Gun Rights in the US Immediately after the shooting at Virginia Tech University, Americans

Gun Rights in the US

Immediately after the shooting at Virginia Tech University, Americans gathered to mourn the dead. The president and the state governor both hurried there to share the 51 . But the majority of Americans still cling to their right to 52weapons.

Strictly speaking, the US is not the only country 53 gun violence has destroyed lives, families and communities in everyday circumstance. But the US is one of the 54 countries that seems unwilling and politically incapable of doing anything serious to stop it.

In countries like Britain and Canada, the government adopted stricter 55 control soon after serious gun violence incidents. US leaders, however, are held 56 by the gun lobby and the electoral system.

The powerful National Rifle Association, the major supporter of gun 57 in the US, is too strong for any party to take on. Most Republicans oppose gun controls anyway. 58 the years, the Democrats have found that they can either campaign for gun control or win power, not __59; they prefer power.

According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics, firearm incidents accounted 60 nine percent of the 4.7 million violent crimes in 2005. So, although opinion polls show most Americans want stricter gun laws, many don't want to give up their arms they 61 to protect themselves.

Dave Hancock, a Virginia gun lover, is one example. In an interview he said. "If one professor in Virginia incident had been carrying a legal weapon they might have been able to 62 all this." In his opinion, the massacre is an argument for more people to carry weapons, not fewer.

But at the root of Americans' clinging to the right to bear arms is not just a fear of crime, but a mistrust of 63 , commented UK's Guardian newspaper.

One Virginia resident, who had a permit to carry a concealed firearm, told the Guardian that it was 64 American's responsibility to have a gun.

"Each person," he said, "should not rely solely 65 the government for protection."

51__

A) ceremony B) funeral C) tears D) grief