瓜神app

In 2005, National Guardsman Corey Briest survived a roadside bomb blast that killed three of his fellow service members in Baghdad. He returned home to South Dakota blind and dependent on a wheelchair 鈥� with a severe traumatic brain injury.

According to his wife Jennifer, most of his mental faculties are intact. He helps his children with schoolwork, takes an interest in household finances, and keeps track of family birthdays.

鈥淚 don't care if you remember what you had for lunch an hour ago, or what the date is today. Like, you remember the important things,鈥� she said.

But because of his injuries, the Department of Veterans Affairs told the Briests that they needed to appoint a fiduciary, someone to manage Corey鈥檚 financial affairs. And as a result of that determination, a VA field examiner told Corey he could no longer own or possess guns.

鈥淐orey was like, 鈥榃ell, wait. I have my grandpa's gun. It was handed down to me. I'm going to hand it down to my son one day,鈥欌�� Jennifer recalled. 鈥淭he field examiner was so rude about it. Wasn't compassionate to Corey. Wasn't explaining things. He was just like, 鈥楴ope, you can't have that鈥�that's against the law.鈥欌��

The examiner鈥檚 visit left Corey distraught, Jennifer said, because he felt as though the VA was taking something more away from him because of his injuries. The couple stored the heirloom weapon with extended family.

The VA's policy is to report vets to the FBI鈥檚 background check system, known as NICS, if they have been declared incompetent to manage their finances. That system screens most firearm purchases.

The VA cites a federal law that forbids gun ownership among people who are unable to take care of their affairs due to 鈥渕arked subnormal intelligence, or mental illness, incompetency, condition, or disease.鈥�

鈥淢any of the people that are reported under these systems are a danger to themselves or others. We just simply don't know which ones,鈥� said Lindsay Nichols, federal policy director with the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 鈥淪o these include individuals with dementia, serious mental illnesses, bipolar disorder, severe brain trauma. These disabilities alone don't make a person dangerous. But combined with easy access to guns because they can endanger the public.鈥�

But detractors argue that the VA鈥檚 criteria for identifying financial incompetence are unclear and that the appeals process is lengthy and difficult. Stacey-Rae Simcox of the Veterans Legal Clinic at Stetson University said the VA should have to go to court to take someone鈥檚 gun rights away.

鈥淓very other American gets that benefit except for the ones who signed up to defend the United States of America,鈥� she added. 鈥淭hat doesn't make any sense.鈥�

Simcox said difficulty with finances isn鈥檛 a reliable predictor of danger.

鈥淰A doesn't determine that veterans are mentally incompetent 鈥� just financially," she said. "They do it regularly enough that a lot of veterans are afraid to even go for mental health benefits or care at the VA because they're worried they're going to lose their right to carry a firearm and protect themselves.鈥�

Based on what Simcox has seen from her clients, she said she believes that the fiduciary process is sometimes triggered when a veteran goes in for a VA claim exam 鈥� otherwise known as a compensation and pension (C&P) exam 鈥� and not by routine medical visits or therapy. The C&P exam is used to evaluate conditions for disability compensation.

The VA said in a statement that it does a rigorous review before reporting veterans to the background check system.

鈥淐laims processors at the Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) assess and determine if a Veteran who is eligible to receive funds is also considered mentally incapacitated and cannot manage their finances and VA benefits," VA spokesman Terrence Hayes said in a statement. "VA conducts such evaluations when VA receives either medical evidence or declaration by a court of jurisdiction that clearly and convincingly shows that the person is incapable of managing their VA benefit payments without limitation."

At a press conference in late January, VA Secretary Denis McDonough maintained that the agency鈥檚 approach is sound.

鈥淭he standard that is applied related to the fiduciary responsibilities is a standard that we take great care with, that has been developed over much time and is meant to address a very delicate situation,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s in all things that we try to do here, it鈥檚 in the best interest of the veteran.鈥�

Congress is considering overriding the VA policy. Democrat Jon Tester of Montana pushed a measure through the Senate last year that prohibits federal funds from being used to report veterans to the background check system without a judge鈥檚 order declaring them a danger.

McDonough was adamant that veterans should feel safe seeking care at the VA.

鈥淚 worry, as I've told members of Congress, that there is a mis-impression about how VA treats conversations between a veteran and the veteran鈥檚 health care provider. Those are confidential conversations,鈥� he said.

McDonough鈥檚 office did not answer questions about how the fiduciary appointment process is triggered. It also declined to say how often the agency reports veterans to the background check system and how many of those veterans appeal.

This story was produced by the American Homefront Project, a public media collaboration that reports on American military life and veterans.

Copyright 2024 North Carolina Public Radio 鈥� 瓜神app