24
killing

  
 


n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财


参考例句：





Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。












25
defenders

  
 


n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者


参考例句：





The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》












26
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。












27
severely

  
 


adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地


参考例句：





He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。












28
inflicting

  
 


把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 )


参考例句：





He was charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm. 他被控蓄意严重伤害他人身体。
It's impossible to do research without inflicting some pain on animals. 搞研究不让动物遭点罪是不可能的。












29
atrocities

  
 


n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪


参考例句：





They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》












30
enact

  
 


vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演


参考例句：





The U.S. Congress has exclusive authority to enact federal legislation.美国国会是唯一有权颁布联邦法律的。
For example,a country can enact laws and economic policies to attract foreign investment fairly quickly.例如一个国家可以很快颁布吸引外资的法令和经济政策。












31
implement

  
 


n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行


参考例句：





Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。












32
pundits

  
 


n.某一学科的权威，专家( pundit的名词复数 )


参考例句：





The pundits disagree on the best way of dealing with the problem. 如何妥善处理这一问题，专家众说纷纭。 来自辞典例句
That did not stop Chinese pundits from making a fuss over it. 这并没有阻止中国的博学之士对此大惊小怪。 来自互联网












33
whatsoever

  
 


adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么


参考例句：





There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。












34
constituents

  
 


n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素


参考例句：





She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》












35
pastors

  
 


n.（基督教的）牧师( pastor的名词复数 )


参考例句：





Do we show respect to our pastors, missionaries, Sunday school teachers? 我们有没有尊敬牧师、宣教士，以及主日学的老师？ 来自互联网
Should pastors or elders be paid, or serve as a volunteer? 牧师或长老需要付给酬劳，还是志愿的事奉呢？ 来自互联网












36
founders

  
 


n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )


参考例句：





He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句












37
isolation

  
 


n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离


参考例句：





The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。












38
creek

  
 


n.小溪，小河，小湾


参考例句：





He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。












39
joyful

  
 


adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的


参考例句：





She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。












40
devoted

  
 


adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的


参考例句：





He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。