Under The Brady Handgun Act, Veteran Affairs Orders Vet’s House Inspected, Firearms Seized
North Idaho veteran John Arnold found himself in the middle of a political firestorm Thursday afternoon. The vet suffered a stroke and, under the Brady Handgun Act, was found to be mentally incompetent to own a firearm by Veteran Affairs.
John Arnold’s name was added to the NICS list by a mental health professional. When the list was updated and his name showed up, he was in jeopardy of losing his weapons. Until Rep. Heather Scott, and many others stepped in. At one point there are dozens of people in front of Arnold’s home protesting what they called a violation of Arnold’s rights.
The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is a system that determines if an individual can potentially buy a firearm. The Brady Handgun Act uses this system. The gun seller is instantly alerted by the NICS if the buyer is mentally incompetent, a felon or should not be legally buying a gun.
John Arnold’s name was added to this list by someone of the medical profession when he was being treated for his stroke, and it basically means his guns should be taken away as he is “mentally incompetent” and shouldn’t have firearms.
This almost happened until a local representative Heather Scott, a local sheriff, and many members of the community showed up at Arnold’s house to protest. Many were outraged and called the situation a violation of Arnold’s rights. That day the Veteran’s Affairs publicly stated it would not inspect Arnold’s home and seize his weapons.
Many have responded to this instance and have said we need to protect our veterans more and have successful rallies like these to protect our own rights.
Arnold was spot on when he said, “People let the small stuff go by without fighting it. The other stuff that you don’t see, gets bigger and bigger and more dangerous.”
Representative Heather Scott said, “I believe that the Department of Veterans Affairs is coming to a veteran’s home in Priest River today to check for and confiscate his guns based on nothing more than a stroke which has left him with some mild physical impairment. If you feel, as I do, that our veterans should not be treated like 3rd class citizens or common criminals, please join me between 9am and noon at the Congregational Church parking lot on HWY 2 to stand with this Veteran and show that the citizens of Bonner & Boundary County will stand firm on this issue.”
This is an awesome story of an injustice that happened where many people came together and fought laws put into place that are violation of rights. This is along the same lines of the thousands that gathered nearby in Washington state to fight the draconian i594 law.
If you are enraged about the violation of yours or someone’s rights, intervene and make your voice be heard.
People like this prove that we can influence our country for the better, you can protect your rights with action. Only if we continue to make small steps like this will this country remain ours, the home of the brave and of the armed under the Second Amendment.
