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On Jan. 16th， 2013， President Obama laid out his measures to curb gun violence， including 23 administrative orders and gun control plans which would be submitted to the Congress in a well-planned public relations event in the White House. Standing behind him were four schoolchildren who had written letters to President Obama to make changes in gun controls after the Connecticut massacre. Many victims’ family members also attended the event. Many see the event as an initiative of the Obama administration to tighter “gun control”. However， many people， including President Obama himself， admitted that the gun control plan would be hard to get passed in the Congress…
2013年1月16日，一场精心策划的公关攻势在美国总统府所在地——白宫上演，总统贝拉克·奥巴马在此次白宫活动中发布了一系列政府遏制枪支暴力的建议，其中包括23项行政命令和交由国会商议的控枪方案。站在其身后的是康州校园枪击案发生后曾向总统致信要求控枪的四名小学生，参加活动的还包括多名康州校园惨案中受害者的家属成员。此场面引发媒体及公众纷纷议论，认为奥巴马总统将在其第二任期内为“枪改”做出一些表现。但是大多数人包括奥巴马总统本人又不得不承认，上述建议的通过将面临艰难挑战……
Aheavily armed gunman opened fire inside the Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec 14th 2012， killing 27 people including 20 children aged between 5 and 7 years. This appears to be one of the deadliest mass shootings in the U.S. history. The gun rampage shocked the U.S. and the whole world， because the campus security is at stake and most victims were schoolchildren. It certainly will revive the debate on gun control in the US.
Actually， gun rampages have happened many times in the U.S. In 2012 alone， the American flag are flown at half-mast for the fatalities of mass shootings twice. 12 victims， mostly young children， were shot dead at the “The Dark Knight Rises” premiere on July 20th 2012. Another was the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. According to the data， there are roughly 300 million firearms owned by civilians for a population of 311 million in the US. More than 30 thousand people are killed by guns every year and another 200 thousands are wounded. More people have died since 1960s from gun incidents than died in every war in the US history. As the “Murphy’s Law”， if anythingcan go wrong， it will.
纽敦是美国东北部康涅狄格州一座宁静的小镇，2012年12月14日这天，镇上的人们正在为即将到来的圣诞节做着忙碌的准备，突然阵阵刺耳的枪声划破了桑迪胡克小学上空，也打破了小镇原本的祥和安静。一名枪手在杀死自己母亲之后，带着三支枪直奔母亲工作过的桑迪胡克小学，残忍地枪杀了27人，其中包括20名年龄集中在5至7岁的儿童，成为美国历史上死伤最惨重的校园枪击案之一。该惨案由于涉及敏感的校园安全问题，而且死伤者多为幼小儿童，发生后瞬间震动了整个美国，也震动了全世界，同时也使美国有关枪支管制的争论再次被推向风口浪尖。
实际上，近些年美国枪击案一直未间断，光是2012年，美国就为枪击案死者降了两次国旗：一次是7月20日科罗拉多州丹佛《蝙蝠侠前传3》的首映式现场发生的枪击案，12名死者中多数为青少年；另一次就是12月14日的康涅狄格州小学枪击案。有统计数据表明，人口3亿的美国民间拥有3.1亿多支枪支，每年死于枪口下的人高达3万多，20万人因枪支暴力受伤。上世纪60年代以来，美国已经有百万人死于枪击。因此，有评论说道，美国枪击案，就如“墨菲定律”中所下的诅咒一样，不管可能性有多小，该发生的就总会发生。 Appealing to Control
呼吁管控
Each shooting rampage in the US would trigger renewed debates over its guns laws， but debates mostly were on the gun control rather than the gun prohibition， as the gun ownership rights are guaranteed in the US constitution. The Connecticut tragedy sparked a furious gun-control debate in the public. Some gun control supporters have urged President Obama and the Democratic Party to change their attitudes after years of inaction toward gun control.
In a Washington Post-ABC News poll， 52% respondents support gun control； 58% support reinstatement of the Assault Weapons Ban which expired in 2004； 71% favor creating a database to track gun sale； 65% support the prohibition of high-capacity magazine and 51% support a ban on semi-automatic pistols. The latest poll conducted by Gallup， a polling agency， on Dec. 14th， 2012， showed that 38% of Americans are dissatisfied with current gun laws and want stricter laws， a 13% increase from last year.
Colin Goddard， a survivor of shooting accident of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University， is an advocate for reviving the expired Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. Hearing the tragedy of Sandy Hook Elementary School， he “crashed in the chair” and “did not understand why the decision makers thought the crucial reality could not be changed.” Goddard said to reporter from Microsoft National Broadcasting Company： “Most people would not stay in such a nation and see such tragedies happen again.”
On the night of Dec.14， 2012， the day of the tragedy， about 200 citizens with candles and slogans such as “Too Many Guns” and “Remove the Weapons” gathered in front of the White House to appeal gun control. Anna Auermann， a mom from Silver Spring， Maryland， took her five-year-old son Hugo to the assembly. “I must do something，” she said.
Some supporters of gun control suggested online that the concept of “gun control” should be substituted by the “slaughter prevention”； all gun sales should be monitored and all illegal gun sales should be severely punished.
每每有枪击惨案发生，都会出现关于枪支的大讨论，但是鉴于宪法对公民持枪的保护，这种讨论基本上是指是否应当加强枪支管控，而不是指是否应当禁枪。在美国康州校园惨剧发生后，美国社会各界对于枪支管控问题的争议又一次甚嚣尘上。美国当地一些枪支管控支持者再次施压总统巴拉克·奥巴马和民主党，试图让他们转变多年来谨慎对待枪支管控议题的态度。
《华盛顿邮报》和美国广播公司网联合作民调，显示52%的调查对象支持控枪，58%支持重启2004年到期后失效的攻击性枪支销售禁令。71%的调查对象支持建立数据库，跟踪所有枪支销售记录；65%支持禁售大容量弹匣；51%支持禁售半自动手枪。民调机构盖洛普咨询公司2012年12月14日发布最新民调结果，显示38%的美国人对现有枪支法不满，支持更严厉的控枪方案，这一数字一年前为13%。
2007年弗吉尼亚理工大学枪击案的幸存者科林·戈达德是“反对枪支暴力布雷迪行动”的一名成员。在看到桑迪胡克小学枪击案新闻后，他“瘫坐在椅子上”，“不清楚为什么我们的决策者们认定这件事没法改变。”戈达德向一名微软全国广播公司的记者无奈地说道：“绝大多数人不想生活在这样的国家，不想看到这样的事情继续发生。” 2012年12月14日枪击案发生当天的夜晚，大约200名民众自发在白宫外集会，手持蜡烛和写有“枪太多了”、“解除武器”字样的标语，呼吁管控枪支。安娜·奥曼来自马里兰州银泉市，带着5岁的儿子雨果参加集会。她说：“我必须做些事情。”
一些枪支管控支持者甚至在社交网站上建议：把“枪支管控”这一表述改为“防止屠杀”；应当检查所有枪支交易的背景；应推动关联枪支交易的立法，以严厉惩处非法交易。
Have Faith in President
寄望总统
President Obama spoke at a midday news conference after the Connecticut tragedy. he paused and wiped his tears several times. “We've endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years，" said Obama. "Each time I learn the news I react not as a president， but as anybody else would -- as a parent. And that was especially true today. This evening， Michelle and I will do what I know every parent in America will do， which is hug our children a little tighter， and we’ll tell them that we love them， and we’ll remind each other how deeply we love one another . But there are families in Connecticut who cannot do that tonight， and they need all of us right now.” He also said： “we are going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this， regardless of the politics.”
However， due to the deep-rooted firearm culture， both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party have always avoided touching this hot potato --- gun control. President Obama’s “take meaningful action” seemed hollow to analysts since it did not mention legislation. As all sides waited， President Obama outlined his plan including 23 executive orders to curb the gun violence. These orders cover law， education， health and scientific research and would be brought before the Congress. These gun control plans were led by the Vice President Biden who is a keen supporter of gun control and led a series of gun control campaigns in the U.S. Senate 20 years ago， leading to the 10 years ban on the sale of semi-automatic rifles and the background checks on all gun buyers.
Obama’s gun control package was issued on Jan.16， including executive orders and legislation. Executive orders include： stricter action against people who lie on gun sale background checks， requiring federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system， research the causes and prevention of gun violence， requiring federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.， review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes and launching a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.
In the legislation level， Obama plans to tighter gun sales control and to a lunch a universal background checks on anyone trying to buy gun in order to prevent unsuitable people from owning firearms. Therefore， President Obama called on lawmakers to pass some specific proposals like restoring the ban on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines as well as conducting background checks on all gun buyers. It can be seen that what the executive orders can do is limited and the legislation made by the Congress would be more effective.
康州校园惨案发生的当日下午，美国总统奥巴马立即就此事发表了讲话，中途几度哽咽，数度拭泪，他说：“在过去几年，我们承受了太多这样的悲剧。每次听到这样的消息，我的反应不只是作为总统会有的，也是每个作为家长的人都会有的反应，在今天尤其如此。今晚，每个美国家长都会将自己的孩子抱得更紧一些，而康涅狄格州的受害者家庭却再也无法做这件事情。”他表示，无论政治怎么样，美国必须采取有意义的措施，防止类似这样的枪击案再次发生，避免更多悲剧。
不过鉴于美国根深蒂固的枪械文化，不论是民主党还是共和党，一向都不愿意主动去碰枪支这个烫手山芋，此次奥巴马总统所说的“做一点有意义的事”，由于避开了立法话题，使得分析人士认为此番言论与姿态未免显得空洞。在各方的观望中，总统奥巴马于2013年1月16日在白宫发布了一系列政府遏制枪支暴力的建议，其中包括23项行政命令和交由国会商议的控枪方案，内容涵盖法律、教育、健康和科研。此“枪改”方案，由副总统拜登牵头出台，拜登是枪支管控的坚决拥护者，大约20年前，他就在美国参议院领导一次重大的控枪行动，导致某种半自动枪支被禁售10年，购枪者还要接受背景审查。
从政府职权上看，总统奥巴马1月16日公布的“枪改”，由两大部分组成：由总统拥有的行政权力下可以马上付诸实施的“枪改”，和总统所不拥有但可以敦促国会予以审议并决定是否通过的控枪法案。行政权力资源范畴下的“枪改”主要内容有：重惩接受购枪背景检查时撒谎的人、要求联邦机构向背景检查系统提供相关数据、放松对枪支暴力联邦研究项目的限制、要求联邦执法机构追踪在犯罪调查中找到的枪支、为学校使用联邦拨款改善安保、在基层社区开展防止枪支落入不应持枪者手中的活动等。
而由国会控制的立法资源范畴下的“枪改”，则分为两个层次，一是控制枪支贸易，二是防止大杀伤武器落入不该持枪的人手中。为此，奥巴马总统呼吁国会采取行动，禁止攻击性枪支与大容量弹夹销售，并对所有购枪者实施背景检查。
由此可见，总统奥巴马的“枪改”方案，在总统行政资源下能做的事也只是修修补补，最大的举措还得寄望于国会的立法行动。
Great Contrast
两极分化
New York State was the first to respond to President Obama’s initiative of gun control. Just two days before the release of Obama’s gun control plans， New York state senate passed the NY Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement （SAFE） with a 43 to 18 vote， becoming “The First Gun Control State”.
Andrew Mark Cuomo， governor of NY State told the senator before the vote： “People from NY are badly in need of help to deal with gun violence. I believe （the new enforcement） will get sound effects.” According to the new legislation， ammunition magazines will be restricted to seven bullets， from the current 10； all gun buyers will be subject to background checks； all assault weapons are required a police registry.
In California， a Gun Buyback Program has become more effective since President Obama promised to implement a stricter gun control plan. Police in San Francisco and Oakland have bought back hundreds of guns with cash， much more than before. According to the police spokesperson， each gun can be exchanged for 200 dollars. The buy-back guns include pistols， rifles， shotguns and long-barreled guns with bayonet.
However， not all states have responded positively. Sates like Mississippi， Texas， Wyoming， Oregon and Kentucky are opposed to new federal gun control proposals. Majority of the people including police officers and governors in those states are not in favor of gun control plan. Some governors claim that even if the plan was enacted by the Federal law， their states would not carry it out. The biggest objection to gun control plan comes from Illinois， President Obama’s home state. Illinois Senators drafted a gun control proposal similar to the Obama’s plan， however， it was denied in the state council which democrats have the majority control. The denial unveiled that President Obama has difficulty to convince both Republicans and Democrats to support his plan on gun control.
Another phenomenon after the shooting is a sharp increase in the number of people buying guns. According to the relevant data， the number of people bought guns rose strikingly after shootings happened in Columbine High School， Colorado in 1999， and in Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2007 respectively. Some media said it was just like “summer comes after spring”， becoming a regular pattern.
Dick Rutan， the manager of a training institution “Gunner’s Home” in Arvada， Colorado， said the weekend after the cinema shooting accident， much more people came to his institution to train for the arm license， and he earned twice of his usual income consequently.
Hay Wallace， the manager of “Outdoor Adventure” in Georgia State said each time after shooting accidents， people predicted that new gun control plan would be issued， so there would be upsurge of selling and buying guns. Some citizens are afraid not able to buy guns henceforth so they purchase in terror.
Due to the Congress’ late decision whether to pass gun control plans or not and different responses of U.S. citizens， some people who are familiar with American culture and society indicate that the new gun control plan will possibly not enforce. Gun control is still a difficult task to accomplish.
对于总统的身先士卒，纽约州率先响应，在奥巴马总统公布控枪方案之前两天，纽约州参议院以43票赞成、18票反对的结果通过《纽约州安全弹药和枪支执行法》法案，纽约州成了“控枪第一州”。
纽约州州长安德鲁·科莫在投票前告诉议员：“这个州的民众急需得到帮助以应对枪支暴力，我认为（新法案）可以达到这个效果。”纽约州控枪法案要求把可售弹夹的子弹容量上限，从10发下调至7发，调查所有购枪者背景，同时要求警方强制对攻击性武器备案。
在加利福尼亚州，一项开展了数年的回购枪支项目，随着总统奥巴马承诺实施更严厉的控枪政策，也变得卓有成效起来。加州的旧金山和奥克兰警察局以现金回购了数百支各类枪械，远多于以往。奥克兰警方发言人称，民众交回枪支，每支可换现金200美元。回购枪械包括手枪、步枪、霰弹枪以及带刺刀的长枪等。
不过，并非所有的州都给予了积极回应，另一些州如密西西比、得克萨斯、怀俄明、俄勒冈及肯塔基等，则对奥巴马的“枪改”态度表现不佳。从州长到警官，普遍反对奥巴马的控枪计划，同时认为即使联邦法律通过控枪，此政策也不可能会实施到他们州里。
对“枪改”方案最大的打击，来自于奥巴马总统的家乡州——伊利诺伊州。伊利诺伊州议员起草了一份类似于奥巴马“枪改”的议案，却在州议会审议中遭到挫败，导致该法案甚至连表决的机会都没有。伊利诺伊州议会由民主党所控制，这一挫败代表着奥巴马不仅在说服共和党人接受“枪改”上困难重重，也代表着奥巴马在说服本党民主党人方面，一样困难重重。
另一种出现在恶性枪击案后的现象则是，枪击案后买枪者的激增。据相关资料显示，1999年科罗拉多州的科伦拜恩中学枪击案后买枪者数量显著上升，2007年弗吉尼亚理工学院枪击案后也是如此。有美国媒体评论道这简直就和“春天之后夏天必然来临”一样，已经成为一种规律。
迪克·鲁坦是科罗拉多州阿瓦达市一个名为“枪手之居”培训机构的老板。据他讲述，影院枪击案之后的那个周末，要求到他机构培训以拿到携带隐藏武器持枪证的人大量增加，他的收入也因此翻了一番。
佐治亚州斯米尔纳市枪店“户外冒险”老板杰伊·华莱士也表示，每次枪击惨案后，人们预感到会有“枪改”出台，反倒兴起售枪、购枪热，部分民众恐慌性购枪，就是怕今后难买到。
鉴于国会对控枪方案的迟而不决以及民众的不同反应，一些对美国文化和社会有所了解的人，都纷纷表示此次枪改极有可能再度沦为“纸上谈兵”，在美国，严管枪支难度仍然不减。
2013年1月16日，一场精心策划的公关攻势在美国总统府所在地——白宫上演，总统贝拉克·奥巴马在此次白宫活动中发布了一系列政府遏制枪支暴力的建议，其中包括23项行政命令和交由国会商议的控枪方案。站在其身后的是康州校园枪击案发生后曾向总统致信要求控枪的四名小学生，参加活动的还包括多名康州校园惨案中受害者的家属成员。此场面引发媒体及公众纷纷议论，认为奥巴马总统将在其第二任期内为“枪改”做出一些表现。但是大多数人包括奥巴马总统本人又不得不承认，上述建议的通过将面临艰难挑战……
Aheavily armed gunman opened fire inside the Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec 14th 2012， killing 27 people including 20 children aged between 5 and 7 years. This appears to be one of the deadliest mass shootings in the U.S. history. The gun rampage shocked the U.S. and the whole world， because the campus security is at stake and most victims were schoolchildren. It certainly will revive the debate on gun control in the US.
Actually， gun rampages have happened many times in the U.S. In 2012 alone， the American flag are flown at half-mast for the fatalities of mass shootings twice. 12 victims， mostly young children， were shot dead at the “The Dark Knight Rises” premiere on July 20th 2012. Another was the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. According to the data， there are roughly 300 million firearms owned by civilians for a population of 311 million in the US. More than 30 thousand people are killed by guns every year and another 200 thousands are wounded. More people have died since 1960s from gun incidents than died in every war in the US history. As the “Murphy’s Law”， if anythingcan go wrong， it will.
纽敦是美国东北部康涅狄格州一座宁静的小镇，2012年12月14日这天，镇上的人们正在为即将到来的圣诞节做着忙碌的准备，突然阵阵刺耳的枪声划破了桑迪胡克小学上空，也打破了小镇原本的祥和安静。一名枪手在杀死自己母亲之后，带着三支枪直奔母亲工作过的桑迪胡克小学，残忍地枪杀了27人，其中包括20名年龄集中在5至7岁的儿童，成为美国历史上死伤最惨重的校园枪击案之一。该惨案由于涉及敏感的校园安全问题，而且死伤者多为幼小儿童，发生后瞬间震动了整个美国，也震动了全世界，同时也使美国有关枪支管制的争论再次被推向风口浪尖。
实际上，近些年美国枪击案一直未间断，光是2012年，美国就为枪击案死者降了两次国旗：一次是7月20日科罗拉多州丹佛《蝙蝠侠前传3》的首映式现场发生的枪击案，12名死者中多数为青少年；另一次就是12月14日的康涅狄格州小学枪击案。有统计数据表明，人口3亿的美国民间拥有3.1亿多支枪支，每年死于枪口下的人高达3万多，20万人因枪支暴力受伤。上世纪60年代以来，美国已经有百万人死于枪击。因此，有评论说道，美国枪击案，就如“墨菲定律”中所下的诅咒一样，不管可能性有多小，该发生的就总会发生。 Appealing to Control
呼吁管控
Each shooting rampage in the US would trigger renewed debates over its guns laws， but debates mostly were on the gun control rather than the gun prohibition， as the gun ownership rights are guaranteed in the US constitution. The Connecticut tragedy sparked a furious gun-control debate in the public. Some gun control supporters have urged President Obama and the Democratic Party to change their attitudes after years of inaction toward gun control.
In a Washington Post-ABC News poll， 52% respondents support gun control； 58% support reinstatement of the Assault Weapons Ban which expired in 2004； 71% favor creating a database to track gun sale； 65% support the prohibition of high-capacity magazine and 51% support a ban on semi-automatic pistols. The latest poll conducted by Gallup， a polling agency， on Dec. 14th， 2012， showed that 38% of Americans are dissatisfied with current gun laws and want stricter laws， a 13% increase from last year.
Colin Goddard， a survivor of shooting accident of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University， is an advocate for reviving the expired Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. Hearing the tragedy of Sandy Hook Elementary School， he “crashed in the chair” and “did not understand why the decision makers thought the crucial reality could not be changed.” Goddard said to reporter from Microsoft National Broadcasting Company： “Most people would not stay in such a nation and see such tragedies happen again.”
On the night of Dec.14， 2012， the day of the tragedy， about 200 citizens with candles and slogans such as “Too Many Guns” and “Remove the Weapons” gathered in front of the White House to appeal gun control. Anna Auermann， a mom from Silver Spring， Maryland， took her five-year-old son Hugo to the assembly. “I must do something，” she said.
Some supporters of gun control suggested online that the concept of “gun control” should be substituted by the “slaughter prevention”； all gun sales should be monitored and all illegal gun sales should be severely punished.
每每有枪击惨案发生，都会出现关于枪支的大讨论，但是鉴于宪法对公民持枪的保护，这种讨论基本上是指是否应当加强枪支管控，而不是指是否应当禁枪。在美国康州校园惨剧发生后，美国社会各界对于枪支管控问题的争议又一次甚嚣尘上。美国当地一些枪支管控支持者再次施压总统巴拉克·奥巴马和民主党，试图让他们转变多年来谨慎对待枪支管控议题的态度。
《华盛顿邮报》和美国广播公司网联合作民调，显示52%的调查对象支持控枪，58%支持重启2004年到期后失效的攻击性枪支销售禁令。71%的调查对象支持建立数据库，跟踪所有枪支销售记录；65%支持禁售大容量弹匣；51%支持禁售半自动手枪。民调机构盖洛普咨询公司2012年12月14日发布最新民调结果，显示38%的美国人对现有枪支法不满，支持更严厉的控枪方案，这一数字一年前为13%。
2007年弗吉尼亚理工大学枪击案的幸存者科林·戈达德是“反对枪支暴力布雷迪行动”的一名成员。在看到桑迪胡克小学枪击案新闻后，他“瘫坐在椅子上”，“不清楚为什么我们的决策者们认定这件事没法改变。”戈达德向一名微软全国广播公司的记者无奈地说道：“绝大多数人不想生活在这样的国家，不想看到这样的事情继续发生。” 2012年12月14日枪击案发生当天的夜晚，大约200名民众自发在白宫外集会，手持蜡烛和写有“枪太多了”、“解除武器”字样的标语，呼吁管控枪支。安娜·奥曼来自马里兰州银泉市，带着5岁的儿子雨果参加集会。她说：“我必须做些事情。”
一些枪支管控支持者甚至在社交网站上建议：把“枪支管控”这一表述改为“防止屠杀”；应当检查所有枪支交易的背景；应推动关联枪支交易的立法，以严厉惩处非法交易。
Have Faith in President
寄望总统
President Obama spoke at a midday news conference after the Connecticut tragedy. he paused and wiped his tears several times. “We've endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years，" said Obama. "Each time I learn the news I react not as a president， but as anybody else would -- as a parent. And that was especially true today. This evening， Michelle and I will do what I know every parent in America will do， which is hug our children a little tighter， and we’ll tell them that we love them， and we’ll remind each other how deeply we love one another . But there are families in Connecticut who cannot do that tonight， and they need all of us right now.” He also said： “we are going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this， regardless of the politics.”
However， due to the deep-rooted firearm culture， both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party have always avoided touching this hot potato --- gun control. President Obama’s “take meaningful action” seemed hollow to analysts since it did not mention legislation. As all sides waited， President Obama outlined his plan including 23 executive orders to curb the gun violence. These orders cover law， education， health and scientific research and would be brought before the Congress. These gun control plans were led by the Vice President Biden who is a keen supporter of gun control and led a series of gun control campaigns in the U.S. Senate 20 years ago， leading to the 10 years ban on the sale of semi-automatic rifles and the background checks on all gun buyers.
Obama’s gun control package was issued on Jan.16， including executive orders and legislation. Executive orders include： stricter action against people who lie on gun sale background checks， requiring federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system， research the causes and prevention of gun violence， requiring federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.， review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes and launching a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.
In the legislation level， Obama plans to tighter gun sales control and to a lunch a universal background checks on anyone trying to buy gun in order to prevent unsuitable people from owning firearms. Therefore， President Obama called on lawmakers to pass some specific proposals like restoring the ban on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines as well as conducting background checks on all gun buyers. It can be seen that what the executive orders can do is limited and the legislation made by the Congress would be more effective.
康州校园惨案发生的当日下午，美国总统奥巴马立即就此事发表了讲话，中途几度哽咽，数度拭泪，他说：“在过去几年，我们承受了太多这样的悲剧。每次听到这样的消息，我的反应不只是作为总统会有的，也是每个作为家长的人都会有的反应，在今天尤其如此。今晚，每个美国家长都会将自己的孩子抱得更紧一些，而康涅狄格州的受害者家庭却再也无法做这件事情。”他表示，无论政治怎么样，美国必须采取有意义的措施，防止类似这样的枪击案再次发生，避免更多悲剧。
不过鉴于美国根深蒂固的枪械文化，不论是民主党还是共和党，一向都不愿意主动去碰枪支这个烫手山芋，此次奥巴马总统所说的“做一点有意义的事”，由于避开了立法话题，使得分析人士认为此番言论与姿态未免显得空洞。在各方的观望中，总统奥巴马于2013年1月16日在白宫发布了一系列政府遏制枪支暴力的建议，其中包括23项行政命令和交由国会商议的控枪方案，内容涵盖法律、教育、健康和科研。此“枪改”方案，由副总统拜登牵头出台，拜登是枪支管控的坚决拥护者，大约20年前，他就在美国参议院领导一次重大的控枪行动，导致某种半自动枪支被禁售10年，购枪者还要接受背景审查。
从政府职权上看，总统奥巴马1月16日公布的“枪改”，由两大部分组成：由总统拥有的行政权力下可以马上付诸实施的“枪改”，和总统所不拥有但可以敦促国会予以审议并决定是否通过的控枪法案。行政权力资源范畴下的“枪改”主要内容有：重惩接受购枪背景检查时撒谎的人、要求联邦机构向背景检查系统提供相关数据、放松对枪支暴力联邦研究项目的限制、要求联邦执法机构追踪在犯罪调查中找到的枪支、为学校使用联邦拨款改善安保、在基层社区开展防止枪支落入不应持枪者手中的活动等。
而由国会控制的立法资源范畴下的“枪改”，则分为两个层次，一是控制枪支贸易，二是防止大杀伤武器落入不该持枪的人手中。为此，奥巴马总统呼吁国会采取行动，禁止攻击性枪支与大容量弹夹销售，并对所有购枪者实施背景检查。
由此可见，总统奥巴马的“枪改”方案，在总统行政资源下能做的事也只是修修补补，最大的举措还得寄望于国会的立法行动。
Great Contrast
两极分化
New York State was the first to respond to President Obama’s initiative of gun control. Just two days before the release of Obama’s gun control plans， New York state senate passed the NY Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement （SAFE） with a 43 to 18 vote， becoming “The First Gun Control State”.
Andrew Mark Cuomo， governor of NY State told the senator before the vote： “People from NY are badly in need of help to deal with gun violence. I believe （the new enforcement） will get sound effects.” According to the new legislation， ammunition magazines will be restricted to seven bullets， from the current 10； all gun buyers will be subject to background checks； all assault weapons are required a police registry.
In California， a Gun Buyback Program has become more effective since President Obama promised to implement a stricter gun control plan. Police in San Francisco and Oakland have bought back hundreds of guns with cash， much more than before. According to the police spokesperson， each gun can be exchanged for 200 dollars. The buy-back guns include pistols， rifles， shotguns and long-barreled guns with bayonet.
However， not all states have responded positively. Sates like Mississippi， Texas， Wyoming， Oregon and Kentucky are opposed to new federal gun control proposals. Majority of the people including police officers and governors in those states are not in favor of gun control plan. Some governors claim that even if the plan was enacted by the Federal law， their states would not carry it out. The biggest objection to gun control plan comes from Illinois， President Obama’s home state. Illinois Senators drafted a gun control proposal similar to the Obama’s plan， however， it was denied in the state council which democrats have the majority control. The denial unveiled that President Obama has difficulty to convince both Republicans and Democrats to support his plan on gun control.
Another phenomenon after the shooting is a sharp increase in the number of people buying guns. According to the relevant data， the number of people bought guns rose strikingly after shootings happened in Columbine High School， Colorado in 1999， and in Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2007 respectively. Some media said it was just like “summer comes after spring”， becoming a regular pattern.
Dick Rutan， the manager of a training institution “Gunner’s Home” in Arvada， Colorado， said the weekend after the cinema shooting accident， much more people came to his institution to train for the arm license， and he earned twice of his usual income consequently.
Hay Wallace， the manager of “Outdoor Adventure” in Georgia State said each time after shooting accidents， people predicted that new gun control plan would be issued， so there would be upsurge of selling and buying guns. Some citizens are afraid not able to buy guns henceforth so they purchase in terror.
Due to the Congress’ late decision whether to pass gun control plans or not and different responses of U.S. citizens， some people who are familiar with American culture and society indicate that the new gun control plan will possibly not enforce. Gun control is still a difficult task to accomplish.
对于总统的身先士卒，纽约州率先响应，在奥巴马总统公布控枪方案之前两天，纽约州参议院以43票赞成、18票反对的结果通过《纽约州安全弹药和枪支执行法》法案，纽约州成了“控枪第一州”。
纽约州州长安德鲁·科莫在投票前告诉议员：“这个州的民众急需得到帮助以应对枪支暴力，我认为（新法案）可以达到这个效果。”纽约州控枪法案要求把可售弹夹的子弹容量上限，从10发下调至7发，调查所有购枪者背景，同时要求警方强制对攻击性武器备案。
在加利福尼亚州，一项开展了数年的回购枪支项目，随着总统奥巴马承诺实施更严厉的控枪政策，也变得卓有成效起来。加州的旧金山和奥克兰警察局以现金回购了数百支各类枪械，远多于以往。奥克兰警方发言人称，民众交回枪支，每支可换现金200美元。回购枪械包括手枪、步枪、霰弹枪以及带刺刀的长枪等。
不过，并非所有的州都给予了积极回应，另一些州如密西西比、得克萨斯、怀俄明、俄勒冈及肯塔基等，则对奥巴马的“枪改”态度表现不佳。从州长到警官，普遍反对奥巴马的控枪计划，同时认为即使联邦法律通过控枪，此政策也不可能会实施到他们州里。
对“枪改”方案最大的打击，来自于奥巴马总统的家乡州——伊利诺伊州。伊利诺伊州议员起草了一份类似于奥巴马“枪改”的议案，却在州议会审议中遭到挫败，导致该法案甚至连表决的机会都没有。伊利诺伊州议会由民主党所控制，这一挫败代表着奥巴马不仅在说服共和党人接受“枪改”上困难重重，也代表着奥巴马在说服本党民主党人方面，一样困难重重。
另一种出现在恶性枪击案后的现象则是，枪击案后买枪者的激增。据相关资料显示，1999年科罗拉多州的科伦拜恩中学枪击案后买枪者数量显著上升，2007年弗吉尼亚理工学院枪击案后也是如此。有美国媒体评论道这简直就和“春天之后夏天必然来临”一样，已经成为一种规律。
迪克·鲁坦是科罗拉多州阿瓦达市一个名为“枪手之居”培训机构的老板。据他讲述，影院枪击案之后的那个周末，要求到他机构培训以拿到携带隐藏武器持枪证的人大量增加，他的收入也因此翻了一番。
佐治亚州斯米尔纳市枪店“户外冒险”老板杰伊·华莱士也表示，每次枪击惨案后，人们预感到会有“枪改”出台，反倒兴起售枪、购枪热，部分民众恐慌性购枪，就是怕今后难买到。
鉴于国会对控枪方案的迟而不决以及民众的不同反应，一些对美国文化和社会有所了解的人，都纷纷表示此次枪改极有可能再度沦为“纸上谈兵”，在美国，严管枪支难度仍然不减。