Should a convicted felon ever get their gun rights back?

[thumperdogg]

Just reading some stories here in the forums and ran across a thread where a person was in the process of dropping their felony to a lesser charge. The end result is a convicted felon being able to purchase a gun again.

Do you think this is ok?

 

[sepe]

I would have made the poll public. My vote was definitely. If they'd done their time and paid their debt to society, shouldn't they be a free man?

 

[Stschil]

My Answer is definately. Now here is the reasons why I say that. If, and that is the largest two letter word in the english language, this person has served his time, and is released without restriction, he/she has been restored to society. They should be allowed to be Citizens, not a part of some subculture that it OK to discriminate against.

Now, to the IF again. IF this person is not deemed good enough to be a full citizen, THEY SHOULD NOT BE OUT OF PRISON.

This, I know, is not a popular view. It causes many people, even 'Freedom Loving Gun Owners' here on INGO to get uptight. But thats the way I view it.

The justice system of today does not work. Its about warm and fuzzies to make the sheep feel safe and the keep the prisoners pacified. It needs to go back to being a form of punishment. There are some criminals that I personally think should never see the light of day again.

So, thats my story and I'm stickin to it.

 

[ATM]

Definitely, for the above reasons and more.

 

[Deadly Z Driver]

My Answer is definately. Now here is the reasons why I say that. If, and that is the largest two letter word in the english language, this person has served his time, and is released without restriction, he/she has been restored to society. They should be allowed to be Citizens, not a part of some subculture that it OK to discriminate against.

Now, to the IF again. IF this person is not deemed good enough to be a full citizen, THEY SHOULD NOT BE OUT OF PRISON.

This, I know, is not a popular view. It causes many people, even 'Freedom Loving Gun Owners' here on INGO to get uptight. But thats the way I view it.

The justice system of today does not work. Its about warm and fuzzies to make the sheep feel safe and the keep the prisoners pacified. It needs to go back to being a form of punishment. There are some criminals that I personally think should never see the light of day again.

So, thats my story and I'm stickin to it.

Well said I second this!

 

[Deadly Z Driver]

Not to mention the way the laws are now restricting their gun ownership only makes them do more illegal things because if you feel your safety is threatened and that you need a gun you will do what it takes to protect yourself and others.

 

[Citizen711]

I'm in the "only if they were convicted of a non-violent offense" camp. I certainly see the logic in keeping guns out of the hands of violent felons. Paying your debt to society is just that, paying your accrued debt. There is little reason to believe a person is less prone to rack up more of that debt once they are released.

That said, I don't think blanket legislation works in most cases. There are exceptions to every rule. The nature of the conviction should most certainly be considered, when making the determination on their future gun rights.

I guess a more accurate answer for me would be, "It depends."

 

[thumperdogg]

7 people so far think convicted murderers should be able to purchase a gun after serving their "life" sentence?

I am just opening the door for debate, not arguments!

 

[tsugaruroman]

I'm in the "only if they were convicted of a non-violent offense" camp. I certainly see the logic in keeping guns out of the hands of violent felons. Paying your debt to society is just that, paying your accrued debt. There is little reason to believe a person is less prone to rack up more of that debt once they are released.

That said, I don't think blanket legislation works in most cases. There are exceptions to every rule. The nature of the conviction should most certainly be considered, when making the determination on their future gun rights.

I guess a more accurate answer for me would be, "It depends."

Agree.

 

[KLB]

7 people so far think convicted murderers should be able to purchase a gun after serving their "life" sentence?

I am just opening the door for debate, not arguments!

If it is a "life" sentence then they will die in prison.

Why should someone that made a mistake be unable to defend themselves and/or their families for the rest of their lives?

This is just another example of punishing a group that will actually follow the law, while failing to stop those that will not from getting a weapon.

 

[Hogwylde]

You've got to question the intelligence and moral character of anyone that gets convicted of a felony in the first place. And if you have reason to question their intelligence and character, you have reason to question if they should be allowed have a firearm.

 

[Stschil]

7 people so far think convicted murderers should be able to purchase a gun after serving their "life" sentence?

I am just opening the door for debate, not arguments!

That's not what I said.

Again, if that person is not deemed fit to be a full citizen, they have no business being out of prison. If a person is dangerous, a law is NOT going to stop them from doing what they will do.

"Gun laws, don't keep criminals from getting guns!", We see that stated to the Grabbers all the time. Do we REALLY believe it, or is it just saber rattling so that we can keep OUR guns, but still restrict those whom ae don't approve of ?

 

[ATM]

7 people so far think convicted murderers should be able to purchase a gun after serving their "life" sentence?

I am just opening the door for debate, not arguments!

Sure. They should also be allowed to purchase cars, hammers and any number of other inanimate objects once they are released from incarceration.

Why shouldn't they be? Is there some reason to believe that these objects either caused them to commit past crimes or would cause them to commit future crimes?

 

[Ted]

My Answer is definately. Now here is the reasons why I say that. If, and that is the largest two letter word in the english language, this person has served his time, and is released without restriction, he/she has been restored to society. They should be allowed to be Citizens, not a part of some subculture that it OK to discriminate against.

There is the operative phrase.

Now, to the IF again. IF this person is not deemed good enough to be a full citizen, THEY SHOULD NOT BE OUT OF PRISON.

I believe in Truth-In-Sentencing. X years sentenced means X years incarcerated. A life sentence means life imprisoned. Barring the commission of another crime, imprisoning someone imprisoned beyond their sentence has already been found unconstitutional.

This, I know, is not a popular view. It causes many people, even 'Freedom Loving Gun Owners' here on INGO to get uptight. But thats the way I view it.

It is what it is. I have no problem with disagreements.....unless the arguments are disingenuous.

The justice system of today does not work. Its about warm and fuzzies to make the sheep feel safe and the keep the prisoners pacified. It needs to go back to being a form of punishment. There are some criminals that I personally think should never see the light of day again.

Here in Greenwood, a man raped a woman after being release from prison.......5 days after being released from prison.....and after only serving 1/3 of his time.

But he was arrested and released for a sexual assault prior to that in Marion County. He didn't register as a sex offender and wasn't arrested for that either. His P.O. didn't have the authority to ask the court to incarcerate him. The CJ system doesn't only not work, but its incredibly broken.

So, thats my story and I'm stickin to it.

As we all should.

 

[thumperdogg]

A "life sentence" in the USA, usually means they will get out at some point. I have to believe that a convicted murderer should not be able to purchase a gun.

For that matter, I don't think a convicted murderer should ever see the light of day again, after all their victims can't.

 

[thumperdogg]

That's not what I said.

Again, if that person is not deemed fit to be a full citizen, they have no business being out of prison. If a person is dangerous, a law is NOT going to stop them from doing what they will do.

"Gun laws, don't keep criminals from getting guns!", We see that stated to the Grabbers all the time. Do we REALLY believe it, or is it just saber rattling so that we can keep OUR guns, but still restrict those whom ae don't approve of ?

Agreed.

 

[kiddchaos]

If there is not a process to reclaim that right, then there should be one.

 

[No2rdame]

If there is not a process to reclaim that right, then there should be one.

This would be a good middle ground, imho. There would be a pathway with some checks and balances that would look at each felon's record and history.

 

[downzero]

Nobody outside of a prison should have his gun rights extinguished.

That goes for voting rights as well.

 

[Lock load]

As long as they have served their time and are considered free men.
They should have the same rights as anybody else.
Probation and parole doesn't make them free men. Even if they are no longer incarcerated.