Viral email makes astoundingly stupid claim that the VA is trying to take guns away from veterans.

by Larry Scott, VA Watchdog dot Org

Sometimes I wonder if people just make up this crap:  "Hey, Merle.  Hold my beer while I hit the keyboard and start a rumor to scare veterans."

The latest email making the rounds has the VA setting up vets to take away their weapons.  Nonsense!  Not just nonsense ... an out-and-out lie!

Here is the basic content of this completely bogus email:

U.S. Military Vets being disarmed!

The U.S. Veterans Administration has been instructed by the Department of Homeland Security to ask military vets 3 questions when they come in for any kind of medical check-up or problem. Answering "Yes" to any single question will result in the vet being disarmed by the government.

The following e-mail was sent to the [blank] by a Vietnam Veteran. His identity is being concealed to prevent reprisals.

I had a doctors appointment at the local VA clinic yesterday and found something very interesting I would like to pass along.. While going through triage before seeing the doctor, I was asked at the end of the exam, three questions.
(1. Did I feel stressed?)
(2. Did I feel threatened?)
(3. Did I feel like doing harm to someone?)
The nurse then informed me, if I had answered yes to any of the questions, I would have lost my concealed carry permit as it would have gone into my medical records and the VA would have reported it to Homeland Security.
I am a Viet Nam vet and 15 year cc permit holder. Looks like they are going after us vets." Be forewarned and be aware. If you are a veteran, you've been warned.

Let's look at the stupidity here.

First, there is no "Veterans Administration" ... it is the Department of Veterans' Affairs.  This has to tell you something about the intellect of the person who wrote this.

Second, Homeland Security didn't tell the VA to ask the questions.  These are standard questions used in a pre-appointment interview.  A nurse usually asks these questions.  It is the VA's responsibility to monitor all health issues, including mental health.  I have been asked these questions many times.  And, I have answered "yes" to the stress question, and still have my weapons and a carry permit.

Third, the VA doesn't report anything to Homeland Security.

Fourth, carry permits are issued by states, counties or municipalities ... not Homeland Security.  Again ... this person doesn't even know the laws of the land.

Fifth, there are only two reasons (defined by the Department of Justice) that would allow the VA to report a veteran and get them on the NICS "no buy" list for weapons:  1. The veteran is adjudicated as an incompetent.  2. The veteran is involuntarily committed to a mental institution (including a VA psychiatric ward ... "flight deck").

Shame on the person who wrote this email.

Shame on anyone who forwards it.

And, to anyone who believes it, maybe you should answer "yes" to the question about feeling threatened.

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TOPICS: veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs, rumor control, guns, second amendment, mental health