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Bill

S 478

Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025

119th Congress Introduced by Jim Banks and 36 co-sponsors

The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025 safeguards veterans' gun rights by preventing the VA from sharing their info with the DOJ without a court order.

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35.
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Bill Summary · S 478

Summary of S. 478 - Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025

Bill Overview

  • Bill Number: S. 478
  • Title: Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025
  • Introduced: February 6, 2025
  • Current Status: Under consideration by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs; hearings held on March 11, 2025.

Purpose and Intent

The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025 aims to amend Title 38 of the United States Code to protect the Second Amendment rights of veterans. Specifically, the bill seeks to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from sharing certain personal information about veterans with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for use in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

Key Provisions

  1. Prohibition on Information Transmission:

    • The bill prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from transmitting personally identifiable information of veterans to the DOJ solely based on a determination to pay benefits to a fiduciary for the veteran.
    • This prohibition is contingent upon the absence of a judicial order or finding that the veteran poses a danger to themselves or others.

  2. Amendment to Title 38:

    • A new section, § 5501B, will be added to Chapter 55 of Title 38, explicitly stating the prohibition on the transmittal of information to the DOJ for NICS purposes.

  3. Clerical Amendment:

    • The table of sections at the beginning of Chapter 55 will be updated to include the new section regarding the prohibition.

Impact

  • Veterans: The bill is designed to safeguard the Second Amendment rights of veterans, ensuring that their personal information is not shared without due process.
  • Department of Justice: The DOJ will have restricted access to certain information that could affect the eligibility of veterans to purchase firearms.
  • Legal Framework: The bill reinforces the requirement for judicial oversight before any information can be shared that could impact a veteran's rights.

Procedural Aspects

  • The bill was introduced in the Senate and has been referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  • Hearings were conducted on March 11, 2025, to discuss the implications and details of the legislation.

Sponsors

The bill is primarily sponsored by Senator John Kennedy and has numerous cosponsors, including:
- Jerry Moran
- Roger Marshall
- Lindsey Graham
- Chuck Grassley
- Tommy Tuberville
- Others

Related Legislation

  • HR 1041: A companion bill in the House of Representatives that addresses similar issues regarding veterans' rights and information sharing.

This summary provides an overview of the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025, highlighting its purpose, key provisions, and potential impact on veterans and the legal landscape surrounding gun ownership rights.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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