Press Releases

Last week, Ranking Member Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) testified before the House Judiciary Committee regarding H.R. 3826, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act. This bill would prevent veterans from losing their Second Amendment right to purchase or own a firearm because they receive help managing their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) financial benefits.

"Every day, servicemen and women fight to defend the rights endowed by our constitution. But, upon their return home, those same men and women can be deprived of one of those rights by a government bureaucrat without due process. Hundreds of thousands of veterans and beneficiaries who receive help from a fiduciary managing their VA benefits have lost the ability to own a firearm because VA sends their names to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). This is a troubling practice and the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act would put a stop to it. Many veterans can’t go hunting, can’t participate in certain recreational therapy programs, and can’t even keep a firearm that has been in their family for generations because of this unjust practice. By prohibiting VA from sending information to the FBI about veterans or their family members without a judicial ruling stating that they are a danger to themselves or others, this bill would ensure that the veterans who fought for our rights are guaranteed their own. Denying law-abiding veterans their right to own a firearm will not make our communities safer and I urge Chairman Takano to advance this bipartisan bill as soon as possible.”

Watch Dr. Roe’s full testimony before the House Judiciary Committee here.  

Background: 

Under current law, if VA appoints a fiduciary to help a veteran (or beneficiary) manage their VA financial benefits, then VA sends their name to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). These consequential decisions are made by VA general schedule employees, not a court or similar judicial authority, and single out only VA beneficiaries among all government agencies. Hundreds of thousands of veterans and VA beneficiaries have been denied their constitutional right to bear arms because of this practice. The Veterans 2^nd Amendment Protection Act would prohibit VA from sending information on veterans (or beneficiaries) who are assisted by a fiduciary to NICS, without a judicial ruling that they are a danger to themselves or others. Click here for more information about the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act.