美国国家公共电台 NPR--Biden issues an executive order aimed at reducing gun violence

Biden issues an executive order aimed at reducing gun violence

Transcript¹

President Biden wants to boost background checks for gun buyers, but that's hard without legislation from Congress.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

President Biden is taking executive action that he says could keep more guns out of the hands of dangerous people. Biden spoke² yesterday in Monterey Park, Calif., where two months ago, a gunman killed 11 people and injured nine during Lunar New Year celebrations.

NPR's Deepa Shivaram reports.

(CROSSTALK)

DEEPA SHIVARAM, BYLINE³: The gymnasium at the Boys and Girls Club in Monterey Park was packed. It was the president's first visit since the mass shooting that took place in January.

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PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: I'm here on behalf of the American people to mourn with you, to pray with you, to let you know you are loved and not alone.

SHIVARAM: Biden shared anecdotes⁴ about each of the victims. And later, he met privately⁵ with the families of those who died. But the president also said he was there to do something about gun violence.

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BIDEN: We remember and mourn today, but I'm here with you today to act.

SHIVARAM: Biden signed an executive order to try to get smaller firearms sellers and online sellers to conduct background checks on someone buying a gun. Last year, more than 31 million background checks took place, according to the FBI. The White House didn't have answers on how many more checks they expect will happen with this new move, but they say it's the closest the U.S. can get to universal background checks without additional legislation from Congress. And there's more.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

BIDEN: We need to provide more mental health support and grief - for grief and trauma⁶.

(APPLAUSE)

BIDEN: And more financial assistance when a family loses the sole breadwinner.

SHIVARAM: Biden wants the government to step in to help communities impacted by mass shootings the way FEMA helps after a natural disaster. His executive order also allows the government to name and shame more people who break the rules. And that's a good move, says Greg Jackson, the president of a gun advocacy group called the Community Justice Action Fund.

GREG JACKSON: We're excited that there's now a stronger push for accountability to the manufacturers, the industry and the dealers⁷ that, frankly⁸, are profiting off of the pain.

SHIVARAM: In the lead-up to 2024, there are political benefits to Biden's executive order as well. Democratic strategist Tory Gavito says Biden's actions help push back on claims that Democrats⁹ are soft on crime.

TORY GAVITO: People have been looking for leaders to do something on this for so long.

SHIVARAM: She says Biden's background checks will have a lot of appeal across both parties. In an NPR poll from last summer, even 80% of Republican gun owners said they favored universal background checks.

Deepa Shivaram, NPR News, Washington.

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1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 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。

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 anecdotes   

n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• amusing anecdotes about his brief career as an actor 关于他短暂演员生涯的趣闻逸事
• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman. 他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

6 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

7 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。

8 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

9 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》