President Obama on the Tragic Shooting in Orlando

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Today, as Americans, we grieve[1] the brutal murder[野蛮杀害/残忍谋杀] -- a horrific massacre[2] -- of dozens of innocent people. We pray for their families, who are grasping for answers with broken hearts. We stand with the people of Orlando, who have endured a terrible attack on their city. Although it’s still early in the investigation, we know enough to say that this was an act of terror and an act of hate. And as Americans, we are united in grief, in outrage, and in resolve to defend our people.

 
I just finished a meeting with FBI Director Comey and my homeland security and national security advisors. The FBI is on the scene[在场;出现;到场]and leading the investigation, in partnership with local law enforcement[执法机关]. I’ve directed that the full resources of the federal government be made available for this investigation.

We are still learning all the facts. This is an open investigation. We’ve reached no definitive judgment[没有达成明确的结论/判断] on the precise motivations of the killer. The FBI is appropriately investigating this as an act of terrorism. And I’ve directed that we must spare no effort to determine what -- if any -- inspiration or association this killer may have had with terrorist groups. What is clear is that he was a person filled with hatred. Over the coming days, we’ll uncover why and how this happened, and we will go wherever the facts lead us.
 
This morning I spoke with my good friend, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and I conveyed the condolences[慰问;哀悼] of the entire American people. This could have been any one of our communities. So I told Mayor Dyer that whatever help, he and the people of Orlando need -- they are going to get it. As a country, we will be there for the people of Orlando today, tomorrow and for all the days to come.
 
We also express our profound gratitude to all the police and first responders[现场急救员] who rushed into harm’s way[3]. Their courage and professionalism saved lives, and kept the carnage[4] from being even worse. It’s the kind of sacrifice that our law enforcement professionals[执法者] make every single day for all of us, and we can never thank them enough.
 
This is an especially heartbreaking day for all our friends -- our fellow Americans -- who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The shooter targeted a nightclub where people came together to be with friends, to dance and to sing, and to live. The place where they were attacked is more than a nightclub -- it is a place of solidarity[团结,团结一致] and empowerment[许可,授权] where people have come together to raise awareness, to speak their minds, and to advocate for their civil rights. 
 
So this is a sobering[令人警醒的,使人冷静的] reminder that attacks on any American -- regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation[性取向] -- is an attack on all of us and on the fundamental values of equality and dignity that define us as a country. And no act of hate or terror will ever change who we are or the values that make us Americans.
 
Today marks the most deadly shooting in American history. The shooter was apparently armed with a handgun and a powerful assault rifle[5]. This massacre is therefore a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school, or in a house of worship[6], or a movie theater, or in a nightclub. And we have to decide if that’s the kind of country we want to be. And to actively do nothing is a decision as well.
 
In the coming hours and days, we’ll learn about the victims of this tragedy. Their names. Their faces. Who they were. The joy that they brought to families and to friends, and the difference that they made in this world. Say a prayer for them and say a prayer for their families -- that God give them the strength to bear the unbearable. And that He give us all the strength to be there for them, and the strength and courage to change. We need to demonstrate that we are defined more -- as a country -- by the way they lived their lives than by the hate of the man who took them from us.
 
As we go together, we will draw inspiration from heroic[英雄的;英勇的] and selfless[无私的] acts -- friends who helped friends, took care of each other and saved lives. In the face of hate and violence, we will love one another. We will not give in to fear or turn against each other. Instead, we will stand united, as Americans, to protect our people, and defend our nation, and to take action against those who threaten us. 
 
May God bless the Americans we lost this morning. May He comfort their families. May God continue to watch over this country that we love. Thank you.

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[1]grieve：to feel or express great sadness, especially when someone dies （尤指为某人去世而）悲痛，悲伤，伤心

He is still grieving for/over his wife.

他仍沉浸在丧妻之痛中。

[2]massacre：an act of killing a lot of people 大屠杀；残杀

a bad defeat, especially in sport （尤指体育比赛中的）惨败

[3]in harm's way liable to be harmed; subject to potential causes of harm. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; put someone ~.)

Soldiers are expected to know what to do when they are in harm's way.

[4]carnage：the violent killing of large numbers of people, especially in war （尤指战争中的）大屠杀，残杀

The Battle of the Somme was a scene of dreadful carnage.

索姆河战场上是一片可怕的大屠杀惨象。

[5]assault rifle 突击步枪;冲锋枪

assault：a violent attack 殴打；袭击，攻击

He was charged with sexual assault.

他被指控性侵犯。

[6]worship：to have or show a strong feeling of respect and admiration for God or a god 敬奉，崇拜，信仰（上帝或神）

to go to a religious ceremony 参加宗教仪式；敬神；拜神

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