Can veterans have their firearms seized because of what they say at the VA?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 07:16:49 -0400

Ok so I'm on the infamous OIF/OEF page on Facebook. Well I saw where a fellow vet had posted about his friend. Apparently, he got a visit from the ATF....the ATF because a doctor didn't like what he had to say during a C&P eval at his local VA. They confiscated all of his weapons. I don't know the extent of the conversation but, Ive heard of this happening before recently with strictly veterans and it seems it's starting to be become a problem. I understand some people may put themselves in that position and say the wrong thing at the wrong time but do you honestly think that it's going to be ok for the government to start taking weapons away like that? I don't understand why veterans are starting to be considered a threat to society. It's a saddening fact we're starting to have to deal with in my opinion. Anyone have any personal experiences or I out towards this?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2015 8:22 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:22:18 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member, I don't have personal experience with this, so I Googled the topic, because I think stories like this have a tendency to take on a life of their own. I read about a letter that some veterans have received saying they will have to undergo a competency hearing (of some sort), and one of the possible outcomes of the hearing - if the individual is found not competent - is the confiscation of weapons.

I would be suspicious of someone who says something wrong at a medical/mental health appointment, and then has the ATF knocking on the door. I guess it's just feasible enough to scare people, and I think that's what's happening here. (And that's obviously a semi-educated guess.)

Here's an explanation of the process I found on the web:

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2013/02/25/veterans-gun-seizure-hoax-debunked-somewhat/

Veterans Gun Seizure Hoax Debunked...Somewhat (updated)

Stories about "new letters" or a "new law" are total bunk. The law that authorizes gun seizures for those "adjudicated mentally ill" was passed in 1997 but nothing was said about it for over 15 years.

Response by SFC Jerry Barker made Apr 15 at 2015 3:07 PM

SFC Jerry Barker — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 15:07:35 -0400

I have a tough time believing that this happened, or if it really did, what "the rest of the story" is. The ATF isn't in a great big habit of coming to homes to take fireams. And I'm pretty sure that it would take a court order determining mental defect to do so. Now, getting the local police to do something may be a little easier, as their burden would be lower. An anonymous report of "danger to self or others" can cause you a whole world of grief!
But what do I know, it's a "new world" here, where everybody loves each other, criminals are really just misunderstood good people, and us vets are all crazy killers. Isn't that what you see?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2023 5:42 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 17:42:53 -0400

Yes they can. Keep that always in the forefront of your mind while opening your soul to someone who in essence is a complete stranger with their own motivations.