VOA标准英语2013--Washington Week: Focus on Immigration, Gun Control

 

Washington Week: Focus on Immigration, Gun Control

Months of negotiations¹ between a group of Democratic and Republican senators have yielded a bipartisan immigration reform bill, expected to be unveiled later this week. Reports say the proposal would provide a rigorous path to citizenship² for undocumented immigrants that is conditioned upon heightened U.S. border security.

Last week there were rallies from Washington to Los Angeles demanding action.

Reform opponents want America’s borders secured before laws are changed. Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies.

“That is a debate we should not even have until we have in place the enforcement tools, and we have allowed them to work for a couple years," he said. 

On another key issue, the Senate voted last week to consider gun reform.

Bills include a bipartisan proposal to expand background checks for firearms purchases. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said, “We have an agreement on an amendment³ to prevent criminals and the mentally ill and insane from getting firearms and harming people.”

Deliberations come four months after a mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school. Saturday, the parent of a child gunned down in that shooting delivered President Barack Obama’s weekly address.

“Please help us do something before our tragedy becomes your tragedy," said Francine Wheeler, mother of one of the Newtown shooting victims. 

But not all lawmakers believe firearms restrictions⁴ will improve public safety. 

Republican Senator Mike Lee said, “Any limitation on this fundamental right of self defense⁵ makes us more dependent on our government for our own protection. Government cannot be everywhere at all times, so the practical effect of limiting our individual rights is to make us less safe.”

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy disagrees. “Liberty is not about having any gun you want anytime you want it. Liberty also has to be about the right to be free from indiscriminate violence," he said. 

Polls show majorities of Americans favor stricter gun laws and an immigration overhaul⁶. 

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

3 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。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。