Obama pledge to protect US kids

(The Standard P.12  18 Dec 2012) US President Barack Obama vowed(發誓) to battle gun violence (打擊槍擊暴力行為), casting the fight as a nation's duty (國家的職責) to protect its young.

Speaking at a vigil for victims of the school massacre (大屠殺) at Newton, Connecticut, Obama pledged (誓言) to use all his power to stop such gun massacres, saying "these tragedies(悲劇性事件) must end."

Adam Lanza, 20, unleashed terror at the Sandy Hook Elementary School with an assault rifle(來福槍/步槍) on Friday. Victims included 20 six- and seven-year-olds. The first two funerals were held yesterday, with more scheduled throughout t(遍佈) he week.

Six-year-old Noah Pozner was buried (安葬) at the B'Nai Israel Cemetery(以色列墓地), while Jack Pinto, also six, was buried in the Newtown Village Cemetery.

The other victims of the shooting included six teachers and support staff at the school, as well as the gunman's mother and the gunman himself.

Obama, (called for)需要 the fourth time in his presidency to eulogize(頌揚) the dead of a mass gun crime, did not cast the problem as a fight(爭論/戰鬥) against the entrenched (根深蒂固的) gun lobby (槍械遊說團), which wields (行使) substantial (大量的) power in Congress (美國國會). But he suggested the argument should be built more on the need to protect, innocent (無辜的), defenseless (不能自衛的) children.

"Can we say that we're truly (真正地) doing enough to give all the children of this country the chance they deserve (該得) to live out their lives in happiness and with purpose?" he implored(懇求), as candles burned by his podium(講臺) to remember the victims.

"I've been reflecting on this the last few days, and if we're honest with ourselves, the answer is no. We're not doing enough and we will have to change."

Heart-rending sobs (傷心的啜泣) broke the silence as Obama slowly read the names of the children whose lives were taken and the adults who died trying to protect them.

"We can't tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end, and to end them we must change," the president said.

The gun lobby, led by the National Rifle Association (國家步槍協會), argues that crazy people do crazy things and clamping down on American liberties will achieve nothing.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE