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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance, Reasoning and Clarity. Average 92 / 100
Signal
85 / 100
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Relevance
88 / 100
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Reasoning
100 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
94 / 100
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A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.
Thanks 3% Positioning 11% Claims 71% Reasoning 10% The ask 5%
Structure · 10 steps
Claims · 5
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 6 words I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Thanks Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 22 words I rise in opposition to H.R. 1181, a bill which makes it harder to catch criminals and makes our communities less safe. Positioning Claims · 120 words Today, under current law, financial institutions are required to report suspicious transactions to law enforcement.1 They do this every day, and that helps catch human traffickers. These alerts give law enforcement leads that uncover human trafficking rings and evidence that help put these bad guys away. The bill on the floor today blocks States from using this same process to flag suspicious firearms transactions to uncover gun trafficking rings.2 Many gun traffickers don’t buy guns like responsible gun owners, and once guns are trafficked, we know bad things happen. Unearned certainty Approximately 60 percent of trafficked guns are delivered to convicted felons.3 The felons who seek out and obtain trafficked firearms are the people who pose the greatest risk to everyone’s safety. Mr. Speaker, Claims · 21 words gun violence is the leading cause of death for children, for teenagers, 4 and for law enforcement in the line of duty.5 Off point Reasoning · 19 words We should be working to break up gun trafficking rings which supply the guns that kill kids and cops. Mr. Speaker, The ask · 10 words I urge my colleagues to vote ``no’’ on this bill.
At a glance
Lost points for Positioning ×2 Off point ×2 Thanks Unearned certainty 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 · 85
3 of 6 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.
Thanks Thanks and tributes. What the tags mean → “I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.” Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “I rise in opposition to H.R.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “1181, a bill which makes it harder to catch criminals and makes our communities less safe.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 88
2 of 6 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 → “gun violence is the leading cause of death for children, for teenagers,” Pivots to general gun violence statistics rather than the bill’s effect on payment codes or firearms reporting.
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 for law enforcement in the line of duty.” Continues the general gun-violence point, not anything about the bill under debate.
Reasoning · 100
0 of 6 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 “1181, a bill which makes it harder to catch criminals and makes our communities less safe.”
Because “Today, under current law, financial institutions are required to report suspicious transactions to law enforcement.”
“They do this every day,”
“and that helps catch human traffickers.”
“These alerts give law enforcement leads that uncover human trafficking rings and evidence that help put these bad guys away.”
“The bill on the floor today blocks States from using this same process to flag suspicious firearms transactions to uncover gun trafficking rings.”
Conclusion “We should be working to break up gun trafficking rings which supply the guns that kill kids and cops.”
Because “Many gun traffickers don’t buy guns like responsible gun owners,”
“and once guns are trafficked, we know bad things happen.”
“Approximately 60 percent of trafficked guns are delivered to convicted felons.”
“The felons who seek out and obtain trafficked firearms are the people who pose the greatest risk to everyone’s safety.”
“gun violence is the leading cause of death for children, for teenagers,”
“and for law enforcement in the line of duty.”
Conclusion “I urge my colleagues to vote ``no’’ on this bill.”
Because “Today, under current law, financial institutions are required to report suspicious transactions to law enforcement.”
“These alerts give law enforcement leads that uncover human trafficking rings and evidence that help put these bad guys away.”
“The bill on the floor today blocks States from using this same process to flag suspicious firearms transactions to uncover gun trafficking rings.”
“Approximately 60 percent of trafficked guns are delivered to convicted felons.”
“gun violence is the leading cause of death for children, for teenagers,”
“and for law enforcement in the line of duty.”
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 · 94
1 of 6 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.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “we know bad things happen” The phrase asserts certainty in place of any source or specific harm.
Claims · 5
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 “financial institutions are required to report suspicious transactions to law enforcement” Under current United States law, financial institutions are required to report suspicious transactions to law enforcement. search 2 “blocks States from using this same process to flag suspicious firearms transactions” H.R. 1181 (the bill under debate) blocks States from using the suspicious-transaction reporting process to flag suspicious firearms transactions. search 3 “Approximately 60 percent of trafficked guns are delivered to convicted felons” Approximately 60 percent of trafficked guns in the United States are delivered to convicted felons. search 4 “gun violence is the leading cause of death for children, for teenagers” Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States. search 5 “and for law enforcement in the line of duty” Gun violence is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for law enforcement officers in the United States. search
