House Republicans are poised to roll back gun legislation that prevents mentally incompetent veterans from an automatic denial to obtain a gun permit, the Washington Examiner reported.
To date, veterans unable to manage their own finances — thus requiring assistance from the Veteran Administration — are labeled mentally incompetent, setting off a flag that they get included in the FBI's background check database that prevents them from buying guns, the Examiner reported.
House Republicans are proposing that vets first be entitled to a court hearing regarding their mental capacity before their names enter the FBI background check database, the Examiner reported.
"This common-sense bill would ensure no veteran or beneficiary is declared 'mentally defective' simply because they utilize a fiduciary," Rep. Phil Roe said, the Examiner reported.
But Brady Campaign President Dan Gross said isn't about veterans.
"This is not, and never will be, what it means to 'take care of our veterans,'" Gross said. "This piecemeal dismantling of the Brady Law may be good for the gun lobby, but it's flat-out deadly for the rest of us."
In January, Iraq War veteran Esteban Santiago allegedly opened fire in the baggage claim of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, killing 5. A judge ruled he's mentally competent to stand trial, but his defense team says he's being treated for schizophrenia.
Santiago was hospitalized for psychiatric care in Anchorage 2 months before the shooting, reportedly telling the FBI he was hearing voices. Agents took away his firearm before eventually returning it to him.
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