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Gun Ban from the VA to our Vets...

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11 years 9 months ago - 11 years 9 months ago #17291 by BUILDING MY SASS
Now before I start...I asked a couple of the other mods their opinion on this...it was decided to post it up...
I received an email from a (reputable) friend the other day disclosing a Ban of sorts on our Vets from owning Firearms...Now this may Pertain to those with PTSD...but not sure on that...I have done some investigating on this and found it to be True...to what Extent I do not know...any one has any information on this, Please post it up...but PLEASE be Factual...

The Email goes as Follows....

"Veterans are receiving letters from VA prohibiting the ownership of firearms...
Written By Constitutional Attorney Michael Connelly, J.D.

How would you feel if you received a letter from the U.S. Government informing you that because of a physical or mental condition that the government says you have it is proposing to rule that you are incompetent to handle your own financial affairs? Suppose that letter also stated that the government is going to appoint a stranger to handle your affairs for you at your expense? That would certainly be scary enough but it gets worse.

What if that letter also stated: “A determination of incompetency will prohibit you from purchasing, possessing, receiving, or transporting a firearm or ammunition. If you knowingly violate any of these prohibitions, you may be fined, imprisoned, or both pursuant to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, Pub.L.No. 103-159, as implemented at 18, United States Code 924(a)(2).”?

That makes is sound like something right from a documentary on a tyrannical dictatorship somewhere in the world. Yet, as I write this I have a copy of such a letter right in front of me. It is being sent by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to hundreds, perhaps thousands, of America’s heroes. In my capacity as Executive Director of the United States Justice Foundation (USJF) I have been contacted by some of these veterans and the stories I am getting are appalling.

The letter provides no specifics on the reasons for the proposed finding of incompetency; just that is based on a determination by someone in the VA. In every state in the United States no one can be declared incompetent to administer their own affairs without due process of law and that usually requires a judicial hearing with evidence being offered to prove to a judge that the person is indeed incompetent. This is a requirement of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that states that no person shall “… be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law…”.

Obviously, the Department of Veterans Affairs can’t be bothered by such impediments as the Constitution, particularly since they are clearly pushing to fulfill one of Obama’s main goals, the disarming of the American people. Janet Napolitano has already warned law enforcement that some of the most dangerous among us are America’s heroes, our veterans, and now according to this letter from the VA they can be prohibited from buying or even possessing a firearm because of a physical or mental disability.

Think about it, the men and women who have laid their lives on the line to defend us and our Constitution are now having their own Constitutional rights denied. There are no clear criteria for the VA to declare a veteran incompetent. It can be the loss of a limb in combat, a head injury, a diagnosis of PTSD, or even a soldier just telling someone at the VA that he or she is depressed over the loss of a buddy in combat. In none of these situations has the person been found to be a danger to themselves or others. If that was the case than all of the Americans who have suffered from PTSD following the loss of a loved one or from being in a car accident would also have to be disqualified from owning firearms. It would also mean that everyone who has ever been depressed for any reason should be disarmed. In fact, many of the veterans being deprived of their rights have no idea why it is happening.

The answer seems to be it is simply because they are veterans. At the USJF we intend to find the truth by filing a Freedom of Information Act request to the Department of Veterans Affairs to force them to disclose the criteria they are using to place veterans on the background check list that keeps them from exercising their Second Amendment rights. Then we will take whatever legal steps are necessary to protect our American warriors.

The reality is that Obama will not get all of the gun control measures he wants through Congress, and they wouldn’t be enough for him anyway. He wants a totally disarmed America so there will be no resistance to his plans to rob us of our nation. That means we have to ask who will be next. If you are receiving a Social Security check will you get one of these letters? Will the government declare that you are incompetent because of your age and therefore banned from firearm ownership. It certainly fits in with the philosophy and plans of the Obama administration. It is also certain that our military veterans don’t deserve this and neither do any other Americans."


-- Michael Connelly, J.D.

I also came up with a copy of the Letter....


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It this is True, to call it a "slap in the Face" would be such an Understatement and goes beyond an Insult to our Veterans...
Are they Really trying to go in the Back Door in this way...
I, Personally am Appalled by this action...
Here is a Google Link, go about half way down to find the articles that I found...
www.search.ask.com/web?o=APN10145&tpr=1&...wnership+of+firearms
If anyone has any Direct ties to the NRA...please use them...I have emailed this to them...but I am sure they know of it...
Again...this is beyond an insult to our Men and Women who Have given so much to Defend this Country...by Serving and for those who Gave Their Lives Defending it...
BMS...
Last edit: 11 years 9 months ago by BUILDING MY SASS.

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11 years 9 months ago #17293 by OleCowboy
OK lets review this: I read the VA letter (took a strong set of glasses to do it) and this is NOTHING new. What is new is the para on weapons/ammo. The VA letter is a the result of an individual going to the VA for treatment and the VA making a potential determination that he/she is UNABLE to handle their own VA BENEFITS, if that is the case then the VA will make a call if you are incompetent then you need help. They can turn to a family member or and outside source to handle YOUR VA affairs, this is neither rare or unusual. The purpose is to prevent someone from being abused physically, mentally and financially that does not have your best interests in mind.

I would tell you that you have to be in bad shape mentally to receive a incompetence ruling. Its the RESULT of your interaction with doctors MD's and a whole group of shrinks. Most of the time this occurs it stems from a homeless veteran who is not right in the head from what ever, or a family who can no longer care an aged veteran (or just does not want to care for) or a young but severely injured veteran (head wound) and they just are unable to care for themselves.

I would not have cause for alarm...................BUT as now the Govt (NOT the VA) is involved my fear is it becomes a "slippery slope". The govt knows 100% of all combat vets have PTSD and a very high % of non combat vets have PTSD. Now the govt can simply state that any vet with a determination of PTSD by the VA of some % (its based upon % from 0% to 100%) will put put on the no can own gun list. Of course we vets are ALREADY on the potential terrorist list*.


* I have a copy of a brand new report dated Jan 2013 and researched by (be sitting down) West Point Military Academy Center for Terrorism, written by an officer class of '77. I can post where you can download it or will send you a copy in PDF format. It little over 100 pages, I have read thru about 1/2 and its a HATCHET job on ANYONE who voted Republican, is a vet, owns a gun or anything else like that. In fact its a jaw dropping report titled "Understanding America's Violent Far Right" (like us guys)
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11 years 9 months ago #17294 by BUILDING MY SASS
I had a good Feeling I could "RELY" on you for some good info on this....
I have been informed that a few Congressmen are getting in on it...and they are not happy about it...
Again my Friend...My Thanks for your contribution...as always...
to "The Point"... :usa:
Keep us up on anything else you may find...
BMS
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11 years 9 months ago #17295 by VTIT
This is a GREAT way to help our veterans. If they go to get helped they get labeled as being incompetent. If they are so incompetent does that also means that they will get disability checks? No just banned from owning a firearm and told they can't handle their own money...oh and pay someone to "hold" their money and "keep their affairs in order" for them. Who the hell decides what is in order? This corrupt government. I sure hope not. They will be as broke as the US government is. They can't manage their own money but they think they can manage someone else's? C'mon I am so sick of this government trying to control every aspect of our lives. I am not an alarmist or one to push for revolution but I think it is time to be come a criminal. It seems they have more rights than we do.

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11 years 9 months ago - 11 years 9 months ago #17296 by OleCowboy

VTIT wrote: This is a GREAT way to help our veterans. If they go to get helped they get labeled as being incompetent. If they are so incompetent does that also means that they will get disability checks? No just banned from owning a firearm and told they can't handle their own money...oh and pay someone to "hold" their money and "keep their affairs in order" for them. Who the hell decides what is in order? This corrupt government. I sure hope not. They will be as broke as the US government is. They can't manage their own money but they think they can manage someone else's? C'mon I am so sick of this government trying to control every aspect of our lives. I am not an alarmist or one to push for revolution but I think it is time to be come a criminal. It seems they have more rights than we do.

The letter that is posted is a letter that makes that determination. In doing so the VA has to give you a rating. Ratings are from 0-100% and service connected and non service connected. The result being the letter will lead to a finding by a board that will make the call. If you are determined incompetent to handle your VA benefits then you are already drawing benefits and it appears they are now trying to established a level of competency.

This is to protect the vet...years ago there was no such thing and it was not rare for a family to take a family member who was too old and feeble, turn him over to the state for care and the VA checks keep coming to them...Federal offense FYI. In fact I know a guy who did exactly that and was getting VA and SS disability checks, but had sent his brother to a home paid for by the state...he went to jail for it.

And yes I am a disabled COMBAT service connected veteran.
Last edit: 11 years 9 months ago by OleCowboy.
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11 years 9 months ago #17297 by Libertarian623
I showed up late but Ole cowboy said everything I would have said. Agreed its something that needs to be watched and monitored and the first guy that disputs his case will have my backing 100%. This is to protect those that need protecting.
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11 years 9 months ago #17298 by OleCowboy
Thank you and you are right...my fear is the WH/Obama/Dims in Congress will begin dictating the rules. Right now it would only affect someone who is deemed mentally incompent, and you have to be in some bad shape for that call. But get Reid, Pelosi FineTune (Feinstein, when I misspell it it wants to insert the word finetune, LO) Schumer, Drubin and the WH they well may say any PTSD vet is a crazy and can not own a gun....OK, FINE, then you show up here at the ranch and I shoot you for trying to take my gun, its because I was just crazy and they don't put crazy people in jail...LOL

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