Procedure 6% Claims 84% Positioning 2% Reasoning 7% The ask 2%
Structure · 18 steps
Claims · 17
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 9 words I yield myself such time as I may consume. Procedure Mr. Speaker, Claims · 19 words I strongly oppose this bill because it limits efforts to detect and investigate gun violence and acts of terrorism. Procedure · 12 words Before I discuss the bill, let’s start with a few sobering statistics: Procedure Claims · 90 words 46,000 Americans die from gun violence every year.1 That comes out to an average of more than 125 Americans losing their life each day due to gun violence.2 Of course, America is unusual in this regard. Americans are 26 times more likely to be shot and killed than if you lived in any other high- income country.3 Nearly one in five Americans say they have personally witnessed someone shot.4 In the past decade, more than 1.2 million Americans have been shot, with more than 400,000 who died from gun violence.5 Positioning · 15 words For many who survive a gunshot, they may still suffer a lifetime of devastating consequences. Positioning Claims · 144 words Most of these data points come from GIFFORDS, a gun violence prevention group set up by our former colleague in the House, Gabby Giffords.6 Of course, she herself was shot when she served as a Congresswoman, and she later set up the group following the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting when 20 children and 6 educators lost their lives.7 Off point Now, a few States, including California, New York, 8 and Colorado, have taken action to require payment card networks to use a merchant category code, or an MCC, to distinguish firearms retailers from other types of retailers. Many different types of retailers have unique MCC codes, including florists, barbershops, art dealers, automotive tire shops, and even candy stores. Off point While these merchant codes don’t reveal what individual goods are purchased, they can indicate an unusually large purchase at a type of business that might reveal a risk. Reasoning · 15 words This information could help law enforcement track suspicious purchases and prevent even more gun violence. Claims · 137 words Leading gun safety groups, including Brady, Community Justice, Everytown for Gun Safety, GIFFORDS, Guns Down America, 9 and Newtown Action Alliance, sent the House a letter to urge Members to vote ``no’’ on this harmful legislation. In the letter that was sent to me, they said: ``We write in strong opposition to H.R. 1181, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act. This bill would make it easier for mass shooters, gun traffickers, and even terrorists to abuse our financial systems to stockpile firearms and ammunition undetected.’’ They go on to note that between 2007 and 2018, credit cards were used to finance at least eight major mass shootings.10 One of these included the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people were killed and nearly 60 more were injured a decade ago last month, in June 2016.’’11 Procedure · 4 words Now, listen to this: Procedure Claims · 108 words Just days before the shooter opened fire, his internet search history included the terms ``credit card unusual spending,’’ ``FBI,’’ and ``why banks stop your purchases.’’12 He had opened six new credit card accounts in the 8 months prior, 13 and 12 days before the shooting, he spent more than $26,000 on things like a rifle, a semiautomatic pistol, several large magazines, 14 and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Before this, his average monthly spending on his single card was $1,500.15 None of the credit card operators, payment processors, 16 or banks were alerted to the types of transactions being undertaken, and they did not notify law enforcement officials about these purchases. Procedure · 5 words We don’t know for sure, Procedure Off point Reasoning · 30 words but had these MCC codes been in place for gun shops back then, a financial institution would have been empowered to report these suspicious credit card purchases to law enforcement. Claims · 53 words Americans are tired of the senseless gun violence and want Congress to do something to curb it. Unfortunately, this bill goes in the opposite direction and would implement a ban on such merchant reporting on the Federal level and would literally preempt existing State laws like those in California, New York, 17 and Colorado. Mr. Speaker, The ask · 10 words I urge my colleagues to vote ``no’’ on this bill, Procedure · 8 words and I reserve the balance of my time. Procedure
At a glance
Lost points for Off point ×25 Procedure ×5 Positioning Reasons given This statement drew 3 conclusions and gave a reason for each one.
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 90
6 of 31 deductions are Signal
Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “I yield myself such time as I may consume.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “Before I discuss the bill, let’s start with a few sobering statistics:” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “For many who survive a gunshot, they may still suffer a lifetime of devastating consequences.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “Now, listen to this:” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “We don’t know for sure,” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “and I reserve the balance of my time.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 45
25 of 31 deductions are Relevance
Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Before I discuss the bill, let’s start with a few sobering statistics:” Pivots away from the bill to general statistics before discussing it.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “46,000 Americans die from gun violence every year.” A national gun violence figure, not about the bill or merchant codes.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “That comes out to an average of more than 125 Americans losing their life each day due to gun violence.” Restates the same statistic rather than addressing the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Of course, America is unusual in this regard.” General comparison, unrelated to the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Americans are 26 times more likely to be shot and killed than if you lived in any other high- income country.” International comparison on shootings, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Nearly one in five Americans say they have personally witnessed someone shot.” General survey statistic, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “In the past decade, more than 1.2 million Americans have been shot, with more than 400,000 who died from gun violence.” A decade of shooting statistics, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “For many who survive a gunshot, they may still suffer a lifetime of devastating consequences.” Consequences for gunshot survivors, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Most of these data points come from GIFFORDS, a gun violence prevention group set up by our former colleague in the House, Gabby Giffords.” Attribution of the statistics to a group, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Of course, she herself was shot when she served as a Congresswoman,” Biographical note about Gabby Giffords, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and she later set up the group following the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting when 20 children and 6 educators lost their lives.” History of the Sandy Hook shooting and the group’s founding, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Many different types of retailers have unique MCC codes, including florists, barbershops, art dealers, automotive tire shops,” Lists merchant codes for unrelated retailers rather than the firearms codes the bill concerns.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and even candy stores.” Continues the list of unrelated retailers’ codes.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “One of these included the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida,” Introduces a specific mass shooting rather than the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “where 49 people were killed and nearly 60 more were injured a decade ago last month, in June 2016.’’” Details of the Pulse nightclub shooting’s casualties, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Now, listen to this:” A rhetorical aside leading into the shooting anecdote, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Just days before the shooter opened fire, his internet search history included the terms ``credit card unusual spending,’’ ``FBI,’’ and ``why banks stop your purchases.’’” The shooter’s search history, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “He had opened six new credit card accounts in the 8 months prior,” The shooter’s credit accounts, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and 12 days before the shooting, he spent more than $26,000 on things like a rifle, a semiautomatic pistol, several large magazines,” The shooter’s spending details, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and thousands of rounds of ammunition.” Further spending details, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Before this, his average monthly spending on his single card was $1,500.” The shooter’s baseline spending, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “None of the credit card operators, payment processors,” What payment operators failed to do in that case, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “or banks were alerted to the types of transactions being undertaken,” Continues the account of non-notification, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and they did not notify law enforcement officials about these purchases.” Continues the same account of non-notification, not about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “We don’t know for sure,” A hedge about uncertainty in the anecdote, not about the bill.
Reasoning · 100
0 of 31 deductions are Reasoning
Reasoning checks for sound logic and solid support for any conclusion. A low score means the speaker made unsupported leaps or used weak arguments.
Nothing lost points.
Conclusions found · 3
Conclusion “I strongly oppose this bill because it limits efforts to detect and investigate gun violence and acts of terrorism.”
Because “While these merchant codes don’t reveal what individual goods are purchased, they can indicate an unusually large purchase at a type of business that might reveal a risk.”
“This information could help law enforcement track suspicious purchases and prevent even more gun violence.”
“but had these MCC codes been in place for gun shops back then, a financial institution would have been empowered to report these suspicious credit card purchases to law enforcement.”
Conclusion “Unfortunately, this bill goes in the opposite direction and would implement a ban on such merchant reporting on the Federal level and would literally preempt existing State laws like those in California, New York,”
Because “and Colorado, have taken action to require payment card networks to use a merchant category code,”
“or an MCC, to distinguish firearms retailers from other types of retailers.”
Conclusion “I urge my colleagues to vote ``no’’ on this bill,”
Because “I strongly oppose this bill because it limits efforts to detect and investigate gun violence and acts of terrorism.”
“This information could help law enforcement track suspicious purchases and prevent even more gun violence.”
“They go on to note that between 2007 and 2018, credit cards were used to finance at least eight major mass shootings.”
“Americans are tired of the senseless gun violence and want Congress to do something to curb it.”
“Unfortunately, this bill goes in the opposite direction and would implement a ban on such merchant reporting on the Federal level and would literally preempt existing State laws like those in California, New York,”
Respect · no score
Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.
Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.
Clarity · 100
0 of 31 deductions are Clarity
Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.
Nothing lost points.
Claims · 17
This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.
1 “46,000 Americans die from gun violence every year.” About 46,000 Americans die from gun violence every year. search 2 “an average of more than 125 Americans losing their life each day due to gun violence” More than 125 Americans die each day on average due to gun violence. search 3 “Americans are 26 times more likely to be shot and killed than if you lived in any other high- income country” Americans are 26 times more likely to be shot and killed than residents of other high-income countries. search 4 “Nearly one in five Americans say they have personally witnessed someone shot.” Nearly one in five Americans say they have personally witnessed someone being shot. search 5 “In the past decade, more than 1.2 million Americans have been shot, with more than 400,000 who died from gun violence.” Over the past decade, more than 1.2 million Americans have been shot and more than 400,000 died from gun violence. search 6 “GIFFORDS, a gun violence prevention group set up by our former colleague in the House, Gabby Giffords.” GIFFORDS is a gun violence prevention group set up by former Representative Gabby Giffords. search 7 “the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting when 20 children and 6 educators lost their lives” The Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting killed 20 children and 6 educators. search 8 “Now, a few States, including California, New York, ” California, New York, and Colorado have taken action requiring payment card networks to use a merchant category code distinguishing firearms retailers. search 9 “Leading gun safety groups, including Brady, Community Justice, Everytown for Gun Safety, GIFFORDS, Guns Down America, ” Brady, Community Justice, Everytown for Gun Safety, GIFFORDS, Guns Down America, and Newtown Action Alliance sent the House a letter urging a ‘no’ vote on the bill. search 10 “between 2007 and 2018, credit cards were used to finance at least eight major mass shootings” Between 2007 and 2018, credit cards were used to finance at least eight major mass shootings. search 11 “where 49 people were killed and nearly 60 more were injured a decade ago last month, in June 2016.’’” The June 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida killed 49 people and injured nearly 60 more. search 12 “his internet search history included the terms ``credit card unusual spending,’’ ``FBI,’’ and ``why banks stop your purchases.’’” Days before the Pulse shooting, the shooter’s internet search history included ‘credit card unusual spending,’ ‘FBI,’ and ‘why banks stop your purchases.’ search 13 “He had opened six new credit card accounts in the 8 months prior” The Pulse nightclub shooter opened six new credit card accounts in the eight months before the shooting. search 14 “12 days before the shooting, he spent more than $26,000” Twelve days before the Pulse shooting, the shooter spent more than $26,000 on weapons and ammunition. search 15 “his average monthly spending on his single card was $1,500.” The Pulse shooter’s average monthly spending on his single card was $1,500 before the purchases. search 16 “None of the credit card operators, payment processors, ” In the Pulse shooting case, credit card operators, payment processors, and banks neither flagged nor notified law enforcement about the shooter’s purchases. search 17 “Unfortunately, this bill goes in the opposite direction and would implement a ban on such merchant reporting on the Federal level and would literally preempt existing State laws like those in California, New York, ” The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act would ban merchant category codes distinguishing firearms retailers federally and preempt state laws such as those in California, New York, and Colorado. search
