By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—The Schumer Shutdown is over. Included in the bill President Trump passed was législation that maintained a provision that prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from stripping the constitutional right of veterans to possess a firearm without due process simply because they have been appointed a fiduciary to manage their benefits; The Propaganda of Anti-Second Amendment Groups: Anti-Second Amendment Groups are getting their propaganda published in publications not only in mainstream media, but also in collegiate settings; 2025 Political Spending by Gun Control Groups: Gun-control supporters significantly outspent gun-rights groups in the 2025 off-year elections; New York City: New York City will take a left-wing turn towards more gun ownership restrictions; Virginia: expect a deluge of gun bills in 2026.
U.S. Congress
After 43 days of the Schumer shutdown, Congress passed a legislative proposal to reopen the federal government. Included in this package was the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill. This legislation maintained a provision that prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from stripping the constitutional right of veterans to possess a firearm without due process simply because they have been appointed a fiduciary to manage their benefits.
This section of this appropriations bill has a long history.
For over two decades, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has interpreted federal law to require that veterans who are appointed fiduciaries to manage their benefits (often due to disability) are reported to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) as “adjudicated as a mental defective.” This has resulted in over 250,000 veterans being stripped of their Second Amendment rights without due process—meaning no court ruling or medical finding that the individual is actually a danger to themselves or others. This administrative process deters veterans from seeking financial or mental health assistance due to fear of losing gun rights. Critics say it stigmatizes veterans and violates their due process and constitutional rights.
We need legislation to Permanently Solve the Problem:
- Recent appropriations legislation passed by the Senate (as part of a package to reopen the government) contains a temporary provision that prohibits the VA from stripping veterans of firearm rights solely for being appointed a fiduciary, unless due process is followed.
- However, this fix is temporary; it expires at the end of each fiscal year and must be renewed annually. It does not restore rights to those affected before the current fiscal year.
- Bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate for a permanent solution, notably the “Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act” (H.R. 1041/S.478). This legislation would require that only a court/judicial authority (not VA administrators) can remove a veteran’s gun rights, and only if there is a judicial determination that the veteran is dangerous. These bills have strong bipartisan support from veterans’ groups and lawmakers, but as of Nov. 12 are still making their way through Congress. The VA’s continued resistance to complying with the temporary fix underscores the need for permanent, codified reforms to protect veterans’ rights.
The Propaganda of Anti-Second Amendment Groups
The Anti-Second Amendment Groups have ramped up their propaganda as a result of the Trump DOJ working to promote fewer Second Amendment restraints at the federal level. They are getting their propaganda published in publications not only in mainstream media, but also in collegiate settings.
The Daily Targum, the website for Rutgers University, just published a biased article about the NJ Gun Violence Research Center (NJGVRC) and the impact of research funding cuts on gun violence prevention efforts:
- The NJGVRC highlighted that recent federal actions and reduced funding are threatening initiatives aimed at lowering firearm-related violence across the U.S.
- They attribute the national homicide rate to dropping by over 16% in 2024, to post-COVID normalization, improved state gun safety policies, changes in police practices, and community health efforts.
- New Jersey’s strong firearm laws contribute to its lower rates of shootings and homicides, with protections like safe storage and temporary removal of guns from homes when needed.
- Despite New Jersey’s progress, NJGVRC stressed the importance of bipartisanship, aiming to work with more conservative states to promote firearm safety.
- The struggle for federal research funding dates back to the 1990s, with a freeze thawing only in 2018. Despite an increase in funding in recent years, recent cuts (like those to the Department of Justice) threaten community-based intervention programs.
- NJGVRC warns that dwindling research infrastructure could reverse progress, making gun violence prevention much harder if not addressed soon.
- The article emphasizes the need for continued engagement and vigilance to preserve New Jersey’s gun control measures.
Everytown has published a report released on Oct. 23 that attempts to prove that there is no evidence that arming teachers effectively deters gun violence in K-12 schools.
JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, just published its report about the March 2025 AMA Summit on Firearm Violence Reduction
2025 Political Spending by Gun Control Groups
In its summary of the 2025 election, TheRelocad.com (byline-Stephen Gutowski) focused on political spending by gun control groups and those supporting the Second Amendment. The article can be summarized with these facts:
- Gun-control supporters significantly outspent gun-rights groups in the 2025 off-year elections. In Maine, supporters of a new “Red Flag” law spent about eight times more than their opponents ($800,000 to $100,000). They ultimately secured about 63% of the vote.
- In Virginia, Everytown for Gun Safety reportedly spent over $620,000 (though they claim closer to $1.7 million), including more than $1 million on ads for key candidates. For comparison, the NRA spent just over $25,000, and another gun-rights group (Virginia Citizens Defense League) spent $30,000. If Everytown’s numbers are correct, they outspent the NRA by a margin of 55-to-1.
- In New Jersey, spending figures are more opaque, but Everytown announced a $500,000 campaign supporting Democrat Mikie Sherrill, while there was no declared NRA spending in the state.
- This heavy financial advantage helped gun-control advocates and their backed candidates sweep major races and push gun policy changes, particularly in Maine and Virginia, and may preview similar trends for the next midterm elections. Stephen Gutowski’s summary—It was a blowout!
State Legislature
The following states are still in SESSION:
Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin
New York City: New York City will take a left-wing turn towards more gun ownership restrictions. His public safety agenda for the NYPD includes:
A 275% funding increase for the city’s Crisis Management System, expanding ‘violence interrupter’ and hospital-based programs modeled on Cure Violence.
Gun violence prevention: A 275% funding increase for the city’s Crisis Management System, expanding ‘violence interrupter’ and hospital-based programs modeled on Cure Violence.
North Carolina: The veto override vote on SB50 is “on the calendar” for Nov. 17.
2026 Legislation
Virginia
On Oct. 18, Virginia state judge F. Patrick Yeatts issued a permanent injunction against the state’s background check law. The Virginia Citizens Defense League and Gun Owners of America brought this lawsuit. In Wilson v. Hanley, Yeatts wrote,
In exercising judicial restraint, the Court finds it improper to resolve the question of firearm regulation through the lens of Bruen; instead, the inherent as-applied constitutional deficiencies of the Act require that the court strike the statute in its entirety.
Because the Commonwealth of Virginia relies on the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which is administered by the FBI and based on federal statutes, it conflicts with Virginia law that permits 18- to 20-year-olds to purchase guns. Since the Democrats have regained control of the legislature and Governor-elect Spanberger is likely to support all gun control proposals, it is probable that this court-ordered injunction will be resolved by early 2026.
