My Quest to End the Horror of Gun Violence in the US | Lucy McBath | TED

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Shelley Tsang 曾雯海

In the blink of an eye, life can change forever.

一眨眼間，

人生就可能永遠改變。

One single moment can redefine everything that we know and believe.

單單那麼一刻，就能重新定義 我們所知道和相信的一切。

In 2012,

2012 年，

I would face the most devastating moments of my life

我面臨到我人生中 最讓我崩潰的時刻。

when my son, Jordan, was shot and killed in a hate-driven shooting.

那時，我的兒子喬登被射殺，

在一場出於仇恨的槍擊案中喪命。

My story, Jordan’s story, had began as one of loss.

我的故事，喬登的故事，

是個關於失去的故事。

But I refused to let it in there.

但我拒絕讓它止於此。

A life of loss, a story of loss, became one of transformation,

一種失去的人生，一個失去的故事，

成了一種轉變， 讓我去找到我的聲音，

of finding my voice

and turning my pain into purpose.

並將我的痛苦轉換成有意義的目標。

My story would become my most important tool

我的故事

成為我最重要的工具，來對抗

in fighting this nation's gun laws.

這個國家的槍枝法律。

Our personal stories have such power to be able to bridge the deepest divisions

我們個人的故事有很強大的力量可以

為最深的分裂搭起橋樑、

and to inspire change and to bring people together.

鼓舞改變，並讓大家團結在一起。

After losing my son, I left my 30-year career at Delta Airlines,

失去兒子之後，我離開了我在 達美航空做了三十年的職涯，

and I began a new career as an activist

我展開了活動家的新職涯，

fighting to change our nation's gun laws.

努力改變我們國家的槍枝法律。

And that trajectory led me to winning a seat in Congress,

這條軌跡引領我拿到了國會的一席，

which was once held by Newt Gingrich.

曾經是紐特‧金瑞契的那一席。

I just have to say, though, that everything that I have done,

不過，我必須要說，我所做的一切，

there was nothing more important to me than being a mother.

對我而言，最重要的 就是擔任母親的角色。

It all began with me just wanting to simply be a mother.

這一切都始於我單純想要當個母親。

As a flight attendant,

身為空服員，我有能力可以想辦法

I had the ability to be able to manipulate my schedule in such a way

巧妙管理我的時間表，讓我可以回家

that I could be home for my son every single night.

每晚陪著我兒子。

And I have to be honest

我得老實說，

that dealing with all those drunk passengers on the aircraft

在飛機上處理那些喝醉的乘客，

prepared me far better for a career in Congress

讓我對國會職涯的準備 好到超出預期。

than it ever should have.

But during the Great Recession, you know,

但在大蕭條期間，

Jordan and I had to find fun activities that we could do

喬登和我得設法找到

有趣的活動來做， 且還不能超出我的預算。

that would not break my budget.

So we spent a lot of time in our local skating rink

因此，我們有很多時間 是去我們當地的溜冰場，

where you could get pizza for a dollar a slice.

在那裡，一片比薩只要一美金。

隨著喬登長大，他開始認識女孩，

And as Jordan got older and he began to recognize girls,

他會說：「媽，你去那邊 跟成人一起溜冰。

he would say, "Mama, go over there and skate with the adults.

你去跟他們溜，讓我溜自己的。」

You go skate with them, and let me skate by myself.”

So off he would go, trying to be so cool and so suave,

他就這樣走了，試著裝出 很酷又很溫文的樣子，

and I would run up to him and I'm like,

我會跑到他那裡，像這樣： 「哦，喬登，我的寶貝，

"Oh, Jordan, my baby, I love you, oh, my baby!"

我愛你，哦，我的寶貝！」

And he would do everything that he could to get away from his crazy mama.

而他會盡全力擺脫 他那個瘋狂的媽媽。

You know, Jordan and I had just such a special bond,

喬登和我有種

很特別的感情聯繫。

and it would be these intimate moments

而正是我們過往生活中 那些親密的時刻，讓我有動力

of our former life

that would fuel my new journey to Congress.

在國會的新旅程上向前邁進。

A decade ago.

十年前，

Jordan was with his father in Jacksonville, Florida,

喬登到佛羅里達州傑克遜維爾 和他的父親共度感恩節。

for Thanksgiving.

And it was Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving,

感恩節的隔天是黑色星期五， 喬登好興奮，因為

and Jordan was so excited because he was going to go shopping with his boys.

他要和男孩們一起去瞎拼。

He was going to go shopping at the mall,

他要去購物中心瞎拼，

and they were going to buy clothes and pick up girls

他們要去買衣服， 去和女孩搭訕，去做各種

and just do all the things that these teenagers would do

青少年剛能獨立自主時會做的事情。

when they're finding their newfound independence.

They stopped at a convenience store gas station just to get some chewing gum.

他們在一間便利商店加迪站 停下來買口香糖。

And Jordan was in the back seat of the car,

喬登坐在車後座，

and a man pulls up next to them on the passenger side.

一名男子把車停在他們旁邊， 乘客的那一邊。

He starts complaining about their loud music.

他開始抱怨他們的音樂太大聲。

And he starts a verbal altercation with them,

他開始與他們發生口角，

claiming that he couldn't hear himself thinking.

聲稱他聽不見他自己思考。

They needed to turn down their “thug” music.

要他們把他們的 「混混」音樂關小聲。

He called them “gang bangers and thugs.”

他稱他們為「少年 犯罪集團和小混混」。

And in those three and a half minutes

在這三分半鐘裡，

that man pulled a gun out of his glove box

那名男子從車子的 置物箱裡拿出一把槍，

and he shot ten rounds

他對那台車開了十槍。

into that car.

Three of those rounds hitting and killing my only son.

其中三發子彈擊斃了我的獨子。

And that's when I got the phone call.

那時我接到電話，

The phone call that is the worst nightmare of every parent.

那通電話是每位家長最可怕的夢魘。

And I remember Jordan's father telling me that Jordan had been shot

我記得

喬登的父親告訴我喬登被射殺了，

and my whole world went black.

我的整個世界變成一片黑。

I had ...

我過去……

defined my whole life as being Jordan’s mom.

把我的整個人生定義為 扮演喬登的媽媽。

And in that single moment,

而就在那一刻，

being Jordan’s mom would take on entirely new meaning for me.

扮演喬登的媽媽對我來說 會有全新的意義。

Grief, it traps you in the prison of your own despair.

悲慟，它會

把你困在自己的絕望牢籠中，

And if we let grief take control,

如果我們讓悲慟主導， 要冒的風險就是

we risk losing not only our present but our future as well.

不僅會失去現在，還會失去未來。

If I had succumbed to that loss,

如果我向失去屈服，

I would be enduring not only one tragedy, but two.

我要承受的就不是 一場悲劇，而是兩場。

So I made a decision.

所以我做了決定。

I made the decision that Jordan's legacy would not be one of loss,

我決定喬登

留下的遺產要是希望的遺產， 而不是失去的遺產。

but one of hope.

I chose to channel my pain into purpose.

我選擇把我的痛苦 轉化為有意義的目標。

於是我展開了我的第二個 職涯，活動家的職涯。

So I began my second career as an activist

for Moms Demand Action,

參與「媽媽們要求行動」、 「美國槍枝問題」，

for Gun Sense in America and Everytown for Gun Safety.

及「每個小鎮都有 槍枝安全」這些組織。

While learning the unmistakable truth that every single one of us is at risk

同時也了解一個無疑的真相： 即我們每個人都有風險，

to falling victim to gun violence.

可能成為槍枝暴力的受害者。

We all remember.

大家都記得，

Just a little over five months ago.

五個多月前，

A woman was killed and four others were injured,

有一名女子死亡，另有四個人受傷，

just visiting the doctor's office,

他們只是去醫生的辦公室，

離亞特蘭大市中心這裡 只有三個半街區的距離。

only about three and a half blocks from here in midtown Atlanta.

And a year ago,

一年前，

two were killed and three were injured just down the street.

就在街角，有兩人死亡，三人受傷。

Statistically, today, 120 Americans will be shot and killed

根據統計，光是今天，

就會有一百二十名美國人被射殺，

and 200 more will be wounded.

還有另外兩百人會受到槍傷。

Per capita, the United States has more gun violence

按人計算（人均），

美國的槍枝暴力多於

than any other developed nation in the world.

全世界任何已開發國家。

And polling shows it.

民調顯示，有超過 80% 美國人

Over 80 percent of Americans agree

都同意需要有某種 常識槍枝安全立法，

that there needs to be some kind of common-sense gun safety legislation,

like universal background checks for all gun sales.

比如普遍針對所有 槍枝買賣做背景檢查。

But why didn't I know about any of this

但，

為什麼我以前對這些都一無所知，

before losing my son?

要失去了兒子才知道？

Why was this country not screaming at the top of its lungs

為什麼這個國家沒有

高聲呼籲要為槍枝安全立法？

for gun safety legislation?

So I traveled this country advocating for common sense laws,

所以我走遍全國，

倡導制訂常識法律，如「紅旗」法，

such as “red flag” laws

that enable law enforcement, along with our loved ones,

讓執法人員和我們的親人能夠

to be able to take the guns out of hands of people

確保會對自己或他人造成危險的人

that are posing a risk to themselves or to others.

手中不會擁有槍枝。

I've advocated for universal background checks

我一直在倡導要普遍做背景檢查，

to keep firearms out of the hands of convicted abusers.

確保有被定罪的虐待者 無法取得槍枝。

But by telling my story,

但是透過講述我的故事，

I’ve been able to do something that so many people talk about

我做到了一件事，是許多人都會談論

but they’re never able to achieve in our politics:

但在我們的政治中他們 永遠不可能達成的事：

bridge the political divide.

彌合政治分裂。

I'll never forget meeting a man by the name of Reverend Rob Schenck.

有段經歷我永生難忘： 我見到了一個人，

他叫做羅勃‧申克牧師。

As an evangelical minister,

身為福音派牧師，

he was the most prolific and leading voice

他是最多產的先驅之聲，

in the fight against abortion rights

在 1990 年代致力

through the 1990s.

反對墮胎權。

And as we begin building our friendship,

隨著我們的友誼建立起來，

I spoke with him at length about my need

我與他長談，說明我必須要

to save as many people's lives as possible.

盡可能拯救人命。

We began to challenge one another,

我們開始挑戰彼此，

and slowly but surely,

慢慢地，但很肯定，

at great risk, personally and professionally.

他冒著個人和職業上的風險，

he began to stand up.

開始站出來，

He began to stand up as an activist for gun safety

他開始成為活動家， 為槍枝安全站出來，

and, as importantly, also speaking out

同樣重要的是，

他也發表言論，

on pro choice policy.

支持自由選擇政策（墮胎權）。

Our stories are bigger than our politics.

我們的故事比我們的政治更大。

And then in 2018,

接著，在 2018 年，

we all watched the horror at a Parkland, Florida high school.

我們都看到了佛羅里達州 帕克蘭高中的恐怖事件。

And I heard all of our elected officials

我聽到我們所有的民選官員

talk about, "Oh, we need to make sure that we change our dangerous gun laws.

都在講：「哦，我們一定得要 改變我們危險的槍枝法律。

We need to make sure that we prevent these mass shootings."

我們要確保能夠預防 這種大規模槍擊事件。」

But they did absolutely nothing.

但他們什麼都沒有做。

And so I made the decision

所以我做了決定，

that if Congress was not willing to change our gun laws,

如果國會不願意改變

我們的槍枝法律，那我 就要努力於改變國會。

I was going to work to change Congress.

So I ran for a seat that nobody thought I was going to win.

所以我去競選一個沒有人 認為我能選上的席位。

One of the incumbents in that seat voted against the Voting Rights Act.

該席位的其中一位現任議員 還投票反對投票權法呢。

I ran for a seat that was once held by Newt Gingrich,

我競選的是紐特‧ 金瑞契以前的席位，

and I heard all the reasons why I could never win.

我聽到各種我不可能贏的理由。

I heard all the reasons, such as, "Oh, it was too political,"

什麼理由我都聽過了， 比如：「哦，那太政治了。」

and that I would never win because it was unprecedented.

還有人說我不可能贏 是因為沒有任何先例。

And I even heard that I couldn't win because I was a Black woman.

甚至有人說因為我是 黑人女性所以我不可能贏。

So I took my story directly to the voters,

所以我把我的故事直接帶給選民，

and I told my story at their doorsteps,

我在他們的家門口講述我的故事，

I told my story at their mailboxes,

我在他們的信箱裡講述我的故事，

and I told my story by their telephones,

我用他們的電話講述我的故事，

and I won that election by one percent of the vote.

我以 1% 的選票之差贏得了選舉。

And in Congress I've heard all the stories of why we can't address gun safety.

在國會裡，我聽到各種說法，

說明我們為什麼不能 處理槍枝安全問題。

They're pretty much the same reasons

這些理由幾乎就是

why people told me I would never win my election.

別人說我為何不可能 贏得選戰的理由。

But I did what I've done time and time again since I lost my son.

但我所做的，就是我失去 兒子之後不斷反覆在做的事：

I told my story.

我講述我的故事。

但在國會中，

But in Congress, I told my story to my colleagues

我對走道兩側（兩黨）的 同事都講述了我的故事。

on both sides of the aisle.

To date, I have passed legislation such as “red flag” laws.

至今，

我已經通過的立法包括「紅旗」法，

I've supported legislation

我支持的立法包括所有 槍枝銷售都要做背景檢查。

such as background checks for all gun sales.

And yes, I even had a hand

是的，我甚至參與

in helping to encourage this administration

協助鼓勵這個政府

to create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

去設立一間槍枝暴力預防辦公室。

Telling my story has helped me find meaning in my life again

講述我的故事幫助我在失去

我兒子喬登之後重新 找到我人生中的意義。

after losing my son Jordan.

It's helped me find a way to Congress

講述我的故事協助我 找到進入國會的路，

and to pass meaningful gun safety legislation.

並通過有意義的槍枝安全立法。

The power of our stories is universal.

故事的力量是大家都有的。

And it lies within each and every one of us.

它存在於我們每個人的心中。

Never ever be afraid

永遠不要害怕

to tell yours.

講出你的故事。