(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) released the following statement today regarding his amendments to the Sportsmen’s bill (S. 3525), specifically an amendment to protect veterans’ gun rights, which were blocked by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

“I’m disappointed Senator Reid once again refused to allow Senators to offer amendments. One amendment I filed – the Veterans’ Second Amendment Protection Act – would have prevented our nation’s veterans from being denied due process before having a fundamental Constitutional right taken away when they attempt to purchase a firearm. Specifically, my amendment would have required all veterans who are considered mentally incompetent for purposes of assigning benefit payments, not be considered ‘adjudicated as a mental defective’, and thus losing their Second Amendment rights, unless they have been found by a judicial authority to be a danger to themselves or to others. Instead of working with his colleagues to correct this overly-broad and unjust regulation, Reid has blocked a vote on this common sense solution. The American people, and our veterans who have risked their lives for this country, deserve better,” Dr. Coburn said.

For more information on amendments, click here.

###