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61，548，这是2017年美国发生的涉枪案件总数。
超过1.5万人遇难，3.1万人受伤。
约有4000名未成年人遇难或受伤。
每十天，就有九天发生了大规模枪击事件。
61,548. That was the number of gun-related incidents in the US in 2017.
More than 15,000 people were killed, and another 31,000 were injured.
About 4,000 minors were killed or injured by guns.
A mass shooting occurred nine out of every 10 days.
你有过这种疑问吗？为何美国控枪会如此艰难？
Why is gun control so difficult in the US?
首先，美国人拥有“合法持枪权”。
这一规定被收录在1789年通过的十条美国宪法修正案，即“权利法案”之中，同时也成为美国保守派反对控枪法案的最有力的理论根基。
然而，世界仅有三个国家将“公民合法持枪”写入宪法，分别是美国、墨西哥和危地马拉。
另有六个国家曾经将相关内容写入宪法。它们无不是效仿美国，但随后全部废除了相关规定。
到目前为止，美国是唯一一个在宪法上对公民持枪没有任何附加约束的国家。
First, the “right to bear arms” was enshrined in the second amendment of the US constitution more than 200 years ago. This is the starting point for all arguments about gun control. The second amendment is interpreted differently by different experts, but as it stands, it is the ultimate defense against implementing strict gun laws.
其次，枪支四处可见。
美国是全球范围内公民持枪数量和持枪率最高的国家。美国仅有世界百分之五的人口，却拥有世界上近一半的枪支。平均每100个美国公民，就拥有89到100支枪支。
如此惊人持枪率与高密度分布的售枪商店脱不开关系。美国总共约有65,000家售枪商店，甚至和药店数量相当。平均每户人家16公里的范围内，就会有一家售卖枪支的商铺。
除了65,000家售枪商店以外。美国另有约8,000家典当行、和每年2,000到5,200个枪支展销会，均可以供居民合法地进行枪支买卖。
不仅如此，美国还存在着规模巨大的二手枪市场，而且往往是非法的。
Second, availability. US citizens possess almost half of all civilian-owned guns in the world though they only constitute five percent of the global population. Every 100 US citizens own 89 to 100 guns on average.
The amazingly high possession rate of guns relates closely to a variety of approaches for gun sales. There were about 65,000 gun shops in the US nationwide in 2017－roughly the same as the number of pharmacies. Guns are also sold legally second hand, in pawn shops, at gun shows and online, as well as illegally.
再次，枪支条例漏洞百出。
美国各州对于购枪者的年龄、购枪数量、和购枪资格均没有统一的限制，并且漏洞众多，在很多情况下，只要出示有效证件，就可以直接刷卡了。
美国唯一明确规定的购枪限制就是持枪者的年龄。按照联邦法律，购枪者年龄满18岁，即可购买猎枪；年龄满21岁，可购买手枪。也就是说，在美国，一个青年在能够购买啤酒之前，就可以拥有自己的枪支。
另外，美国购车前需要取得驾照，但有36个州规定公民购买枪支前不需要取得购买资格许可，也不需要登记。
美国大多数州对个人购买枪支的数量也并无限制。2017年发生的拉斯维加斯枪击案中，嫌犯事先购买了33把枪支，并拥有40多支枪支，却在案件发生之前没有受到任何调查，最终造成59人遇难489人受伤的历史性惨剧。
Third, the regulation of firearm sales varies wildly and there are many loopholes.
With so many guns on America’s streets, you might think tracking ownership and restricting access to those who can get hold of them would be a priority. But background checks, age limits, eligibility, and the number of guns available are different in different places.
Age is the only unified restriction regulated by the federal law, according to which, citizens over 18 years old can buy long guns, including assault rifles, and citizens over 21 years old can legally purchase handguns. In other words, citizens in the US can register a firearm before buying a bottle of beer.
Regarding eligibility, 36 states don’t require a permit or registration for people to buy guns. But a permit is considered necessary before buying a car.
What’s more, most of the states also don’t have a legal limit on the maximum number of guns a person can own. Stephen Paddock－the gunman who killed 59 people and injured 489 others on the Las Vegas Strip－purchased 33 guns, most of them rifles, in just one year. He owned more than 40 firearms in total.
除了这些，美国还规定：
· 枪支可以网购，卖家也不需对买家进行背景调查；
· 背景调查如果超过三天未出结果，那么可先行交易；
· 私人间枪支买卖完全合法，可以在邻居、朋友、熟人、亲戚之间进行枪支买卖……
无怪乎每一次枪击案后，都有无数人提出疑问，在美国购枪到底还能多简单？
Besides, the US also has the following regulations:
· Citizens can sell/buy guns online, with the private seller free from the obligation of conducting a background check of the buyer;
· If the government doesn’t issue a non-criminal record within three days, sales can go ahead without it;
· Private selling of guns is legal. Gun selling can take place between neighbors, friends and relatives;
And those are only several of the many nominal restrictions over the gun control policies in the US.
It is no wonder that every time a mass shooting happens, people lament the incredible convenience available to a criminal for acquiring firearms in the country.
美国为何不能全面实施“枪支管制”法？
Why does nothing change? Why doesn’t the US implement compre hensive ’gun control’?
根据PBS news最新的*意民**调查显示，支持控枪的人近年来一直走高，并于今年达到顶峰，无数民众正强烈呼吁政府出台全面的联邦枪支管制法，保障公民的基本人身安全。
然而，他们可能又一次要失望了。
二月佛罗里达帕克兰校园枪击案以后，特朗普政府给出的回应却是，解决方案不是减少枪支数量，而是增加——提议让教师持枪，或仅仅让孩子远离*力暴**电子游戏。
With thousands dying each year from gun-related violence and inconsistencies in regulation, the calls for effective gun control grow. But a vocal, well-funded group claims that guns are essential for protection from criminals – and an overbearing government – as well as a constitutional right.
这不禁让人疑问，平均每年几千人不幸丧生在枪口之下，美国政府却依旧不为所动，他们到底在等什么？
这里就不得不提到一个在美国影响力巨大、背景财力也雄厚的组织——美国步枪协会(NRA)。
The National Rifle Association was founded in 1871 and initially was essentially a club for hunters and sportsmen. The gun control issue was marginal in US politics until the 1970s, when the NRA first developed a lobbying arm.
美国步枪协会成立于1871年，起初只是一个狩猎和运动主题的俱乐部。后来，组织逐渐发展，并于19世纪70年代成立了游说团体，逐渐在政坛上发挥影响力。
如今，坐拥500万成员，美国步枪协会已经成为华盛顿特区最大的政治力量之一。据2016年公布的财报，协会全年总收入四亿美元，约25亿人民币。
他们的政治主张非常明确——公民合法持枪能够保卫人身安全，并且合乎宪法赋予人民的权利。并反对一切要求控枪和禁枪的政治提案。
An absolutist approach followed – oppose all attempts at gun control.
Today the NRA has a membership of five million Americans and very deep pockets－it is a powerful force in Washington, funding politicians and lobbying for and against legislation. While many Americans have a nuanced approach to gun laws, the NRA just says no to proposed controls.
为了达到自己的政治目的，美国步枪协会每年均会在游说工作和政府选举中投入大量资金。一方面，运用游说团的力量对在位政客进行幕后运作。另一方面，资助政治家参与政府工作竞选。
据统计，2017年，美国步枪协会的游说支出高达510多万美元。而在2016年大选中，美国步枪协会向86名共和*党**候选人资助了5400万美元。而特朗普总统就是其中最大的受益者。在535名现任美国国会议员中，307人在竞选中得到美国步枪协会的支持。
政治家和美国步枪协会之间已经形成了巨大的资金链。尽管死在枪口下的人数每年不断增加，但是这条资金链仍然是一切枪控努力面临的路障。
According to the nonpartisan Centre for Responsive Politics, during the 2016 general election, the NRA spent a record 54 million US dollars on 86 Republican candidates – often producing ads in support of the Republican and criticizing their Democratic opponent.
Among the 535 current members of Congress, 307 have received either direct campaign contributions from the NRA and its affiliates or benefited from independent NRA spending on advertising supporting their campaigns. It also strongly supported President Donald Trump, who was the biggest beneficiary of NRA money in 2016.
A huge benefit chain between politicians and the NRA has developed – putting a roadblock in front of gun control efforts, despite the growing death toll. The opinion polls of recent years show Americans’ willingness to have a comprehensive federal gun control law reached a peak in 2018, with millions of people “marching for their lives,” yet halted by the White House just because of this benefit chain.
Democratic country?
当无辜的年轻人丧生时，
华盛顿特区除了说“我们与遇难者同在”和祈祷，
什么也做不了。
When innocent young lives are lost,
Washington, DC can only offer thoughts and prayers,
and nothing more.