Restore gun rights for certain felons?

I don't see it happening, tho I believe in second chances for some. The one's wanting to take are gun rights won't ever vote for it. They would kindly take are rights for less, if allowed.

I have a friend who did 7 years for Manslaughter. While in prison he underwent a religious conversion and turned his life around. He's been employed as a clergyman for over 20 years and hasn't had any negative encounters with law enforcement since.

I don't think restoration should be automatic. I think there should be a process whereby a felon can apply to have their rights restored but I also think that if the felon every commits another offense after having their right restored they should lose them forever.

Having said that I agree with Troy Fairweather. The Statists will never permit it

I believe that for non violent felonies you can already have your gun rights restored.

If you paid your time for the crime you should get all rights back that were previously surrendered. Not to hard to see the issue with that

Big_Al said:

I believe that for non violent felonies you can already have your gun rights restored.

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There's a process but it hasn't been funded for several years

Trunk Monkey said:

There's a process but it hasn't been funded for several years

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The one I've heard about is paid for by the individual, hire your own lawyer & file papers. If the judge approves you get your gun rights back.

There is a process, asking for a pardon either from the governor or a board in some states if a state offense, or the President, if a federal offense. Pardons usually come with restoration of rights but how that goes down with NICS, I do not know.

The whole certain felons thing, I would not support any restoration of firearms rights for someone convicted of a violent felony.

As noted, it is a right. If, according to the law, you have served your sentence and have been deemed "okay" to return to society, then all rights should be restored.

I would be okay with the restoration of gun rights to any non-violent felon. I would not support violent offenders ever getting their rights back.

The Evangelist Cowboy said:

If you paid your time for the crime you should get all rights back that were previously surrendered. Not to hard to see the issue with that

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QFT. And if you're not willing to trust someone with their rights after serving their time, then perhaps they shouldn't be out on the streets? AKA... they obviously haven't served their just penance.

sota said:

QFT. And if you're not willing to trust someone with their rights after serving their time, then perhaps they shouldn't be out on the streets? AKA... they obviously haven't served their just penance.

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I've been saying this for years. If someone cannot be trusted to own a gun and not misuse it then they cannot be trusted to be in society in general.

All of the Founding Fathers were criminals and would have been given capital punishment (hanged) if they had been caught.

No. The main reason is they overwhelming vote Democrat. Which is the real reason for the current push.

Also my LEO experience showed me that with very few exceptions, once a felon always a felon.

The pardon process is there for those that deserve it.

zdc1775 said:

I've been saying this for years. If someone cannot be trusted to own a gun and not misuse it then they cannot be trusted to be in society in general.

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Agree, unfortunately it will never work like that.

The Evangelist Cowboy said:

If you paid your time for the crime you should get all rights back that were previously surrendered. Not to hard to see the issue with that

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Doc Samson said:

As noted, it is a right. If, according to the law, you have served your sentence and have been deemed "okay" to return to society, then all rights should be restored.

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zdc1775 said:

I've been saying this for years. If someone cannot be trusted to own a gun and not misuse it then they cannot be trusted to be in society in general.

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Losing your rights (voting and gun bans) are part of the sentence. It is part of your punishment. Why is that so hard to understand? You know that up front, when you decide to hold up that bodega or sell drugs to school kids. You know it and you still do it. You gave up your rights, they weren't taken from you. Your choice. Your decision. You handed them to the courts yourself. No one took them from you.

sota said:

QFT. And if you're not willing to trust someone with their rights after serving their time, then perhaps they shouldn't be out on the streets? AKA... they obviously haven't served their just penance.

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I see. So, if the choice is to let him out (usually early) and not give his gun rights back to him (after he willingly gave them up) he should just stay in jail because he is not worthy of being on the streets? Ok, I get it. Let's ask him. Stay in jail for the rest of your term (100% time served) and get your rights back (that you voluntarily gave up) or get out 5, 7, 10 years early, be on probation and never get your rights back. Hmmm, let him choose.

BearBrimstone said:

I would be okay with the restoration of gun rights to any non-violent felon. I would not support violent offenders ever getting their rights back.

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There is a possible solution. If your felony did not involve any kind of violence with any kind of weapon then there should be a system set up to petition the courts to get your rights back. It may take time and lawyer fees but if you really want them back and do not plan to go back to your old ways, there should be some kind of process.

If you were violent and/or used any kind of weapon, you can forget getting your rights back unless you've been a model citizen for 10, 15 or 20 years and have sponsorship from someone with some type of reputation (not momma or Uncle Billy) then there should be a process to at least attempt to get them back. Depending on the original crime.

I am not comfortable in giving a violent felon his gun rights back "just because" it's his right to defend himself and his family.
Nope! He gave up that right when he stabbed that guy who took his parking space or robbed the 7-11 because he was hooked on crack but is better now.
No thanks.

If you think all felons deserve to get their gun rights back then you can sponsor one and have him live in your home with his guns. You can befriend a lot of great guys that way. Him and his buddies will love you forever.

I believe in restoring rights for all. I don't care who you robbed, how much crack you sold, who you rapped, or how many you killed. You serve your time and get out and give life another go. Unpopular I am certain in the eyes of many yet I still believe it, life happens and bad things will happen no changing it so why be afraid of what will happen. Learn to live around it.

sherrick13 said:

Also my LEO experience showed me that with very few exceptions, once a felon always a felon.

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If you mean being a repeat offender that is not true. Even as a LEO you can not know how many non-violent felony laws are on the books.

After the convicted felon gets out of jail, the felon should rejoin society. The right to vote is reserved to non-felons. Once a felon, no vote for the rest of life.

If they didn't commit a violent crime or commit a crime while possessing a gun and they have paid their debt then I don't see why not.

larryh1108 said:

Losing your rights (voting and gun bans) are part of the sentence. It is part of your punishment. Why is that so hard to understand? You know that up front, when you decide to hold up that bodega or sell drugs to school kids. You know it and you still do it. You gave up your rights, they weren't taken from you. Your choice. Your decision. You handed them to the courts yourself. No one took them from you.

If you think all felons deserve to get their gun rights back then you can sponsor one and have him live in your home with his guns. You can befriend a lot of great guys that way. Him and his buddies will love you forever.

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I don't think it's hard to understand. My point being that if we trust someone to act in a responsible, rational manner and become a productive member of society after serving their sentence; if we trust them to be back in the general populace, then they should be trusted to own a firearm. It's not like they couldn't get one if they really wanted one, right?

If we cannot trust them, then they shouldn't be out... and many of them shouldn't be out.

Losing your rights is part of the sentence. It is supposed to be a deterrent. If you decide to give up your gun rights for life by choosing to commit the felony, then you give up your right to be trusted by society to own one. Yeah, he can get it illegally. If caught, he should be put back in jail. Again, his choices put him there. Society didn't, he did it to himself.

larryh1108 said:

Losing your rights is part of the sentence. It is supposed to be a deterrent. If you decide to give up your gun rights for life by choosing to commit the felony, then you give up your right to be trusted by society to own one. Yeah, he can get it illegally. If caught, he should be put back in jail. Again, his choices put him there. Society didn't, he did it to himself.

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Except most of those do not vote anyway; and if they want a gun, they'll find a way to get one - so no deterrent in that regard.

Non violent Felons, after they have served their sentence whatever that was, and completed what ever probation would go with it, and add on a substantial period of time has gone by, say 10 years minimum. I'd be for giving all rights back.