The attack at Washington's Navy Yard-英语听力

[00:00.10]From VOA Learning English, [00:09.41]this is In The News. [00:11.46]Americans are expressing anger and sadness [00:16.09]at the latest shooting incident in the United States. [00:20.47]This one took place last Monday in Washington, DC, [00:25.40]just a short distance from the Capitol building. [00:29.28]Twelve people were killed and several others wounded [00:34.77]in the attack at Washington's Navy Yard. [00:38.66]Police shot dead the gunman after a search at the base. [00:43.73]He was identified as 34-year-old Aaron Alexis, [00:49.46]a former Navy Reserve sailor. [00:52.30]At the time of the shooting, [00:54.89]he was an information technology specialist [00:58.56]with a private company that worked for the Defense Department. [01:03.94]His mental condition has become a central issue in the investigation. [01:11.16]He had recently told police that he was hearing voices. [01:16.49]Mr. Alexis was arrested in two separate shooting incidents [01:22.22]in 2004 and 2010. [01:26.77]Yet he held a security clearance, [01:30.30]which enabled him to enter a secure military area. [01:35.49]This week, many Americans were remembering the victims of the attack. [01:42.51]On Capitol Hill, lawmakers suspended debate for a few minutes. [01:49.32]Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said a few words. [01:54.01]"My thoughts are with those who are suffering [01:58.04]as a result of the loss of their loved ones [02:00.53]and also those people recovering from the wounds." [02:05.91]Senator Chris Murphy represents Connecticut, [02:09.95]where a gunman killed 26 people [02:13.28]at an elementary school in Newtown last year. [02:17.26]Since then, he has been the Senate's leading supporter of [02:21.74]gun control legislation. [02:24.74]He says the Navy Yard shootings show why stronger laws are needed. [02:31.90]"People out there do not understand why Congress does nothing [02:35.24]as these shootings continue to mount. [02:37.13]I think people in Newtown shake their heads [02:39.52]when they see another shooting [02:42.61]and further potential indifference from Congress." [02:46.93]Like Mr. Murphy, Illinois Senator Richard Durbin [02:50.66]is a member of the Democratic Party. [02:53.51]Mr. Durbin notes that gun control legislation died [02:58.99]in the Senate earlier this year. [03:01.67]He says the failure was mainly the result of Republican opposition [03:07.80]to new restrictions and requirements for gun purchases. [03:13.13]"We have to do everything we can to keep guns [03:15.47]out of the hands of those who would misuse them [03:17.83]– felons who have a history of misusing firearms, [03:20.79]the mentally unstable who cannot be trusted to have a firearm." [03:25.67]Republican lawmakers have shown little interest [03:29.60]in re-opening the gun control debate. [03:33.03]But several say the Navy Yard shootings raise other important issues. [03:40.36]Senator Lindsey Graham says the shooter never should have been cleared [03:46.43]for duty as a military contract worker. [03:49.92]"To me, it is not about gun control. [03:52.11]It is about what has happened with our contractor force. [03:55.35]How could he pass a background check to get a job [03:59.38]with the federal government after he had misused a weapon twice? [04:02.63]When you shoot a guy's tires out because you are mad at him, [04:05.56]you are a good candidate not to work for the federal government." [04:08.65]Another Republican senator, John McCain, had this to say: [04:13.34]"We also should focus our attention on people [04:16.17]who show mental instability [04:18.21]and whether they should have access to weapons or not. [04:21.45]I think all Americans are in agreement on that." [04:23.94]Congressional members say something should be done [04:27.52]to prevent attacks like the one on Monday. [04:31.10]But there is no solution acceptable to everyone. [04:35.54]And that's In The News, from VOA Learning English. [04:40.77]I'm Steve Ember.