當地時間6月12日凌晨2時，美國佛羅裡達州奧蘭多市中心一家名為「奧蘭多脈動」的同性戀夜總會發生槍擊案，已經造成50人死亡，53人受傷。該槍擊案目前已經成為美國歷史上最嚴重槍擊案。
Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters during the investigation of a shooting at the Pulse nightclub, where people were killed by a gunman, in Orlando, Florida,June 12, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]
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A man armed with an assault rifle killed 50 people at a packed gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday in the worst mass shooting in US history, which President Barack Obama described as an act of terror and hate.
一名攜帶突擊步槍的男子12日在佛羅裡達州奧蘭多市一家擁擠的同性戀夜總會開槍，致50人死亡，構成美國歷史上最嚴重的槍擊案。美國總統歐巴馬將其稱為恐怖和仇恨行為。
Mass shooting指造成多人受害的槍枝暴力事件（an incident involving multiple victims of gun violence），一般來說，導致4人以上死亡的槍擊事件（不包括槍手本人）都可以稱為public mass shooting。美國近幾年發生的槍擊事件中，有一部分屬於school shooting（校園槍擊）。此次奧蘭多槍擊事件因為造成的死亡人數已達50人，因此被媒體稱為massacre（大規模殺人事件）。
槍擊案嫌疑人使用的武器：
assault rifle：（自動或半自動配有大容量彈夾的）軍用步槍（automatic rifles or semiautomatic rifles with large magazines designed for military use）
handgun：（可單手持握並完成射擊的）手槍（a gun that you can hold, carry, and fire with one hand）
關於奧蘭多槍擊案目前已知信息：
The suspect was identified as Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old U.S. citizen whose family is believed to be from Afghanistan.
嫌疑人確認為Omar Mateen，29歲，美國公民，父母為阿富汗移民。
Mateen, who was carrying an assault-style rifle, handgun and possibly an explosive device, was killed after exchanging fire with officers at 5 a.m. He had taken hostages inside.
當日凌晨5點，Matee在與警方交火時被擊斃，他當時攜帶有突擊步槍，手槍以及疑似爆炸裝置，並且在夜總會內挾持了人質。
According to officials, Mateen called 911 during the attack to pledge his allegiance to ISIS.
有官員表示，槍擊事件過程中，Matee曾經撥打911表示效忠於ISIS。
Federal officials are investigating Mateen's possible ties to radical terror organizations. He was known to the FBI, which questioned him in 2013 but found his ties were insignificant.
聯邦探員正在調查 Mateen與極端恐怖組織間的關聯。FBI曾留意過Mateen，並在2013年對其進行過詢問，但沒有發現他與恐怖組織有明顯關聯。
Mateen's father expressed shock over the attack, but said his son did have held anti-gay views.
Mateen的父親對此次槍擊表示震驚，表示他的兒子的確有反同情緒。
Mir Seddique, the suspected shooter’s father, told NBC News that the mass shooting had 「nothing to do with religion.」 He also said Mateen got angry when he saw two men kissing in downtown Miami a couple of months ago and that he thinks that may have been a trigger in the shooting.
嫌疑人Mateen的父親Mir Seddique表示，槍擊案「與宗教無關」。他提到，幾個月前，兒子在邁阿密看到兩個男同接吻時很憤怒，而這可能是引發此次槍擊事件的導火索。
「We are apologizing for the whole incident,」 he told NBC News. 「We weren’t aware of any action he [was] taking. We are in shock like the whole country.」
Mir Seddique說：「我們為整件事道歉，我們對於他的行為一無所知。我們和全國人民一樣震驚。」
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer called for patience as authorities continued the gruesome task of removing bodies from the club.
有關方面正在繼續清理事件現場的屍體，奧蘭多市長呼籲大家多些耐心。
The names of the victims are being released as next of kin are notified, police said.
警方表示，受害人姓名正在通知親屬。
Florida officials called on the public for blood donations, and donors showed up in droves.
佛羅裡達官方呼籲民眾參與獻血，獻血人員已開始排隊。
關於奧蘭多：
位於佛羅裡達州中部的奧蘭多被譽為「世界主題公園之都」（The Theme Park Capital of the World），享譽全球的迪斯尼世界（Walt Disney World Resort）就在奧蘭多。其他的知名主題公園還有：奧蘭多環球影城度假村（Universal Orlando Resort）、鱷魚樂園（Gatorland）、水上樂園（Wet 'n Wild）。
歐巴馬回應：
美國總統歐巴馬第一時間發表講話，稱此次槍擊事件為恐怖行為（act of terror）和仇恨行為（act of hate），是美國歷史上最嚴重的一次槍擊事件（the most deadly shooting in American history）。
歐巴馬講話全文：
Today, as Americans, we grieve the brutal murder — a horrific massacre — 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 and leading the investigation, in partnership with local law enforcement. 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 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 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 who rushed into harm’s way. Their courage and professionalism saved lives, and kept the carnage from being even worse. It’s the kind of sacrifice that our law enforcement professionals 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 and empowerment where people have come together to raise awareness, to speak their minds, and to advocate for their civil rights.
So this is a sobering reminder that attacks on any American — regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation — 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. 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, 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 and selfless 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.
川普回應：
共和黨總統候選人川普也發文，稱美國被激進的伊斯蘭恐怖分子（radical Islamic terrorist）襲擊。他還表示，歐巴馬在講話中沒有使用Radical Islam這兩個詞，他就應該下臺；希拉蕊如果也不敢說這兩個詞，她應該退出總統競選。
川普聲明全文：
Last night, our nation was attacked by a radical Islamic terrorist. It was the worst terrorist attack on our soil since 9/11, and the second of its kind in 6 months. My deepest sympathy and support goes out to the victims, the wounded, and their families.
In his remarks today, President Obama disgracefully refused to even say the words 'Radical Islam'. For that reason alone, he should step down. If Hillary Clinton, after this attack, still cannot say the two words 'Radical Islam' she should get out of this race for the Presidency.
If we do not get tough and smart real fast, we are not going to have a country anymore. Because our leaders are weak, I said this was going to happen – and it is only going to get worse. I am trying to save lives and prevent the next terrorist attack. We can't afford to be politically correct anymore.
The terrorist, Omar Mir Saddique Mateen, is the son of an immigrant from Afghanistan who openly published his support for the Afghanistani Taliban and even tried to run for President of Afghanistan. According to Pew, 99% of people in Afghanistan support oppressive Sharia Law.
We admit more than 100,000 lifetime migrants from the Middle East each year. Since 9/11, hundreds of migrants and their children have been implicated in terrorism in the United States.
Hillary Clinton wants to dramatically increase admissions from the Middle East, bringing in many hundreds of thousands during a first term – and we will have no way to screen them, pay for them, or prevent the second generation from radicalizing.
We need to protect all Americans, of all backgrounds and all beliefs, from Radical Islamic Terrorism - which has no place in an open and tolerant society. Radical Islam advocates hate for women, gays, Jews, Christians and all Americans. I am going to be a President for all Americans, and I am going to protect and defend all Americans. We are going to make America safe again and great again for everyone.
希拉蕊回應：
民主黨總統候選人希拉蕊在臉書發文，稱此次槍擊事件是恐怖行為，是針對LGBT（lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender）群體的仇恨行為。
希拉蕊聲明全文：
I join Americans in praying for the victims of the attack in Orlando, their families and the first responders who did everything they could to save lives.
This was an act of terror. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies are hard at work, and we will learn more in the hours and days ahead. For now, we can say for certain that we need to redouble our efforts to defend our country from threats at home and abroad. That means defeating international terror groups, working with allies and partners to go after them wherever they are, countering their attempts to recruit people here and everywhere, and hardening our defenses at home. It also means refusing to be intimidated and staying true to our values.
This was also an act of hate. The gunman attacked an LGBT nightclub during Pride Month. To the LGBT community: please know that you have millions of allies across our country. I am one of them. We will keep fighting for your right to live freely, openly and without fear. Hate has absolutely no place in America.
Finally, we need to keep guns like the ones used last night out of the hands of terrorists or other violent criminals. This is the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States and it reminds us once more that weapons of war have no place on our streets.
This is a time to stand together and resolve to do everything we can to defend our communities and country.
（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）