-=> Quoting Mark Ou to Steve Gunhouse on 15 May 96  20:52 <=-
 Re: Firearms and felons 
 SG>MO>I don't have any problem with suspending
 SG>MO>a convicted felons rights even after
 SG>MO>he's been released from jail.  That's
 SG>MO>still part of the penalty he or she
 SG>MO>pays for the crime.  It just happens that
 SG>MO>he or she is no longer incarcerated.
 
 SG>If that's made an official part of their sentence, sure. If they're
 SG>sentence is only supposed to be, say, eight years, then after 8 years
 SG>they should have all rights restored. IMHO.
 MO> But it IS part of their sentence, no?
 MO> I assume that the restrictions regarding
 MO> convicted felons and firearms possessions
 MO> are written in state or federal laws,
 MO> thus making it part of the penalty for
 MO> having been convicted of a felony --
 MO> doesn't have to be in the US Constitution.
 MO> Remember, the US Constitution gives the
 MO> states the rights to pass laws like those
 MO> that keep firearms out of the hands of
 MO> convicted felons.
 
The point was that it isn't up to the judge. No matter the circumstances 
surrounding the crime, he can't say "... and your ability to own a
firearm is suspended for x years". No matter what the circumstances - if 
you were only guilty of some non-violent felony and there were some
extenuating circumstances - you lose your rights until the state laws 
allow you to petition for restoration (which at least here isn't 
dependent on the crime).
If the length of suspension depended on the crime or sentence, I could 
accept it. As it is, you have to file a court action to get your rights 
back, they are not restored automatically after some period.
That's the story on some of these people who were refused under Brady. 
They committed a crime, served there time, and were released years ago. 
They have lived decades without committing another crime, and are fine, 
upstanding citizens. But they weren't aware that they were supposed to 
ask to have their rights restored, and so they turn up on the Brady check 
as convicted felons who aren't allowed to purchase guns.
I'm sorry, but I can't accept that you should have to *ask* for your 
rights back. That's all there is to it.
Steve
... Necessity knows no law except to conquer. - Publilus Syrus
--- GEcho 1.00
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