A new spending bill expected to be signed by President Joe Biden will bring about a significant change in the way veterans declared mentally incompetent by the government can access firearms. The legislation, which has been a point of contention between Republicans and Democrats, aims to reverse the current law that requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to report such veterans to the national background check system.
Proponents of the change argue that the existing law unfairly penalizes veterans who rely on benefits from the agency and may need assistance managing their finances. On the other hand, gun control advocates view the law as a crucial measure in preventing suicides among military veterans.
