Metro East Sun

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost, alongside Subcommittee on Disability Assistance & Memorial Affairs Chairman Rep. Morgan Luttrell and Rep. Eli Crane, announced the advancement of H.R. 1041, known as the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act. The bill seeks to ensure that veterans cannot be stripped of their right to bear arms without a court ruling that they pose a danger to themselves or others.

Chairman Bost expressed his support for the bill, stating, "The men and women who have served and defended Constitutional rights for generations of Americans should not have to worry that they will be reported to NICS and lose their rights simply because they need help managing their books." He emphasized that the bill aims to provide veterans with fiduciaries the due process they deserve.

Disability Assistance & Memorial Affairs Chairman Luttrell also voiced his concerns over the current situation where veterans could lose their Second Amendment rights without judicial involvement. He stated, "I will never stand by while the very government our veterans fought to defend tries to strip away their constitutional rights without due process."

Rep. Crane highlighted his contribution to strengthening the bill with language from H.R. 496, which addresses the removal of veterans from the FBI’s NICS list if they were added solely due to needing financial management assistance.

The bill has received support from various stakeholders, including national veteran organizations and gun rights groups. The proposed legislation would permanently protect veterans' Second Amendment rights by requiring court involvement before any changes are made regarding firearm ownership.

Under existing law since 1993, veterans who require financial assistance from a fiduciary can be reported by VA bureaucrats to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), resulting in an automatic loss of gun ownership rights without additional legal findings. This practice was temporarily halted by recent legislative measures but remains an ongoing concern addressed by H.R. 1041.

The full text of H.R. 1041 is available online for public access.