The spokesman for the Gun Owners of America explains why Veterans having their Second Amendment rights restored is a good thing.
For too long, Veterans were unfairly mistreated when it came to their Second Amendment rights, mainly due to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System. But that has since been remedied after three decades.
Per this report, the Department of Veteran Affairs have announced that Veterans will not be reported to the program as “prohibited persons,” mainly due to needing help from a fiduciary in managing VA benefits.
This undoes damage done by said Fiduciary Program, which removed their constitutional right to own a firearm without a legal basis.
“After a thorough review, VA recognized that many Veterans had been deprived of their Second Amendment rights without hearings or adequate determinations that they posed a sufficient risk of danger to themselves or others. In consultation with the Department of Justice, VA has determined this practice violates both the Gun Control Act and Veterans’ Second Amendment rights. According to federal law, a decision by a judicial or quasi-judicial body is needed before someone can be reported to NICS,” the ruling notes.
The department will also work alongside the FBI to remove all past VA reporting from NICS, so no Veterans are unfairly deprived of their Second Amendment rights based solely on participation in VA’s Fiduciary Program.
“It is both unlawful and unacceptable for Veterans who serve our country to have their constitutional rights threatened,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “It has been my pleasure to partner with Secretary Collins on this project, and I am directing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to review its regulations and propose changes that will prevent current and future violations of our Veterans’ Second Amendment rights.”
Joining us now to discuss this bill further is Stephen Willeford, who serves as spokesman for the Gun Owners of America. We welcome him to the show!
Q&A:
- Why have Veterans been denied their Second Amendment rights for so long? What purpose do you believe the Fiduciary Program initially served?
- What do you think about them finally having rights to bear arms again, undoing a three-decade old mistake?
- What does this say about the importance of someone’s right to bear arms, especially in this day and age?
- For that matter, where do you see the discussion surrounding gun rights going in the months ahead? Will some states continue to try and set up restrictive laws preventing people from possessing firearms?
- You recently wrote a book called A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy, revolving around your 2017 “hero with a gun” situation. Tell us more about how this came together, and why it’s such an important read right now.
- Where can people find your book?
- Where can we learn more about you, as well as Gun Owners of America?
- You can learn more at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com. You can also read more about the Gun Owners of America at https://www.gunowners.org/.
About Stephen Willeford…
Stephen represents Gun Owners of America and is known around the country as the “good guy with the gun” for helping stop the largest Texas mass shooting in the history of the state in 2017. He is available to speak about all gun rights issues, as well as the importance of Gun Owners of America. He is the author of the book A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy. You can read more about him at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com.
CONTACT: Todd Baumann at 512-966-0983 or by email Jerry McGlothlin at bookings@specialguests.com.
