As a Veteran, I can honestly say that either way you look at it, the VA is nothing but a bureaucratic behemoth that can barely keep track of it's own internal paperwork and massive bonuses that no government worker/civil servant should be eligible for. Expecting the administrative part of the VA (the VBA) to not only keep track of individual Veterans and their individual mental health issues, but then to also render an informed, medically necessary, and sound decision as to whether or not a Veteran should be able to keep his/her second amendment rights intact, is ludicrous at best. What people who have never experienced the VA first do not understand is that the Veterans Health Administration is not the entity making the recommendations or the decisions. These are the doctors who have the first hand knowledge of the Veteran. Additionally; the VBA has absolutely no want to serve the best interests of any Veterans. Until these individual sections of the VA have been gutted and reformed in a responsible manner, the VA should have only the ability to make recommendations to a court of law, which is the only Constitutionally acceptable way of removing a citizen's Constitutional Rights.

The VA has no business in stripping veterans of their right to own firearms. That should be determined by the courts, like it is for everyone else. Unelected bureaucrats do not have the authority to make decisions on an individual's constitutional rights.

America citizens cannot be stripped of their Constitutional Rights without due process under the law.

As others have said, only a judge should be able to take away constitutional rights. Other institutions should not have that power. Any judge considering mental competency will assuredly be considering any and all medical evaluations made by the VA or other doctors.

I think some people are reading this bill wrong. I voted yea because a veteran should be allow due process by a judge in determining if they're able to bear arms or not. Read the first sentence. It would prohibit them.

The Constitution clearly states that your rights are not to be deprived without due process. A bureaucrat working at the VA is not due process.

Latest action: Reported to House without amendment (03/10/2017) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act (Sec. 2) This bill prohibits, in any case arising out of the administration of laws and benefits by the Department of Veterans Affairs, any person who is mentally incapacitated, deemed mentally incompetent, or experiencing an extended loss of consciousness from being considered adjudicated as a mental defective for purposes of the right to receive or transport firearms without the order or finding of a judicial authority of competent jurisdiction that such person is a danger to himself or herself or others. Official ID: H.R. 1181 Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act Official Title To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the conditions under which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated mentally incompetent for certain purposes. Countable member Deborah said: "The second amendment is outdated and needs to be revised. We don't live in colonial times when there was not a federal defense system. That said, the very least we can do is not allow those who have been designated as unstable, to not have guns. Kind of like how we have laws regulating other potentially harmful things. Guns are no different." SORRY, DEBORAH, BUT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT YOU ARE SHOWING YOUR IGNORANCE HERE! THE 2nd. AMENDMENT WAS NOT INCLUDED JUST TO PROTECT THE COLONISTS FROM FOREIGN ENEMIES! IF YOU'LL RECALL, THE COLONIES HAD DECLARED THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM ONE TYRANNICAL GOVERNMENT, AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE DARNED SURE THEIR NEW REPUBLIC DID NOT FALL PREY TO A HOMEGROWN TYRANNICAL GOVERNMENT! THESE DAYS, A POPULAR SAYING IS "THE SECOND AMENDMENT PROTECTS THE FIRST!" We conservatives realize that the 2A is VITAL to our personal and national security - to protect us foreign AND DOMESTIC enemies! If you think that's an outdated concept, I feel sorry for you. I agree with Countable member Chuck's opinion: "As a Veteran, I can honestly say that either way you look at it, the VA is nothing but a bureaucratic behemoth that can barely keep track of it's own internal paperwork and massive bonuses that no government worker/civil servant should be eligible for. Expecting the administrative part of the VA (the VBA) to not only keep track of individual Veterans and their individual mental health issues, but then to also render an informed, medically necessary, and sound decision as to whether or not a Veteran should be able to keep his/her second amendment rights intact, is ludicrous at best. What people who have never experienced the VA first do not understand is that the Veterans Health Administration is not the entity making the recommendations or the decisions. These are the doctors who have the firsthand knowledge of the Veteran. Additionally; the VBA has absolutely no want to serve the best interests of any Veterans. Until these individual sections of the VA have been gutted and reformed in a responsible manner, the VA should have only the ability to make recommendations to a court of law, which is the only Constitutionally acceptable way of removing a citizen's Constitutional Rights." Also, as Countable member Bill said: "I think some people are reading this bill wrong. I voted yea because a veteran should be allow due process by a judge in determining if they're able to bear arms or not. Read the first sentence. It would prohibit them." I would only add to what Chuck said that I FIND IT HIGHLY OFFENSIVE TO LABEL PEOPLE AS "MENTALLY DEFECTIVE"! Would you label someone suffering from cancer as "physically defective"? Talk about insensitive! I also find it offensive that some Countable members have stated that there should be no exceptions to the types of mental disorders that can cause someone to be stripped of their Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Clearly, there is still A LOT of ignorance and stigma surrounding mental illness! And good grief! Many of you liberals still think that depriving people of guns is going to make the world a safer place? Really??!! You must feel that way because gun-free zones have such a great track record of preventing gun violence! NOT!!! Ever hear of the black market??? Ever hear of people stealing guns??? And yes, too many veterans ARE committing suicide everyday! But if a person is DETERMINED to kill himself (or someone else), keeping him from owning a gun ISN'T going to prevent him from finding some other way to end his (or someone else's) life!!! How can I kill me or thee? Let me count the ways.... hanging poisoning using a knife etc., etc., etc. They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. -- Benjamin Franklin It is not unfrequent to hear men declaim loudly upon liberty, who, if we may judge by the whole tenor of their actions, mean nothing else by it but their own liberty, — to oppress without control or the restraint of laws all who are poorer or weaker than themselves. --Samuel Adams Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. -- Lord Acton

If they are going to even consider allowing something like that they need to be very specific about what is a "mental deficiency". If you have an Anxiety disorder or panic attacks it doesn't mean you can't reason and k ow right from wrong but by technical terms you are considered mentally deficient. You always have to consider the "unintended consequences" of anything you do.