中新網北京8月30日電(蔣鯉)據美國媒體報道，在剛剛過去的一個周末，美國僅紐約市就發生十余起槍擊事件，多人中槍身亡。民眾反對持槍呼聲高漲，但槍支暴力依然愈演愈烈，“血腥周末”頻頻上演，拜登政府6月底簽署控槍法案難阻“子彈上膛”。

資料圖：當地時間2022年8月24日，美國芝加哥西北區一所高中附近發生槍擊事件，四名人受傷，其中一人傷勢嚴重。 圖為芝加哥警方封鎖了案發現場。 圖片來源：視覺中國

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6月下旬，美國總統拜登簽署了一項槍支管制法案，盡管美國媒體及政客渲染該法案是“幾十年來取得的重大突破”，具有“里程碑意義”，總統拜登更表示新法案將幫助“挽救生命”，但實際上，該法案并未如其所愿遏制槍支暴力，也未能回應民眾最關切的訴求。

來自美國“槍支暴力檔案”網站的統計數據顯示，新法生效后一個月的時間里，美國各類涉槍暴力事件仍頻繁發生。最新數據顯示，美國八月已經報告了超60起大規模槍擊案。

其實，結果不難預料。所謂的“控槍法案”在共和黨阻撓下內容大幅縮水，未能禁售大容量彈夾的攻擊性武器，也沒能將購槍年齡由18歲提高到21歲。

這種隔靴搔癢式的立法未能觸及根本，無法產生實際效果。相反，它更像是美國政客為了平息民怨而做出的一種敷衍的姿態。而對于拜登而言，這一法案將助力民主黨提升中期選舉的支持率，槍支管制方面的勝利將作為民主黨對其選民的宣傳要素。

另一方面，與控槍法案相比，保護持槍的法案反倒在美國層出不窮。6月23日，美聯邦最高法院推翻了紐約州限制攜槍的法律，限制州和地方政府監管槍支的能力。8月25日，美國得克薩斯州“控槍派”再受挫，一名聯邦法官裁定得州禁止18至20歲平民在公共場合攜帶手槍的法律條文違反憲法，應予廢止。

根據日內瓦高等國際關系及發展研究院發布的《全球輕武器調查》研究報告，2017年美國人口為3.26億，但民間擁有的槍支數量達到3.93億支，社會槍支嚴重過剩。

在如此龐大的數字面前，一個不痛不癢的控槍法案未免有些無力。更何況，在槍支暴力的背后，是利益集團與政客的密切聯系，是明顯的黨派對立，更是極端主義、種族主義等社會危機的爆發。

若想解決猖獗的槍支暴力問題，就必須從根源上拔除這一頑疾，凝聚共識，著力消除社會頑疾，而不是“槍口對外”，依舊打著“民主人權”的旗號干涉他國。否則，美國人民只會日復一日深陷槍支暴力的恐懼之中，而槍支暴力則迫使人們購買更多的槍支，由此產生的惡性循環只會讓每一個普通人為此付出更大的代價。

"Discounted" gun control bill fails to curb U.S. gun violence

(ECNS) -- U.S. media reported that more than 10 people were shot and several died in nearly a dozen gun-related incidents across New York City over the last weekend.

Amid increasing calls for a ban, the frequency of violent incidents has proven the limited effectiveness of the gun control bill signed into law by President Joe Biden in late June.

U.S. media and politicians both bragged the bill is "a breakthrough" while Biden said it would help "save lives," but it has failed to curb gun violence and related concerns.

Data from Gun Violence Archive shows related violence remains frequent a month after the gun control bill came into force. The latest data recorded over 60 mass shootings in August in the U.S.

The result is not unexpected, with the so-called gun control bill neither banning the sale of large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, nor raising the age for buying a semiautomatic rifle to 21 nationwide under Republican pressure.

This bill fails to address the root of gun violence, serving as a mere perfunctory gesture made by American politicians to appease public grievance. As for Biden, the bill could help the Democratic Party win more support from voters during mid-term elections in November.

Compared with the gun control bill, those protecting guns in the country seem easier to pass. For example, on June 23, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the New York handgun law that placed strict restrictions on firearms outside the home, while on Aug. 25, a federal judge ruled that a Texas law banning people aged 18 to 20 from carrying handguns in public is unconstitutional.

U.S. gun owners possess 393.3 million weapons, according to a 2018 report by Small Arms Survey, a Geneva-based organization, which exceeds the country’s population of about 330 million.

The gun trade further indicates the close connection between interest groups and politicians, opposition between parties, and social crises including extremism and racism.

The U.S. must root out the stubborn disease of gun violence from within, or its civilians will only be mired in fear, forcing many to invest in more arms. Such a vicious circle will only make ordinary citizens pay a higher price.