more than 15 big American companies cut ties with the national rifle association.

超過 15 個美國大企業與美國全國步槍協會撇清關係

This is the big gun lobby group that has long been seen as the absolute obstacle to any kind of meaningful gun control in America.

這個影響力甚強的組織，長久以來一直阻擋著美國修改關於槍枝擁有的法律

The companies' decided that they no longer want to offer discounts or affiliated credit cards to NRA members,

而這些公司決定不再提供折扣或是聯名信用卡給 NRA 的成員

which is a big shift, and it reflects the huge consumer pressure that they're feeling through social media.

這是一個很大的轉變，反映出在社交媒體上消費者所給予的壓力

Most of these decisions to cut ties by say Hertz and Delta Airlines are largely symbolic.

赫茲租車以及達美航空與 NRA 斷清關係的決策是很重大的指標

So they are certainly not changing anything about the way guns are sold in America.

顯然這個舉動無法改變任何槍枝在美國販售的方式

But they may be changing perception about whether the NRA is an unstoppable force.

但他們可以改變大家總是對 NRA 束手無策的觀念

The big ways you could deal with the huge influx of guns in the US are two:

有兩個大方向可以控制不要在有大量槍支流入美國

One is by going after the gun manufactures, but they're pretty small companies, and it's relatively hard to go after them.

其中一個是針對槍枝製造商，但他們都只是小公司，而且事實上也很難拿他們怎麼樣

The more obvious way is by making it harder or less attractive for retailers and payment processors to participate in gun sales.

另一個比較容易的做法是，使零售商還有刷卡服務提供商對於槍枝販售興致缺缺

Right now, Paypal does not allow you to buy firearms through their website.

現今，Paypal 已經不讓使用者透過他們在網上購買槍枝

In theory, the big banks and VISA and Mastercard could do the same thing,

理論上來說，各大銀行、VISA 跟 Mastercard 也可以做同樣的事

and that would make it much harder for someone who wants to run to the store and pick up a bunch of guns.

這會增加一個人想跑去商店並囤購一堆槍的困難度

Similarly, if big retailers, such as Cabela's, the big sports equipment store, decided to stop stocking semi-automatics.

相同的，如果大的零售商，像是坎貝拉，這個大型運動商品店，決定停止販售半自動手槍

Again it would be much harder for people to get them, and it might slow down the flood of violence that we've been experiencing.

絕對會使人們更難得到這些槍枝，而這也許會緩和最近這些槍枝暴力的情況

What really needs to happen if the US is to address its gun violence problem is probably a change in the law.

不需質疑地，美國必須改變法律來改善槍枝暴力的問題

Making it harder for people to buy guns, making some guns less available.

修法讓人們更難買到槍枝，讓某些槍枝不在如此唾手可得

And so far the NRA has been an unstoppable political force.

至今為止，美國全國步槍協會一直是一個阻擋不了的政治力量

The question will be:

問題是

the fact that these companies are now getting involved,

事實上現在這些大企業開始介入

and in social media pressure in the wake of the parkland shooting, is putting the weight on the other side,

還有社交媒體的壓力，以及佛州校園槍擊案的覺醒開拓了另一條道路

whether that would finally lead to the kinds of law changes that the US probably needs?

這或許終於可以促使美國來修改早就該修改的法律