6月12日,美國發生史上傷亡最慘烈槍擊案。凶手奧馬爾.馬廷衝進奧蘭多一家知名同志酒吧,持槍掃射,造成49人死,53人重傷。美國總統歐巴馬發表聲明,譴責這宗充滿仇恨的恐怖行動,並認為這次事件應被視為美國槍枝管制過度鬆散的警訊。
美國今年大規模槍擊案已超過100件,歐巴馬慎重呼籲槍枝管制的重要性。(圖/達志)
We know enough to say that this was an act of terror and an act of hate. We also express our profound gratitude to all the police and first responders who rushed into harm's way. Their courage and professionalism saved lives, and kept the carnage from being even worse. Today marks the most deadly shooting in American history. This massacre is therefore a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school, or a movie theater, or in a nightclub. And we have to decide if that's the kind of country we want to be.
就目前所知,我們可以確定這是一宗恐怖與仇恨的行為。我們深切地感謝所有衝進危險地帶救難的警察與急救人員。他們的勇氣和專業拯救了生命,使這場大屠殺的傷亡不致更加慘重。今天是美國歷史上最致命的槍擊案。因此,這場屠殺也更進一步地提醒了我們,人們有多容易將武器弄到手,導致槍擊案在校園、電影院、夜店發生。而我們必須決定,這是不是我們期望國家該有的模樣。
看懂關鍵字
carnage /ˋkɑrnɪdʒ/ n. 大屠殺
例句:He described this family civil war as a scene of carnage.
他將家族鬥爭描述得像一場大屠殺。
massacre /ˋmæsəkɚ/ n. 大屠殺、有時可指體育比賽中的慘敗
例句:The massacre laid bare the cruelty of the regime.
這場屠殺讓政權的殘酷暴露無遺。
get hands on 弄到手、拿到
例句:He bought all the luxury goods that he could get his hands on.
所有能弄到手的精品,他都要買。