"Getting tough on criminals" , is just a stupid, mindless, propaganda-following sheep position. First off, most felons are not violent. Should Martha Stewart, Rush Limbaugh or Oliver North be denied rights? They are felons. How about former Enron employees? The way the laws are these days, it is easy for a person to inadvertanlty become a felon. How about someone who screwed up on their taxes? That's a felony as well.
Former felons are expected to go to work and pay taxes just like everyone else. They and they're families also run the same risk of becomming victims of violence as everyone else, but they are prohibited from the means to protect themselves and their loved ones. This is cruel and unusual punishment.
If you make it difficult or impossible for a former felon to work, rent a house or any other necesary functions, then what choice do you give them but to go back to crime? As I said earlier, violent offenders are a minority in prison.
Congress has purposly de-funded USC 925, which is a mechanism for the BATF to restore rights to deserving former felons. No one has had their rights restored under this law, ever!
There needs to be a law that requires immedeate and automatic restoration of ALL rights to a former felon who goes 5 or 10 years with no serious criminal issues, and has demonstrated that he is once again a contributing citizen. You shouldn't even have to ask for your rights. There needs to be a system where a person can restore themselves. That is the American way. That is true Justice.
By the way, in the formation of our country, everyone that fought for the colonies in the Revolutionary War was a felon, according to the Crown.
Here's something else to think about. With the passage of the Veterans Disarmament Act (HR 2460) any veteran who goes to the VA for counseling, or treatment for depression, PTS, DSS or anything else, adults who were diagnosed with ADD as children, got into fights at school, or anyone who has ever been to see a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker for anything, will all be placed on the Brady "prohibited persons' list for NICS. So it's not just felons that are being denied. Do you see a pattern here? If you can't take guns from all the people, then just make all the people felons and 'prohibited persons'.
Wake up and smell the coffee, people!