Our Veterans Deserve Protections.
The Senate recently approved a bill package, including an amendment proposed by Senator John Kennedy (R-La.), aimed at safeguarding the Second Amendment rights of veterans from interference by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Kennedy emphasized the importance of preventing unelected VA bureaucrats from unilaterally stripping veterans of their gun rights.
Under current law, the VA is required to report veterans’ names to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) when a fiduciary is appointed to assist with VA benefits management, effectively blocking them from purchasing or owning firearms.
Kennedy’s amendment, now part of the bill package, alters this procedure, ensuring that a veteran’s personal information is only sent to NICS if a judge determines the veteran poses a danger to themselves or others. This change aims to uphold veterans’ due process rights and prevent unjust infringements on their Second Amendment freedoms.
Kennedy’s advocacy for veterans’ gun rights dates back to previous congressional sessions, with the amendment representing a culmination of efforts initiated in the 116th and 118th Congresses, ultimately enshrined into law in March 2024.
Background:
In the 116th Congress, Kennedy introduced the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act.
In the 118th Congress, Kennedy and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) re-introduced the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act with six co-sponsors.
In Oct. 2023, the Senate passed an amendment based on the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act. The same language passed into law as part of a package in March 2024.
More On Veteran’s Rights:
Earlier in March, another push in the US Senate was aimed at protecting the rights of Veterans:
(U.S. Senate) – A critical bipartisan amendment U.S. Senator Jon Tester championed to protect veterans’ access to legal firearms has been included in the government funding legislation, following his call to Senate leadership to include the provision.
“It’s flat wrong that a DC bureaucrat could take away a veteran’s legal right to firearms simply because they need assistance managing their finances,” Tester said. “We need to ensure the government does not infringe on veterans’ Second Amendment rights, and I’m glad we were able to fix this unfair policy in the government funding legislation. This is a win for Second Amendment rights and for veterans who have made it clear that VA’s current practice is pushing some folks away from accessing the mental health care they need out of fear their firearms will be seized.”
DIVE DEEPER: Full Online Gun Forums List FOR 2A RESOURCES:
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