美国国家公共电台 NPR--Protesters plan to honor mass shooting victims at the NRA convention

Protesters plan to honor mass shooting victims at the NRA convention

Transcript¹

The NRA convention begins today in Indianapolis. With Donald Trump², Mike Pence and other possible 2024 candidates in attendance, protesters plan to honor victims of recent mass shootings.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

The National Rifle Association holds its annual meeting beginning today in Indianapolis. The convention takes place on the 104th day of this year. You know how many mass shootings there have been in that time? At least 151, more than the days that we've lived this year. I'll list a few recent ones. There was a shooting you may not have heard of at a funeral here in D.C. three days ago. There was the high-profile mass shooting at a bank in Louisville four days ago and the killing³ of children and adults at an elementary school in Nashville, Tenn., 18 days ago. So how will this impact or not impact this convention? To discuss, we're joined by Ben Thorp of member station WFYI in Indianapolis. And he'll be covering the convention.

Hi, Ben.

BEN THORP, BYLINE⁴: Hi. Good morning.

FADEL: Good morning. So what kind of reception is the NRA convention getting this year?

THORP: You know, there have been a mix of reactions to the NRA convention, as I think you'd expect. On the one hand, the event is expected to bring some 70,000 people to Indianapolis, with estimates of up to $30 million in economic benefit to the region. Republicans at the state House also passed a resolution honoring the NRA earlier this week. But Indianapolis is also just two years out from a mass shooting at a FedEx distribution center that killed eight people in 2021. And some, you know, particularly state Democrats⁵, have criticized the heavy involvement of Republican leadership at this event.

FADEL: So that's to be expected, pushback from Democrats in the legislature. But we're hearing about some protests that are planned, right?

THORP: Yeah. You know, there are a couple of planned demonstrations⁶ throughout this weekend, with police kind of designating a space for peaceful protests across from the convention center. One protest expected Saturday will read the names of every child killed by gun violence in 2022. And then on Sunday, the Indiana chapter of Moms Demand Action is planning an event where they'll have the shoes representing all of the people killed by gun violence in Indianapolis. I do kind of want to add that these protests so far seem like they could be small. There hasn't been a lot of kind of local chatter⁷ here.

FADEL: So we know the NRA has faced high-profile lawsuits⁸, financial issues in recent years. But the convention is definitely attracting big names in Republican politics. Tell us more about who's expected to make an appearance.

THORP: That's right. I mean, there's a long list of people who will be speaking today. Some of them have officially announced runs. And some of them are still exploring runs. Those names, of course, include former President Donald Trump, former Vice⁹ President Mike Pence, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. And we're also going to hear from former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who is a 2024 presidential candidate. The Second Amendment¹⁰, I think, has always been a major issue for the GOP, with many touting¹¹ their approval ratings with the NRA. Some candidates, like Indiana's former Governor Mike Pence, have even walked back support of red flag laws as they've neared this potential run for president.

FADEL: Now, Ben, Indiana is now one of the 26 or so states that do not require people 18 and over to have a permit to carry a firearm. Are there any concerns about that becoming a talking point this weekend?

THORP: It's hard to say, you know? In the lead-up to the passage of Indiana's so-called constitutional carry, the move was met with opposition¹² by a number of state law enforcement groups who worried it was going to infringe¹³ on their ability to do their jobs and identify people who shouldn't be armed. Ahead of this weekend's convention, you know, speaking with Indianapolis Metropolitan¹⁴ Police, they said that there will likely be more guns downtown. But they are also not that worried and say that they are used to hosting large crowd events like this. I do think it's also worth mentioning that guns are banned in the room where speakers like Donald Trump are going to be but are otherwise allowed at this convention.

FADEL: WFYI's Ben Thorp in Indianapolis.

Thank you, Ben.

THORP: Thank you so much.

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 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

3 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。

4 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。

5 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》

6 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

7 chatter   

vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战

参考例句：

• Her continuous chatter vexes me.她的喋喋不休使我烦透了。
• I've had enough of their continual chatter.我已厌烦了他们喋喋不休的闲谈。

8 lawsuits   

n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句
• I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句

9 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。

10 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。

11 touting   

v.兜售( tout的现在分词 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报

参考例句：

• He's been touting his novel around publishers for years. 他几年来一直到处找出版商兜售自己的小说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Technology industry leaders are touting cars as a hot area for growth. 科技产业领袖吹捧为增长热点地区的汽车。 来自互联网

12 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

13 infringe   

v.违反，触犯，侵害

参考例句：

• The jury ruled that he had infringed no rules.陪审团裁决他没有违反任何规定。
• He occasionally infringe the law by parking near a junction.他因偶尔将车停放在交叉口附近而违反规定。

14 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。