VOA慢速英语-IN THE NEWS - Supreme Court Rules American Citizens

The U.S. high court says 32-year-old Washington, DC gun ban is unconstitutional. Transcript¹ of radio broadcast:
27 June 2008

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

On Thursday, the United States Supreme² Court issued a historic ruling on the right of Americans to own guns. The nation's highest court ruled that the United States Constitution protects the rights of individuals to own handguns for self-defense in their homes. Five justices supported the decision. Four opposed it.
　

Hand guns like this one have been banned in Washington, DC for 32 years

The decision overturned a thirty-two-year-old ban on handguns in Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court majority ruled that the gun control law in the nation's capital made it too difficult to own a handgun. The Court also struck down the city's requirement that larger guns kept at home must be taken apart or have locks.

Legal experts have long debated the meaning of the Second Amendment³ to the Constitution, which was written more than two hundred years ago. Some experts argued that the amendment guaranteed the right of individuals to own guns. Others argued that it only applied⁴ to state militias⁶, armies of citizens. That amendment says: "A well regulated militia⁵, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed⁷." The Court ruled that this does not limit gun ownership to service in a militia.

Justice John Paul Stevens was among the four in the minority who strongly opposed the ruling. He said decisions about gun control should be made by legislatures.

However, the Court recognized that the individual right to have a gun is not unlimited⁸. It said the ruling does not mean that laws against carrying hidden weapons should be ended.

The Court noted⁹ that other long-standing gun restrictions¹⁰ remain in effect. These restrictions include a ban on the possession of guns by convicted criminals and the mentally ill. They also include laws that ban weapons from being carried into schools and government buildings.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty said he was not happy with the Supreme Court ruling. He said he believes that more handguns in the city will mean more gun violence. Several other American cities also ban handguns and other weapons.

President Bush welcomed the decision. The White House released a statement saying the president strongly agrees with the Court's majority opinion.

Republican Party presidential candidate John McCain praised the decision as a major victory for freedom in the United States.

Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama also released a statement on the Court ruling. He said it would help guide local communities trying to balance the right of gun owners with the need to protect citizens in high crime areas.

The last time the Supreme Court dealt with the Second Amendment and gun ownership was in nineteen thirty-nine. However, at that time the Court did not directly settle the question of whether individual citizens have a right to have guns.

And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by Brianna Blake. You can find scripts and download audio on our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.

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 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

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 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

5 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

6 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

7 infringed   

v.违反（规章等）( infringe的过去式和过去分词 )；侵犯（某人的权利）；侵害（某人的自由、权益等）

参考例句：

• Wherever the troops went, they never infringed on the people's interests. 大军过处，秋毫无犯。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He was arrested on a charge of having infringed the Election Law. 他因被指控触犯选举法而被拘捕。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 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