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《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，美國與槍擊相關的死亡率是最高的。據BBC報道，2016年美國死于槍擊的人數超過了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在年輕人中引起了越來越多要求更嚴格控槍的呼聲。據Abodo網站10月發(fā)布的一份研究顯示，在18-35歲的美國人中，約有80%認為大規(guī)模槍擊案在這個國家是一大問題。78%的年輕人認為，(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)布的一項調查發(fā)現，約有90%的美國年輕人支持在銷售槍支時調查(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見，但同時也是不可預測的，”現年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，走向更嚴格的控槍之路絕不會一帆風順。

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，控槍只是預防暴力的一部分。正如新聞網站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”。