VOA慢速英语2022--关于智能枪的争论

What Is the Debate Over Smart Guns?

Smart guns, guns that can only be fired by certain users, might become available to U.S. buyers after more than 20 years of debate.

This debate has included questions about reliability¹ and concerns that smart guns will lead to a new wave of government rules.

Smart guns: supporters and main issues

The company LodeStar Works recently showed its 9mm smart handgun to investors² in Boise, Idaho. And a company based in Kansas, SmartGunz LLC, said law enforcement agents are testing its product, a similar but simpler model.

Both companies hope to have a product available for American buyers this year.

LodeStar co-founder Gareth Glaser said he has heard too many stories about children shot while playing with an unattended gun. Smart guns could stop such tragedies by using technology that confirms a user's identity and disables the gun should anyone else try to fire it.

Supporters of the technology say it could reduce suicides and make lost or stolen guns useless. In addition, it could offer protection for police officers and jail guards who risk having their own weapons used against them.

But earlier attempts to develop smart guns have failed.

Smith & Wesson promised in 1999 to support smart guns and other measures in an agreement with the U.S. government. As a result, the National Rifle Association, a gun rights group, supported a boycott³ that led to a drop in sales.

And in 2014, German company Armatix put a smart handgun on the market. But it was withdrawn⁴ after hackers⁵ discovered a way to block the gun's radio signals. They also could fire the gun using magnets when it should have been blocked from firing.

Smart gun technology, criticisms

Most early smart gun test models used either fingerprint⁷ or radio technology to unlock the gun.

LodeStar uses both a fingerprint reader and a communication device activated⁹ by a phone app. It also permits the entry of a personal identification number or PIN. The gun can permit more than one user.

SmartGunz would not say which law enforcement agencies are testing its weapons, which are secured by radio identification.

Critics have argued that smart guns are too risky¹⁰ for a person or police officer to use during a crisis.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the firearms industry trade group, says it does not oppose smart guns as long as the government does not make laws that require their sale.

Lawrence Keane is a vice⁸ president of the NSSF. Keane said: "If I had a nickel for every time in my career I heard somebody say they're about to bring us a so-called smart gun on the market, I'd probably be retired¹¹ now."

The arrival of smart guns on the market could lead to legal changes. For example, a 2019 New Jersey¹² law requires all gun shops in the state to offer smart guns after they become available. The 2019 law replaced a 2002 law that would have banned the sale of any handgun except for smart guns.

Scott Bach of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs said, "The other side tipped their hand because they used smart guns to ban everything that's not a smart gun...It woke gun owners up."

To tip one's hand means to show a plan of action at a time that is too early.

The New Jersey state law has raised the anger of defenders¹³ of the Second Amendment¹⁴.

This amendment to the U.S. Constitution says: "A well regulated Militia¹⁵, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed¹⁶."

Words in This Story

certain – adj. used to refer to something or someone that is not named specifically

reliability – n. the quality or ability to be trusted to do or provide what is needed

hacker⁶ – n. computers : a person who secretly gets access to the files on a computer or network in order to get information, cause damage, etc.

infringe¹⁷ – v. to wrongly limit or restrict (something, such as another person's rights)

nickel – n. a U.S. coin that is worth five cents

1 reliability   

n.可靠性，确实性

参考例句：

• We mustn't presume too much upon the reliability of such sources.我们不应过分指望这类消息来源的可靠性。
• I can assure you of the reliability of the information.我向你保证这消息可靠。

2 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

3 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

4 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

5 hackers   

n.计算机迷( hacker的名词复数 )；私自存取或篡改电脑资料者，电脑“黑客”

参考例句：

• They think of viruses that infect an organization from the outside.They envision hackers breaking into their information vaults. 他们考虑来自外部的感染公司的病毒，他们设想黑客侵入到信息宝库中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Arranging a meeting with the hackers took weeks againoff-again email exchanges. 通过几星期电子邮件往来安排见面，他们最终同意了。 来自互联网

6 hacker   

n.能盗用或偷改电脑中信息的人，电脑黑客

参考例句：

• The computer hacker wrote that he was from Russia.这个计算机黑客自称他来自俄罗斯。
• This site was attacked by a hacker last week.上周这个网站被黑客攻击了。

7 fingerprint   

n.指纹；vt.取...的指纹

参考例句：

• The fingerprint expert was asked to testify at the trial.指纹专家应邀出庭作证。
• The court heard evidence from a fingerprint expert.法院听取了指纹专家的证词。

8 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。

9 activated   

adj. 激活的 动词activate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The canister is filled with activated charcoal.蒸气回收罐中充满了活性炭。

10 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

11 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

12 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

13 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》

14 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。

15 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。

16 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》

17 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。