Congresswoman Tenney Applauds Passage of Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), today applauded House passage of the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, legislation that protects veterans’ constitutional rights by preventing the Department of Veterans Affairs from reporting veterans to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) solely because they require assistance managing their VA benefits, unless a judge determines they are a danger to themselves or others.

The legislation addresses longstanding concerns that veterans have been stripped of their Second Amendment rights without due process simply because the VA appointed a fiduciary to help manage their benefits. According to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the VA has reported more than 250,000 veterans to NICS since 1993 without a judicial finding that they posed a danger to themselves or others. This bill ensures veterans are held to the same constitutional standards as every other American and reinforces existing protections that prohibit the VA from reporting veterans to NICS without a judicial order.

“Veterans fought to defend the constitutional rights and freedoms of every American, and they should never lose those same rights because of bureaucratic decisions made without due process,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Veterans who simply need help managing their benefits are treated as if they are dangerous without any finding from a judge or court. This legislation will protect veterans’ Second Amendment rights while ensuring proper judicial safeguards remain in place for individuals who truly pose a danger to themselves or others. Our veterans deserve fairness, due process, and the full protection of the Constitution they served to defend.”

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