Earlier this week, Nationally-known gun rights writer David Codrea and I wrote about Wayne Irelan, an Iraqi War hero from Lavaca, Arkansas, and his ordeal in being stripped of his Second Amendment rights. Another well-known gun rights author, Dave Workman of Seattle, has also given us some great information here on Senate Bill 669, the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act.
I contacted the Irelan household this morning and had a wonderful conversation with Lana, Wayne’s loyal wife. She told me of the troubles the government has caused her family since Sergeant Irelan first attempted to pay a rifle out of pawn.
The creation of this family hardship is rooted in the Veteran’s Administration. Sergeant Irelan needed help, and the VA offered a program to him, one which allowed him a small stipend. Lana would have to take over the family finances to qualify for this aid, which she did last year. When the stipend began, Wayne and Lana were told Mr. Irelan had been declared mentally incompetent. They were also told at this time Wayne could lose his Second Amendment rights.
The Irelans filed an appeal through the VA (at the VA’s advice) with the Brady Handgun Act:
“September 9th of ‘09, we went to the VA office and we filed the appeal, and what we’re being told, it is still sitting in Little Rock (VA office).”
Wayne Irelan lost his Second Amendment rights last year with one stroke of a government worker’s pen. After he tried to retrieve his rifle from pawn, the federal computer databases flagged him as a prohibited citizen, and the dominoes began to fall. After the NICS check came back negative at the pawn shop, the Arkansas State Police contacted him, telling him his Concealed Handgun Carry License had been revoked. The only solace the ASP could recommend was the suggestion Wayne Irelan appeal through the VA, where this disaster began. Currently, Wayne Irelan has formal appeals with the FBI, the Arkansas State Police and the Veteran’s Administration in West Virginia.
When Wayne’s son called the BATFE office, they advised him to rid the household of all firearms, because they could all be arrested for the possession of such. The BATFE said the reason for this was Wayne Irelan had been declared incompetent.
Sergeant Irelan has never had any history of mental illness or violent tendencies, according to Lana.
Lana told me, “We’ve been together 36 years, and he has never laid a hand on me.” She then related how Wayne had promised her father on the day he asked for Lana’s hand in marriage that he would never harm her.
I am terribly angry at this injustice, but I do not believe my feelings come close to what Lana Irelan feels.
“It’s not right that he went over there and fought for our country, and then come home and them say, ‘Well, you’re a looney, then you can’t carry a gun, and therefore your wife can’t have one, either’” ~ Lana Irelan
The Irelan family does have some positives to look forward to. Lana is giving an interview to NRA radio tomorrow afternoon (airtime unknown at this time). Patriots across the country are beginning to hear this story, and they are infuriated. Congressman John Boozman’s D.C. office called today, promising they were looking to this matter.
What can we do about this great injustice? It’s an old phrase, but “call your congress-person, and complain”! Dave Workman is showing America a bill, Senate bill 669, which languishes in a Senate committee; it needs to be moved out and passed.
Who is glaringly absent during this event? I can name two Arkansas Senators who are not standing up for our Second Amendment rights--- Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln. Please call their offices today and demand they get on board to restore this man’s God-given rights which have been stripped away from him.
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