VOA慢速英语2014 美国民众仍强烈支持死刑

 

AS IT IS 2014-12-17 In US, Support for Death Penalty Is Strong 美国民众仍强烈支持死刑

Most industrialized nations have stopped executing criminals. But the death penalty is still legal in many parts of the United States.

Public opinion studies show that support for the death penalty among Americans is lower than it once was. But it remains¹ strong -- at around 60 percent. However, the same surveys show that even death penalty supporters have concerns about the justice system and the way executions are carried out. 

When people are put to death in the prison in Huntsville, Texas, death penalty opponents often demonstrate outside the building.

"Today, around the state, people are gathered to say 'No!' to the death penalty."

Texas carries out more executions than any other state. Last year, it put 16 people to death. Surveys show most people in Texas support the death penalty.

Dudley Sharp is among those supporters. He says executions ensure that killers² do not kill again, and persuade others not to kill.

“The evidence that the death penalty deters³ no one doesn't exist. The evidence that the death penalty deters some people is overwhelming.”

He says most family members of murder victims support the death penalty. But he says they do not celebrate when someone is put to death.

“All of this is in the context of losing an innocent life to an unjust murder, and so, you know, none of it's good.”

Pat Monks⁵ is a lawyer in Houston, Texas. He opposes the death penalty and criticizes the justice system that imposes it.

“It assumes that this system is perfect in one instance, maybe in one instance, and, you know, it's not.”

Pat Monks notes that, in some cases, new evidence has led to the release of prisoners who have been sentenced to death. He says the death penalty, also known as “capital punishment,” is an ancient custom that Americans took from another country that no longer uses it.

“It is from England, the common-law system in which the king owns all of us, and we are all subject to the king.”

In early December, an appeals court ordered a stay, or stoppage, in the planned execution of Scott Panetti. He had been found guilty of murder. Doctors say he suffers from the mental disorder⁶ schizophrenia.

Kathryn Kase of the Texas Defenders⁷ Service serves as his lawyer. She is pleased that his case is getting nationwide attention.

“What we see in the stay is this emerging awareness⁸ in the United States that we don’t want to execute people with serious mental illness.”

The state of Texas says Scott Panetti understands the court case against him and his death sentence. But Ms. Kase disagrees. And she says executing a person with a severe mental illness does not serve the purpose that most people expect from the death penalty.

“We are supposed to be reserving the death penalty for the worst of the worst. The problem is when we get into choosing who that is, you know, we're not consistent.”

Surveys show that younger Americans support life jail sentences for murderers more than they support the death penalty. And less than half of those asked support executing people who are mentally ill.

Words in This Story

death penalty – n. death as a punishment given by a court of law for very serious crimes

ensure – v. to make (something) sure, certain, or safe

deter⁴ – v. to cause (someone) to decide not to do something

overwhelming – adj. very great in number, effect, or force

context – n. the situation in which something happens; the group of conditions that exist where and when something happens

impose – v. to cause (something, such as a tax, fine, rule, or punishment) to affect someone or something by using your authority

assume – v. to think that something is true or probably true without knowing that it is true

instance – n. an example of a particular type of action or situation; an occasion of something happening

capital punishment – n. punishment by death; the practice of killing⁹ people as punishment for serious crimes

schizophrenia – n. a very serious mental illness in which someone cannot think or behave normally and often experiences delusions¹⁰

emerging – adj. newly-created or -noticed and growing in strength or popularity; becoming widely-known or established            

awareness – adj. a feeling, experiencing, or noticing of something (such as a sound, sensation, or emotion)                                          

reserve – v. to have or keep (something, such as a right) for possible use at a future time

consistent – adj. continuing to happen or develop in the same way

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 killers   

凶手( killer的名词复数 )； 消灭…者； 致命物； 极难的事

参考例句：

• He remained steadfast in his determination to bring the killers to justice. 他要将杀人凶手绳之以法的决心一直没有动摇。
• They were professional killers who did in John. 杀死约翰的这些人是职业杀手。

3 deters   

v.阻止，制止( deter的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The filth here deters all but the invited guest. 这里污秽不堪，除非有事，外人是裹足不前的。 来自辞典例句
• Many people believe that capital punishment deters crime. 很多人相信极刑能阻止犯罪。 来自互联网

4 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

5 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

7 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

9 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。

10 delusions   

n.欺骗( delusion的名词复数 )；谬见；错觉；妄想

参考例句：

• the delusions of the mentally ill 精神病患者的妄想
• She wants to travel first-class: she must have delusions of grandeur. 她想坐头等舱旅行，她一定自以为很了不起。 来自辞典例句