The department will no longer refer beneficiaries to the federal background system solely for needing financial management assistance.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced it has stopped reporting veterans to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) solely because they participate in the department’s Fiduciary Program, which assists beneficiaries who need help managing VA benefits.
“Many Americans struggle with managing their finances, and Veterans’ Second Amendment rights shouldn’t be stripped just because they need help in this area,“ VA Secretary Doug Collins said. “We’re correcting this injustice and ensuring Veterans get the same due-process and constitutional rights as all Americans.”
The department concluded that requiring fiduciary assistance does not meet the legal standard for reporting someone as prohibited from possessing firearms after a review and consultation with the Department of Justice (DOJ). Most firearm possession prohibitions require a judicial or similar determination under federal law.
The VA is working with the FBI to remove prior fiduciary-based referrals from NICS and stated that future reporting will align with statutory requirements under the Gun Control Act.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Collins, officials in the DOJ, and their respective agencies to make decisions and implement policies with integrity and transparency.
- For members of the Justice Department as they advise other federal agencies regarding constitutional protections.
- For veterans and their families to receive the assistance they need as federal policies are applied to their circumstances.
Sources: Department of Veterans Affairs
