VOA标准英语2012--Crime and Illegal Guns in New York

Crime and Illegal Guns in New York

Honors for a New York City police officer, one of eight shot with an illegal weapon over the past four months. This public outpouring was for an officer, killed while responding to a robbery last December. Mayor Michael Bloomberg accuses federal authorities of not enforcing existing laws that prevent gun sales to minors¹, individuals with psychiatric or drug problems and criminals. 

“The disgrace is, the federal government has left some loopholes where it’s hard to enforce their own laws and they don’t fund any of the enforcement," said Bloomberg.

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says nearly 90 per cent of the firearms used to commit crime in New York City are from out of state, and most are illegal. Some of the illicit² weapons are available online. Late last year, undercover investigators³ conducted a sting on 10 web sites in 14 states where guns could be purchased without required background checks. 

Gun buyer: “No background checks, anything like that?”

Gun dealer⁴: "No, I'm just a private person."

Gun buyer: Oh, that's good, 'cause I probably couldn't pass one."

Gun dealer: ”I probably couldn't either."

Many gun advocates say an armed citizenry prevents the establishment of tyrannical government, which they say is worse than the shooting of innocent people. Larry Pratt is the executive director of Gun Owners of America.

“The bad things that happen with guns in the hands of private people is nothing compared to what happens when the government has a monopoly of firearms," said Pratt.

Mayor Bloomberg characterizes Pratt’s argument as “dumb,” noting that on average, 34 people are killed in the U.S. with illegal firearms every single day. The mayor adds that since pro-gun organizations argue the government should not pass new gun laws, but should enforce those already on the books - he is challenging those groups to join the effort to enforce existing laws. 

1 minors   

n.未成年人( minor的名词复数 )；副修科目；小公司；[逻辑学]小前提v.[主美国英语]副修，选修，兼修( minor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors. 法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had three minors this semester. 这学期他有三门副修科目。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

3 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。