Mike Bost U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 12th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Mike Bost U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 12th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Rep. Morgan Luttrell, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, addressed the issue of veterans' rights in a recent oversight hearing. The hearing focused on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) practices regarding veterans' constitutional rights.
Luttrell emphasized the VA's failure to provide due process before infringing upon veterans' right to bear arms. He stated, "Today we’re taking a closer look at how the Department of Veterans Affairs fails to give veterans any due process before violating their Constitutional right to bear arms."
According to Luttrell, VA regulations require reporting veterans who need fiduciary assistance due to disability to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS list). This practice has reportedly affected over 250,000 veterans without judicial or medical findings that they pose a danger.
"It is important to understand that VA strips veterans of their Constitutional right to bear arms with zero medical evidence indicating they are suicidal, homicidal, or a threat to their community," Luttrell remarked. He highlighted the lack of data supporting assumptions about financial management difficulties correlating with dangerousness.
The hearing underscored disparities between legal processes for civilians and veterans concerning Second Amendment rights. "Veterans with fiduciaries do NOT get that same due process," Luttrell pointed out, noting the burdensome appeal processes for affected veterans.
Since March 2024, VA has been temporarily barred from using funds for such reports without court rulings on veteran danger levels. Luttrell argued for a permanent legislative solution: "This hearing will reveal that Congress must pass a permanent legislative solution to protect veterans’ Constitutional due process and Second Amendment rights."
He clarified that the discussion was not about unrestricted access to firearms but ensuring equal due process rights for veterans: "This hearing is not about 'guns on demand.' It’s about affording veterans with the same due process rights as every other American."
The session included testimony from witnesses like Dr. Reynolds from Alabama, aiming to address these critical issues.
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