Likely Impact: Pro-Gun
Sponsor(s): Sen. John Kennedy
Notes: This bill has 36 cosponsors.
S. 478 has been introduced for the 119th Congress (2025 – 2026) as the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act.
Summary of Legislation:
Here is how Congress describes the bill: “This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from transmitting certain information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) utilized by licensed importers or dealers of firearms.
Specifically, the bill prohibits the VA from transmitting personally identifying information of a veteran or a beneficiary to the NICS solely on the basis that such veteran or beneficiary has an appointed fiduciary to manage their benefits, unless there is an order or finding of a judicial authority that such veteran or beneficiary is a danger to themselves or others.”
Veterans are the target of gun control advocates. Something has to be done to protect their right to keep and bear arms.
Bill Status:
Introduced and referred to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. It has had no committee action as of July 8, 2026.
Sponsor/Cosponsor Information:
The bill’s main sponsor is Sen. John Kennedy (R – Louisiana). It has 36 additional cosponsors, 15 of whom are original. All cosponsors are Republicans.
List of cosponsors as of July 8, 2026:
Republicans – Listed alphabetically by last name.
Sen. Banks, Jim (IN)
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha (TN)
Sen. Boozman, John (AR)
Sen. Budd, Ted (NC)
Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore (WV)
Sen. Cassidy, Bill (LA)
Sen. Crapo, Mike (ID)
Sen. Cramer, Kevin (ND)
Sen. Daines, Steve (MT)
Sen. Grassley, Chuck (IA)
Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy (MS)
Sen. Justice, James C. (WV)
Sen. Lankford, James (OK)
Sen. Moran, Jerry (KS)
Sen. Murkowski, Lisa (AK)
Sen. Paul, Rand (KY)
Sen. Ricketts, Pete (NE)
Sen. Risch, James E. (ID)
Sen. Rounds, Mike (SD)
Sen. Scott, Rick (FL)
Sen. Sheehy, Tim (MT)
Sen. Tillis, Thomas (NC)
Sen. Tuberville, Tommy (AL)