In a recent development, the U.S. Senate has approved an amendment that would scale back background check requirements for certain veterans and service members with mental health issues. This decision comes just hours before a tragic shooting incident took place in Lewiston, Maine, where a U.S. Army reservist allegedly shot and killed 18 people.

The amendment, authored by Republican Senators John Kennedy and Jerry Moran, aims to address concerns regarding veterans potentially losing their gun rights. Specifically, it prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from reporting select veterans to the National Criminal Background Check system if their finances are being managed by a conservator at the VA.

Under the current law, if the VA steps in to assist with a veteran's financial benefits in a conservatorship, the veteran is required to be reported to the criminal background check system. However, the Kennedy amendment, which passed with a vote of 53-45, prevents the secretary from transmitting this information unless a relevant judicial authority determines that the beneficiary poses a danger to themselves or others.

Senator Kennedy emphasized that veterans who have served their country deserve VA benefits and should not have their rights dependent on the judgment of unelected bureaucrats. Kennedy introduced the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act to safeguard veterans' right to bear arms.

The shooting suspect in the Maine incident, identified as Robert Card, allegedly showed erratic behavior while deployed with his Army Reserve Unit in upstate New York. Investigators are currently looking into potential mental health issues that Card may have had and how he obtained a weapon despite his alleged condition. Card remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous.

In Maine, Democratic state lawmakers have repeatedly attempted to pass legislation that would enforce universal background checks for all firearms but have been unsuccessful. Maine already prohibits certain individuals with criminal and medical histories from legally owning firearms. In the 2016 election, a referendum that sought to require background checks for most firearm sales was narrowly defeated.

The Kennedy amendment, although approved by the Senate, is still a long way from becoming law. It was passed as an amendment to a package of three massive spending bills being considered by the Senate to fund the government. The Senate is currently reviewing numerous amendments, and it is uncertain whether the Kennedy amendment will ultimately be included in the final product. The bills would still need to go through a reconciliation process with the House, and then both chambers would have to pass them before they are signed by President Joe Biden.

While the exact relation between the Senate amendment and the tragic shooting in Maine remains to be understood, this development highlights the ongoing debate surrounding gun rights, mental health, and background check requirements for veterans.