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Gun Violence
简体
Gun Violence
枪支管控

Learn the Second Conditional

Date: Sep 12 2012

Themes: News

Grammar: Second Conditional

Intro

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In the US, the debate over gun control has been going on for years. Some feel that there should be tighter laws regulating the sale and possession of firearms. Others argue that gun control laws violate the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, which grants Americans the right to bear arms.

As the debate rages on, gun violence continues to have tragic consequences. The nation had barely begun to recover from a shooting in a Colorado movie theater that killed 12, when another shooting took place, this time in a Sikh temple. Six people were murdered and many others wounded before the gunman took his own life.

Amy and Marni hope something can be done to stop the killing. Hear their conversation about gun violence.

在美国,围绕枪支管控的争论已经持续了很多年。一些人认为,应该制定更加严格的法律来监管销售和持有枪械的行为。另一些人则认为,枪支管控法违反了美国宪法第二修正案,该修正案规定,美国公民有权持有枪支。

争论还在继续,枪支暴力行为也在继续酿造惨剧。美国刚刚开始从造成 12 人死亡的科罗拉多州电影院枪击案中平复下来,罪恶的枪声便又在一座锡克庙 (Sikh) 中响起。行凶者在饮弹自尽前,已经射杀六人并造成多人受伤。

艾米和玛尼希望可以为阻止杀戮做些事情。听听他们谈论枪支暴力。

Dialog

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Amy

Amy

Marni

Marni

Amy:  It seems like there have been so many recent incidents that have been in the news involving gun violence. You know, there have been two major shootings here in the States, and then a really violent clash between protestors and police in South Africa. And it just seems like we’ve almost reached a new place with that.

Marni:  I totally agree. I think it’s interesting, too, at this time, we’re all in the election season, and neither candidate in the US is really addressing either of these things. I mean, obviously they’ve come out and said it’s a horrible tragedy and stuff. But, you know, it seems like gun violence, it is a huge issue, and I think that there should be some more gun control. I think that it’s far too easy for people to have access to weapons that shouldn’t have access to weapons. Yeah, I think that it’s time for a national conversation, or international, frankly, and it’s just not happening.

Amy:  There’s that saying that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” or whatever.

Marni:  That is true.

Amy:  But the fact is, somebody walking into a temple with a club or a knife wouldn’t have been able to kill so many people and injure so many people so quickly.

Marni:  Right.

Amy:  Yes, there will always be violent people, and violence is maybe a part of human nature. But if you took away the instruments, you know, that do the killing the fastest and the easiest, that would have to reduce the violence.

 

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Discussion

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Amy says that there have been many incidents recently involving gun violence. She mentions two deadly shootings in the US, as well as a violent clash between protestors and police in South Africa. Marni agrees that there have been too many deaths caused by gun violence. She thinks something needs to be done.

Marni also points out that the 2012 presidential election will be held soon in the US. The candidates are fighting hard to win, but Marni thinks that neither of them is doing a good enough job of addressing the problem of gun violence.

People who are against gun control often make the argument that “guns don’t kill people; people kill people.” In other words, guns are not responsible for people’s deaths. It is the murderer’s fault when someone dies from gun violence. Amy disagrees. She says that guns are a fast and easy tool for hurting people. Making it more difficult to obtain a gun would surely reduce the amount of gun violence in the US and elsewhere.

Is there a lot of gun violence in your country? Do you think there should be strong laws preventing people from owning guns?

 

Comments

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phn_uk

phn_uk

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

First of all, I have to say that, as an Iranian citizen I thank God that we have some strict rules that do not allow people to have guns. For example, look at the United States. How many incidents have they had in the past few years? I actually support miss Samineh’s comment and I’m totally against what a2020 has said. We are not living in jungle. How do you think that way. But if we are living in a jungle do you really think that having guns would do us really good? What would happen then? How are you going to survive in such a situation. As Aryel said it’s a very delicate matter. Even in the US there has been so many movements in order to somehow stope trading guns and have gun rules to avoid any future disaster. But my friend, if you don’t like the government and don’t like the current situation don’t blame it on ordinary people. We have to have each other’s back. Don’t let the others to consider us as terrorists. when you say we live in a jungle what would our friends in this site thnik about us and our country. Sometimes we must blame ourselves because we just easily humiliate ourselves in front of others. I hope that you reconsider your opinion and my friends believe me we are not living in a jungle. Actually if you have a chance to visit our country and meet Iranians it will be one of the great memories of your life.

02:39 PM May 23 2014 |

samine_sh

samine_sh

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

mr a2020 there is no jungle law in our countryy .and as you know the best, carrying gun is illegal for iranian people .acctually it s very good, as i konw most of the people all around the world cn not control themselves when they are very angry and stressed out and most people do not have capacity to use it,  it’s really unfair and shamefull to say there is jungle law here .here  it snot necessary to have gun..


.as a whole preventing is better than cure,


01:56 PM May 23 2014 |

1 person likes this

AryelLanes

AryelLanes

Brazil

This is such a delicate matter! On one hand we have innocent civilians who need a way to protect themselves, and on the other we have criminals with lots of guns that need to be taken away. What to do? =S

12:18 PM Mar 13 2014 |

wannicho

wannicho

China

there aren’t much gun violence in our country , we haven’t legalized the ownship of gun by individuous  in china. but there are still other kind of violences in china , ppl still got murdered by other means without a gun. so personally i don’t think just by the extinguish of gun can make a society more civilized and peaceful, ppl don’t always need to guy to resort to violence ,they can use knife, arrow, even a stone as a weapon ,so gun is not the thing to be blamed for

11:20 AM Sep 24 2012 |

pink_gurl

pink_gurl

Kuwait

Solve problems is not to carry weapons,
 Perhaps violent man believes that this is the simplest and fastest solutions
But everyone look different from others
So resorting to simpler solutions sound better than resorting to the simplest Violent solutions .


Wrong not to carry weapons while the anthropomorphic error in how to use it.


thank u..

01:56 PM Sep 18 2012 |

YilingHe

YilingHe

China

well,luckily,gun violence hardly happens in my country,since we are forbidden to bear guns,which prevents many tragedies from happening.and personally i do think there should be strong laws to gun control,yes,guns don’t kill people,people kill,but people kill people with a gun,in which case we  can say gun kills people indirectly,because without a guy,it will be harder for a criminal to kill people.

01:38 PM Sep 17 2012 |

raisacorrea

Brazil

The gun violence is a big problem in Brazil, every day people died by shoot. And here is not allowed people have guns.
I think that when the government grants that people have guns, the government is bearing the violence and crimes in the world.
Of course the laws must be totally against free gun, and should have a gun control in society.
The peace isn’t built by wars.

08:03 PM Sep 13 2012 |

Irene Forever

Ukraine

Unfortunately Ukraine has high level of corruption. Still  there is no any gun Law, just some instructions of Ministry of Internal Affairs. Firearm licenses are available in Ukraine for hunting, target shooting and collection, protection of person or property and private security. The minimum age to obtain a gun license is 21. Today ordinary Ukrainian citizens have no access to own a rifled handguns weapon to defend themselves and their families. Rifled handguns are prohibited in Ukraine for civil citizens. Only few categories of weapons are allowed for hunters.


I am not sure if I want to have  my own gun. I have a tear  gas spray, but have never used it. I don’t think I am able to kill a man even if I had   my own gun.

11:38 PM Sep 12 2012 |

I M P E R I V M

United States

Banning weapons with strict laws will only leave good citizens defenceless from criminals who dont follow those laws in the first place! Yell


Shame on all of you who like to solve problems the easy wayFrown

10:09 PM Sep 12 2012 |

1 person likes this

nourelyakine

Algeria


We must avoid violence and try to solve problems peacefully Smile

07:58 PM Sep 12 2012 |

koxa

koxa

Ukraine

From my point of view it is better to hold the firearms away from people, you will never know what can happen with the guy who posses a gun, emotional spark could make a lot of horrible things.

07:16 PM Sep 12 2012 |

Orchestra

Orchestra

Russian Federation

For the time being, thank God, in Russia gun violence is not such a thing that can be run into so frequently, though it was in that way in 90s as elder people say.
All that words above are essentially fair and actual and all things are so good and well, but it’s important to spot strict formal laws aren’t means to an end and not a strong wall citizens can feel kept away from terrorism , cruelty, gun violence, etc., beyond entirely as criminals will ba always able to get over this handicaps. Another aspect to show off is that weapons often can serve as a tool of defence rather than violence only. Thus, sometimes it may not do so harm as it’s believed.

06:15 PM Sep 12 2012 |

haitham4vip

Egypt

only US

05:04 PM Sep 12 2012 |

lovleytk

lovleytk

Yemen

Not less than 10 years in the jail for anyone carries weapon, and execution for anyone used it whoever he is !!

03:55 PM Sep 12 2012 |

mshare

mshare

Saudi Arabia

As for me, I think there should be strict laws that perventing access to guns.
One of the rsasons of spread violince in my view where everyone can reach and own gun or whatever.
When teenagers for example , have like argument with others or want to revenge , the first thing they hope is to own gun or pistol. Therefore , when there is no gun control , there will be such a disaster.
I really shocked about what happend recenty in The united states as a result of not having a gun control.
In fact , I really convinced that evil hearts will harm and try to devastate the world and panic others but when they get that weapons esialy the situtation would be worse and wores.

03:34 PM Sep 12 2012 |

sunny7july

China

Let’s try some days living with no guns.If the situation proves to be better,then the u.s government should make it illegal to keeping guns for ordinary people.And if there are still a lot of crimes going on even without guns,then everyone ought to look into it and think carefully what the hell is going on.

03:20 PM Sep 12 2012 |

sammysam7

sammysam7

United States

I believe people should have the right to bear arms or own a gun.  I don’t think banning will make any difference.  If you know where to go, one can very easily get a gun in the black market.  Gun violence is not the result of guns being sold or being easily accessible for that matter. It’s the result of people evil heart for them to do harm to their neighbor. I mean if we ban all the guns in the world. People will continue to find a way to do harm instead of gun violence it now will be stab violence.  The point is, the ban of guns is not going to decrease the violence.  I do believe in regulating ensuring people to comply with the law in acquiring weapons or firearms. 

01:59 PM Sep 12 2012 |

Englishty

Englishty

Egypt

I know there are cases make it so important to have a gun to defend yourself and your family but we are supposed to have strict laws limit owning guns, i mean maybe kind of a study gives the right of owning a gun to the people who for example live in a dangerous neighborhood or the people whose houses were broken in and not to everyone demands to have a gun. Allah gave us a gift The Life so please stop killing.

01:35 PM Sep 12 2012 |

1 person likes this

bellaboo2422

Pakistan


thanx to Allah almighty there is not much gun violance in our country. its our belief as a muslim that,’ murder of a single human being is a murder of a nation’. so we strongly protest against gun violence. i think all countries have some set of rules and laws to prevent lives from gun shoots, need is to obey them strictly and goverment keep check on it. actully we hindsight every thing, there is a great need of pre empting stratiges. so we ll be able to disrupt violence. people should get aware to chores that follow of owning arms to avoid chaos. its our duty as a nation to step forward and save our world from evey type of violence and human atrocities. we have to oath with ourselves today as a nation we ll bury all the hatchet between us for the violence free peacefull place to live.

08:37 AM Sep 12 2012 |

tumbili

Germany

I don’t think that there is a lot of gun violence in my country, but it sure is enough. In my opinion people shouldn’t be allowed to have their own guns at home. Because I think this would reduce the gun violence, as it wouldn’t be so easy then to get one. But I think the fact that was mentioned in “The dark knight rises”, that there is too much violence in films, is also an important aspect here. I think it is also important not to show films in cinemas or TV, where there is no story and which are only focused on violence and killing.

06:36 AM Sep 12 2012 |

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