NRA Supports Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act

FAIRFAX, Va. –The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) proudly supports introduction of the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act (H.R. 629), a bill that would prevent the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from restricting veterans’ Second Amendment rights without due process.

“No veteran should have their fundamental right to self-defense arbitrarily revoked by a government bureaucrat,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director, NRA-ILA. “Receiving assistance to handle personal finances does not mean an individual is unable to safely own a firearm. Our brave men and women in the military should not be stripped of their constitutional rights without due process of law."

Currently, the VA automatically reports any veteran using a fiduciary as “mentally defective” – a disqualifying factor for firearm ownership -- with no judicial finding of dangerousness.

Introduced by Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX), H.R. 629 would require that a veteran be adjudicated mentally deficient before losing his or her Second Amendment rights.

“Denying veterans their Second Amendment rights with no due process is shameful. We applaud Rep. Conaway for introducing and Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) for co-sponsoring this important legislation to protect veterans,” concluded Cox.

Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. More than five million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at NRA on Facebook and Twitter @NRA.