Gun laws allow doctors to talk to their patients about gun safety, as well as report ownership, according to a review in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Doctors should not be afraid to ask if patients have guns in their homes, researchers said. Physicians can ask about firearms (with rare exceptions), may counsel patients as they do about other health matters, and may disclose information to third parties such as police or family when there are threats to health and safety, the researchers said. They recommend doctors ask about guns particularly for patients at risk of violence. Study