德克萨斯州学生被允许带枪上大学

AS IT IS 2016-08-03 Texas Students Can Bring Guns to College 德克萨斯州学生被允许带枪上大学

The American state of Texas joined eight other states this week in giving individuals a right to bring guns to college classrooms.

The Texas law gives people 21 and older permission to carry concealed¹ handguns into buildings at state-financed colleges. To do so, the person needs a government permit that requires training in safe gun use.

The law took effect on the same day the University of Texas marked the 50th anniversary of the first mass shooting at an American college campus.

On August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman used a gun to shoot at people from high atop the university’s clock tower. Seventeen people lost their lives, and many more were injured.

One of the first people shot and injured was Claire Wilson. She was pregnant² and lost her baby. The gunman killed her boyfriend, Tom Eckman, in the attack.

Today, Wilson uses the name Claire Wilson James. She spoke³ on Monday at a memorial ceremony, offering this lesson from her personal tragedy: “Treasure the ones we walk with each moment.”

Supporters of the new Texas law say it will save lives by giving people the right to use their own guns to stop a shooter before police arrive. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said it was carefully written to require people to get special training to bring guns to colleges.

Opponents said the gun law might make things worse. It might make it difficult for police to identify the shooter or shooters from those firing weapons to stop the attack, they said.

Opponents also worry that access to guns will make it easier for people who are depressed⁴ or have a mental health issue to take their own lives.

Under the new law, people are permitted to carry guns into college buildings, classrooms and student housing. Guns are not permitted at sporting events.

Each state college can establish its own rules. For example, at the University of Texas, professors can declare their offices, “gun-free zones.”

University students and employees over age 21 can have guns in common areas, such as dormitories, dining halls and lounges⁶. But they can’t carry guns in dormitory rooms, where students sleep.

At Texas A&M University, another state school, guns are permitted in dormitory rooms. Teachers at Texas A&M need approval from school administrators⁷ before they can bar people from carrying guns into their offices.

Under the state law, private colleges can choose whether or not to permit concealed guns. So far, only one private Texas college -- Amberton University -- is allowing guns.

Words in this Story

concealed handgun -- n. a gun hidden, usually under clothing

moment - n. a very short period of time

access - n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone

dormitory - n. a building on a school campus that has rooms where students can live

lounge⁵ - n. a room with comfortable furniture for relaxing

lesson – n. a period of learning or teaching

1 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

2 pregnant   

adj.怀孕的，怀胎的

参考例句：

• She is a pregnant woman.她是一名孕妇。
• She is pregnant with her first child.她怀了第一胎。

3 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。

4 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

5 lounge   

n.休闲室，休息室，长沙发；v.闲荡，闲散地度过，混日子

参考例句：

• We had coffee in the lounge.我们在客厅里喝咖啡。
• Don't lounge away your working hours.不要消磨工作时间。

6 lounges   

休息厅( lounge的名词复数 )； 客厅； （机场等的）等候室； （私宅中的）起居室

参考例句：

• There are 5 Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International Airport lounges within our program. 我们在雅加达机场有5间机场贵宾室。
• There are 5 Bali Rai International Airport lounges within our program. 我们在巴里岛机场有5间机场贵宾室。

7 administrators   

n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师

参考例句：

• He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
• Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城