VA raises concerns about gun registry with offer of free gun locks

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usmarine0352_2005

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This doesn't look good.




http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jan/6/va-free-gun-locks-raises-concerns-gun-registry/




VA raises concerns about gun registry with offer of free gun locks

By Dave Boyer - The Washington Times - Tuesday, January 6, 2015

As President Obama dodges a reminder of the veterans’ health-care scandal this week, the Department of Veterans Affairs is offering free gun locks to veterans if they provide details on the number of guns they own and their home address, raising concerns about a government-run gun registry. Some veterans have received a form letter in recent days from the VA offering gun locks if they return a completed form listing their name, address and number of guns in the home.

“As your partner in healthcare, we are committed to keeping you and your family safe,” states the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times. “Gun locks have been shown to greatly reduce death and injury caused by firearms in the home. If you own a gun, we hope you will request and use a gun lock.”
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I haven't received that letter yet. Has anyone on the THR? To be honest, I don't take advantage of any VA benefits and I've been out since '06, so I would probably be pretty far down on the list to get such a letter. I'm curious to see an actual copy of it, they didn't post one in the Washington Times article.
 
Nothing from the VA yet about gun locks for me. Then again I never whisper anything about firearms, or even knowledge around VA or employees.
 
I suspect most gun owners are 1) disinterested in stupid gun locks and 2) too savy to give up this information.

BTW many police departments give these out for free no questions asked.

These are more for child locks than to keep an adult out - just keeps honest people honest much like a front door lock.
 
Ain't heard nothin.

And that's my VA in the clip. Of course, that's probably just cause they've been in so much trouble lately and it's the most convenient clip.

To point - for me, health care professionals tie for position number one in the "I don't discuss firearms" race.

Free locks - offer me some ammo and maybe we'll talk... nah... absolutely nothing good can come of that. Not EVER with health care in general but quite specifically with the VA as a governmental body!

Simple "Nope" works just fine - not like it's a deposition.

Todd.
 
I retired in 05 and have had nothing to do with the VA since my separation. So, if true I am pretty far down on the list as well. And like Jerkface said I will ask for a real fun amount of locks. Of course I will not list what I own, I would list the many, many that I want to own. :)
 
I think this is a variant of a scam that has been floating around the internet for 5+ years.
I get most of my health care from the VA and I have never seen one of those "Letters!" I've also never talked to anyone who has.
IF I were to ever get such a letter it would immediately go into the shredder!
Sarge
 
Not to sound too stupid but...I'm not really seeing the conspiracy here. If the VA is offering free gun locks, wouldn't it sort of be necessary to know how many the veteran wants and where they should be sent? I mean, I suppose they could guess...but I just can't figure out how else the process could be handled without having the veteran come to a distribution point and pick the locks up. They're not asking for an itemized list with make model and caliber, just a number.

Either way, gun locks aren't all that expensive and most of our local PD's have a supply of cable locks they will give you no questions asked. SO if you want to stay under the radar, it's not all that difficult.
 
ontheroad said:
Not to sound too stupid but...I'm not really seeing the conspiracy here. If the VA is offering free gun locks, wouldn't it sort of be necessary to know how many the veteran wants and where they should be sent? I mean, I suppose they could guess...but I just can't figure out how else the process could be handled without having the veteran come to a distribution point and pick the locks up. They're not asking for an itemized list with make model and caliber, just a number.

Either way, gun locks aren't all that expensive and most of our local PD's have a supply of cable locks they will give you no questions asked. SO if you want to stay under the radar, it's not all that difficult.
Click to expand...

Uncle Sugar doesn't give away anything for free.
In this day and age, information and data is the new golden currency.

There very well may not be a conspiracy, but if I had to make an educated guess I may ponder that .gov is going to link PTSD with a firearm disability as soon as it can.
 
Sol said:
Uncle Sugar doesn't give away anything for free.
In this day and age, information and data is the new golden currency.

There very well may not be a conspiracy, but if I had to make an educated guess I may ponder that .gov is going to link PTSD with a firearm disability as soon as it can.
Click to expand...


You mean beginning with something like Feinstein said? (google 'Feinstein ptsd quote')

The problem with expanding this is that, you know, with the advent of PTSD, which I think is a new phenomenon as a product of the Iraq War, it’s not clear how the seller or transferrer of a firearm covered by this bill would verify that an individual was a member, or a veteran, and that there was no impairment of that individual with respect to having a weapon like this.
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/politics/guns/feinstein.asp#0eDRziC5otXqBTsW.99
Click to expand...
 
Gun safety, locks.....

If the US Department of Veterans Affairs wants to promote gun safety or hand out "free" gun locks, I'm all for it. :D
To me it's somewhat pointless considering several major gun companies already sponsor gun lock/gun safety programs for local law enforcement.
The 2 big LE agencies in my area offer new gun locks on request & many US firearms come with cable locks. I got one with my new M&P Shield no thumb safety 9x19mm pistol. My Glock 21 .45acp model I purchased in 2014 was a LE trade in. I requested a new lock which Glock promptly sent out. ;)

The VA or any other government agency can't make people be safe or not be stupid. This is just politics & PR. :rolleyes:
 
jerkface11 said:
Just ask for 107. And get all of your buddies to do the same.
Click to expand...
Been out since '08 and haven't received anything from the VA in years.

I had the same idea about requesting a whole bunch of gun locks, clear out their inventory if you can. Then make a big show of depositing them in the nearest dumpster and posting a video on YouTube.
 
I doubt I'll get that great free offer from the VA. I haven't interacted with them since using one semester worth of GI Bill benefits many years ago. The local PD gives out gun locks. No name, address, number of guns, place of birth, state of mind, political affiliation or colonoscopy report required...
 
My police dept gives out the locks for free as well. They're just sitting in our lobby with a thin coat of dust on them. I don't think I've ever seen anyone take one. In PA I'm pretty sure that all guns purchased at a gun store come with a lock. Not sure if that is a national thing or by state.

Sol said:
Uncle Sugar doesn't give away anything for free.
In this day and age, information and data is the new golden currency.

There very well may not be a conspiracy, but if I had to make an educated guess I may ponder that .gov is going to link PTSD with a firearm disability as soon as it can.
Click to expand...

In my opinion you hit the nail on the head!
 
Ranger Roberts said:
My police dept gives out the locks for free as well. ...
Click to expand...

As President Obama dodges a reminder of the veterans’ health-care scandal this week, the Department of Veterans Affairs is offering free gun locks to veterans if they provide details on the number of guns they own and their home address.
Click to expand...

I have no problems if gun locks are given away for free AND no questions asked. But, in exchange for information, bad, (very bad). Some gun owners can't afford good gun safe. Granted, the gun can still be stolen while locked ... but at least a child can't easily use it.

chuck
 
I tell them I just remove the key from the ignition of my Abrams tank - that and it's horn beeping will tell me if someone's trying to open a hatch!

On a serious note - I use the VA health care system and I haven't hear or seen any such request.
 
I go to the VA for all my health care, excellent BTW. I talk freely with the eye dr. about target shooting as the one I normally get is a Bulls Eye competitor as well as a Small Bore shooter.

Have yet to get a letter regarding this and will not respond if I do. I already have all the gun locks I need.

Maybe I need a gun lock for my carry gun, lock it to my holster. LOL
 
“As your partner in healthcare, we are committed to keeping you and your family safe,”
Medical advice and assistance is one thing.
But since when is any medical professional responsible for keeping folks safe?
Sounds kind of arrogant.
 
Now, that was funny!

It's the VA. We can expect rational, common sense ideas? Not.
Red Wind is offline Report Post Quick reply to this message

Red Wind
Click to expand...

I've have not heard of this from the VA, and I have not had anything but excellent, positive interaction from them.
 
I have worked for the VA for years and see many vets every day, discuss guns with many as a mutual interest and have never heard of this initiative. The only gun related documentation I have ever seen is when a home visit is made and a question is asked if there are guns in the house and are they secured. It is a basic safety check along with asking if the outside steps are lighted, does the tub have safety strips in it to prevent slipping, etc.

I have not ever seen evidence of a VA gun roundup.
 
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