The gun lobby’s attempt to stop doctors from warning about the s...
The gun lobby’s attempt to stop doctors from warning about the severe risks posed by guns in homes is outrageous and unconstitutional. Children aged 5 to 14 years in the United States are 11 times more likely to be killed accidentally with a gun than similarly aged children in other developed countries are. Moreover, more than 40 percent of gun-owning households with children store their guns unlocked, and one quarter of these homes store them loaded.
The considerations given best serve as part of the argument that
Argument Analysis
Pre-Thinking
Conclusion Clarification
Although the author does provide us with an opinion, the question stem asks us to look for a concluding statement in the answer choices.
Pre-Thinking Approach
In order to see which statement can be best supported by the passage, we would need to observe all the facts given in the argument and see if the information in the passage is true, what must also be true.
Inferences:
The conclusion of the argument will be a culmination of the opinion expressed by the author and the facts cited to support the same. We can see that the author thinks that:
- GB’s mentioned attempts are outrageous and unconstitutional.
All the reasons cited by the author to support the above opinion are related with the risks guns kept at home pose to the children in such homes and in general. Therefore, one can conclude that the author is arguing that:
- The doctors should have the right to educate patients about the risks guns kept at home pose to people, especially children.
With this understanding in mind, let's take a look at the option statements.
Answer Choices
A
children must be provided proper counseling in schools on the dangers associated with the use of guns.
Incorrect - No information given
The passage doesn’t talk about the overall dangers of guns, only about the risks of guns at homes. The role of schools or counselling is never brought up. The information given in the passage is about the doctors warning about the risks posed by the guns.
B
the United States must learn from other developed countries on reducing the murder rate.
Incorrect - No information given
The passage clearly states ‘killed accidentally,’ not ‘murdered.’ So this can’t be concluded from the passage.
c
doctors must be allowed to give patients frank advice about the risks posed by guns in the home.
Correct
This option is written along the lines of our pre-thinking. It is a combination of all the information given to us in the passage and hence can be safely concluded.
D
the gun lobby should be allowed to express its views.
Incorrect - No information given
This can’t be concluded from the passage. On the contrary, the author terms their attempts to stop doctors from advising their patients as outrageous and unconstitutional.
E
children aged 5 to 14 years must be provided special protection to protect them from gun related crimes.
Incorrect - No information given
The option is veering away from the topic of accidental deaths and bringing up gun related crimes. This can’t be inferred from the passage.