Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX) and Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) introduced H.R. 629, the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act.

Under current law, veterans who receive help navigating their benefits from a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) fiduciary are automatically labeled as “mentally defective” in the VA system. This incorrect label wrongly places them in the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), denying veterans their Second Amendment rights.

“For the men and women who have worn the uniform of this country to be denied the very constitutional freedoms that they fought for is unconscionable,” said Congressman Wenstrup. “Veterans shouldn’t be forced to choose between utilizing the resources they’ve earned at the VA and exercising their Second Amendment rights. As a veteran myself, I am honored to work with my colleague, Congressman Conaway, to ensure no veteran is denied their constitutional rights due to bureaucratic overreach.”

“This bureaucratic failure is preventing the very men and women who fought for our freedom from exercising their constitutional right to bear arms,” said Congressman Conaway. “The Veterans 2^nd Amendment Protection Act will ensure that veterans are able to take advantage of the services offered by the VA, without fear of being mislabeled as ‘mentally defective.’ This is a critical lapse in the system for veterans, but we are able to fix it with this legislation while still retaining the appropriate safeguards for those who truly need assistance. I look forward to working with my colleague Congressman Wenstrup to ensure that no veteran is wrongfully denied the constitutional rights they sacrificed so much to protect.”

Congressman Brad Wenstrup has served in the U.S. Army Reserve since 1998, currently holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  In 2005-06, he served a tour in Iraq as a combat surgeon, and was awarded a Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge for his service.  During his time in Congress, Brad is fulfilling his Reserve duties by treating patients at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. He is a stronger supporter of all Americans’ Second Amendment rights.

 After graduating from Odessa Permian High School in 1966 and playing on Permian’s first state championship football team, Congressman Mike Conaway served in the U.S. Army at Fort Hood. He later worked with President George W. Bush as the chief financial officer for Bush Exploration, forming a lifelong friendship based on the Texas values of family and freedom. As an ardent supporter of the Second Amendment, Congressman Conaway has consistently spearheaded legislation to protect the right to bear arms for all Americans. 

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