[ti:Trump Condemns White Supremacy, Blames Mental Illness for Mass Shootings] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]American President Donald Trump on Monday condemned the weekend mass shootings in Texas and Ohio that killed 31 people and injured many others. [00:16.64]On Saturday, a gunman killed 22 people and wounded 24 others at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas. [00:28.60]Many were shopping for back-to-school clothes and supplies for their children. [00:35.92]The suspected shooter has been linked to an online document denouncing immigrants, especially the Hispanic population in Texas. [00:48.76]The U.S. Justice Department is "seriously considering" bringing federal hate crime charges against the suspect. [00:59.00]About 13 hours later, another gunman shot at a crowd in a busy nightlife area in Dayton, Ohio. [01:09.20]Nine people were killed and 16 were wounded. [01:14.32]Police killed the gunman within 30 seconds of his first shot. [01:20.88]City leaders say such fast action by police may have saved hundreds of lives. [01:28.76]Trump addressed the nation on Monday. [01:31.88]Speaking from the White House, he said, "In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy." [01:42.88]The president then blamed social media, the internet, video games, and mental health for mass killings in America. [01:53.48]Trump called for "red flag laws" that would permit the removal of firearms from people with mental health problems. [02:03.68]He said, "Mental illness and hatred pull the trigger. Not the gun." [02:10.32]The president also talked about expanding background checks for gun users. [02:17.08]Trump did not provide details or take questions from reporters. [02:24.16]Earlier in the day, Trump suggested on Twitter that Congress could tie "strong background checks" with "immigration reform" [02:35.12]for new legislation to address the violence that took place in El Paso and Dayton. [02:43.32]Trump did not explain how the two issues are connected. [02:48.88]The suspects in both shootings were white, male U.S. citizens. [02:54.80]Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination to run against Trump in the 2020 presidential election. [03:07.52]He answered Trump's tweet. He wrote, "Mr. President, immigration isn't the problem. White nationalism is the problem." [03:18.16]Biden added, "It's time to put politics aside and pass universal background checks and an assault weapons ban." [03:29.12]Another Democratic candidate, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, noted, [03:35.80]"White supremacy is not a mental illness, and guns are a tool that white supremacists use to fulfill their hate." [03:47.20]After the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Trump promised to be "very strong on background checks." [03:58.16]He also said he would stand up to the National Rifle Association, a pro-gun group, in order to stop the violence. [04:09.40]But earlier this year, Trump threatened to veto two gun-related bills passed by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. [04:21.28]Trump said the bills would not provide enough protection for gunowners' rights. [04:28.64]One bill would require federal background checks for all gun sales and transfers, including those sold online and at gun shows. [04:41.08]The other would give investigators more time to do background checks. [04:46.96]The Republican-controlled Senate has so far refused to consider the House bills. [04:54.92]Fifty-seven percent of Americans support stronger gun control laws, according to a 2018 study by the Pew Research Center. [05:06.28]I'm Ashley Thompson. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM