US gun laws flawed?

Friday's horrific shooting that left 20 children and 6 adults dead in Connecticut, revived the familiar US gun law debate, where restrictions vary widely between states. The federal government regulates "very, very little," noted Robyn Thomas, executive director of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, AFP reported.

美國康涅狄格州14日發生令人震驚的槍擊案，20名兒童和6名成人不幸喪生。據法新社報道，此案再次引發有關美國槍支法律的爭論，而美各州槍管法大相徑庭。美國防止槍支暴力組織法律中心執行主任羅賓·托馬斯表示，聯邦政府對槍支"幾乎完全疏于監管"。

[私人交易不受約束]

The Brady Law requires federal background checks on firearm purchasers in the US. It is intended to detect any potential red flags in an individual's criminal and mental health history. But 40% of arms sales are not affected by the law, because they take place between private individuals, including through websites, or at gun shows. Such sales are not regulated by the federal government.

布雷迪法案規定，在美國槍支購買者須接受聯邦背景調查。該法旨在甄別出槍支購買者有無犯罪前科或心理健康不良記錄。然而，40%的槍支交易不受此法約束，因為個人可以通過網絡、槍支展會等進行槍支交易。上述交易并不受聯邦法律管轄。

[檢查系統漏洞巨大]

The National Instant Criminal Background Check System, maintained by the FBI, has its own loopholes. The Mayors Against Illegal Guns Organization found that millions of files on people with mental health issues were not included in the database.

聯邦調查局的全國犯罪背景即時檢查系統也有漏洞。反對非法槍支市長聯盟發現，數百萬份的心理健康問題檔案并未包括進FBI的這一犯罪背景調查系統。

[各州立法難于監管]

Most laws restricting gun sales take place at the state level. And within the 50 US states, variations in gun laws can make it easier for people to evade restrictions. Thirteen states do not consult background checks compiled outside the vendors' state. Any criminal history in another state or at the federal level would thus be left out.

美國大多數限制槍支購買的法律是由各州出臺的，而50個州之間槍支法律上的差異也使得人們可以較容易地逃避法律監管。在13個州，州外購槍者無需接受背景調查，這意味著在外州的犯罪記錄或聯邦層面的犯罪記錄可以逃脫檢查。

來源：中國日報手機報

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