Felons to maybe get guns.
quote:Colorado State Rep. Perry Buck believes so much in the right to bear arms that she thinks even convicted felons should be able to own guns -- once they get out of the clink, of course. And only if they were convicted of, you know, "good felonies," which Buck defines as non-violent crimes. Guns for (Good) Felons is the gist of a new bill from Buck, who introduced legislation that would allow for certain felons to be able to possess firearms once again. Buck's arguments are that nonviolent offenders are unlikely to commit violent crimes so it would be "irresponsible" to deny them access to instruments of violence
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Interesting notion. Not sure how I feel on this one. I kind of have to agree. 0 -
If they were the "good" felonies, then it can be done on a case by case basis by asking for a PARDON from the Governor. Like it has been done for years. NOT just a blanket pardon in order to buy votes. 0 -
I like it. 0 -
I think that some folks should get a chance at redemption. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by grumpygy
quote:Colorado State Rep. Perry Buck believes so much in the right to bear arms that she thinks even convicted felons should be able to own guns -- once they get out of the clink, of course. And only if they were convicted of, you know, "good felonies," which Buck defines as non-violent crimes. Guns for (Good) Felons is the gist of a new bill from Buck, who introduced legislation that would allow for certain felons to be able to possess firearms once again. Buck's arguments are that nonviolent offenders are unlikely to commit violent crimes so it would be "irresponsible" to deny them access to instruments of violence
So does this part mean a gun is nothing but an instrument of violence, an odd way of wording it if you are backing the 2nd.
I have often wonderd, where in the 2nd Amd. is the clause for those who cant own arms.0 -
Felons should not be allowed to vote or own guns upon release. They should be required to prove their re-discovered trustworthiness. There should be a life-long component to punishment for a crime.
If they cannot prove they can be trusted beyond the first phase of their punishment (that being prison), they can darned well suffer the consequences.
Those consequences would include an armed and honest public ready for them should they transgress again.0 -
Not all felonies are created equal.
There's a myriad of Federal "felonies" which can range from illegal importation of wood (even though the forms have been properly approved) to mere possession of an unregistered machinegun conversion part.
I think this move by Mr. Buck is to pave the way for all those pot users, dealers and traffickers to get their gun rights back once weed is fully and properly legal in CO. Most of them are non-violent offenders, and as anyone with any insight or contact with folks "in that world" the only reason to carry guns is because of the illicit nature of dat damn Debil weed!0 -
I had some friends/customers who got pinched in a stolen property scam. All three got probation for possession of stolen property and their records were expunged when their probation was completed. Two weeks after the papers were filed, one of the guys tried to buy a rifle from me but was denied. He called the lawyer who'd filed the papers and 2 days later I got a call back from ATF OKing the sale.
In this case, I can't see that permanent loss of rights would have been a positive addition to their punishment. There was no violence although I'm sure it might have gone that way had they been able to access the guy who sold them the stolen goods. There aren't any GOOD felonies but sometimes the convicted are not as guilty as they might seem and what they did was nonviolent.0 -
Does the Second Amendment deny the right to own arms to anyone? 0 -
I don't think there should be any restrictions on firearm ownership against convicted felons released back into society.
But then, I don't believe most people who are convicted of violent crimes should be "released back into society" in any condition where they'd be able commit crimes again.
"One strike and you're out for life, or executed," is my policy for dealing with violent criminals.
If you're too dangerous to be allowed to own a firearm, you're too dangerous to be released back into society.0 -
Too many variables to make a blanket statement on this one, but in general, once you've paid your debt and served your time, I'm good with full restorations of your rights.
My pause is, Joe is a gangbanger, used a gun in his crime, maybe even killed folks, gets a left wing liberal judge who thinks it's all because momma didn't breast feed him and only gives him 10 years, he joins the "human haters" gang in prison and causes trouble, but is set free after 5 years because the prisons are over crowded and he hasn't killed a guard, yet, then get's turned out in the public again.
No, I don't want this Joe getting his gun rights back because, in my opinion, he did really pay the debt to society he really owed.
Maybe they should attach restitution to the ability to get your gun rights back.0 -
Federal law states that if you are convicted of a crime carrying a possible sentence of > 1 year in jail, you forfeit your right to vote & possess a firearm forever.
This means that, even if given probation & you don't serve a day in jail, you have lost these rights forever. The only exception is if your governor gives you a pardon. (If convicted of a federal offense, there is a BATFE procedure for obtaining a pardon; however, every president since Clinton has prohibited BATFE from processing such pardons. So much for Christian forgiveness.)
Some states have misdemeanors carrying a possible sentence of > 1 year. In Maryland, you can get as much as 6 years in jail for some misdemeanors such as CDS possession (not marijuana).
So, obviously, the solution to all this unfairness is: ban assault weapons, ban hi-cap mags, & register all other guns.
Neal0 -
I have no problem with it whatsoever. If they can be released from prison they should have their rights restored, and we can maybe end this background check nonsense. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
Oh yeah.. armed robbery, give them another chance to do it again. Once a crackhead, always a crackhead
Coming from someone who has broken laws before. LOL Reading comprehension there Select. No one here has said anything about giving violent felons guns.
I doubt if there is anyone on this forum that could, under the right circumstances, be arrested and convicted of a felony. All it would take is simply drink one drink and then drive a car. If you wreck you just committed a felony. Just one on many ways you could be convicted of a felony.0 -
I work at a state prison and being around felons all day everyday, i have realized that all are different. I think it is a good idea to some degree, but should be determind on the charge. 0 -
There are posters on this website who have slammed me hard when I asked if felons should be allowed to have guns after release. The "shall not be infringed" crowd want no restrictions whatsoever on gun ownership, even for druggies, crazies, and violent felons. At least, that's what they posted when I suggested that some gun laws do in fact make sense.
I'd not be terribly averse to allowing non-violent felons to once again have a gun, with a long probationary period. I'd also be in favor of keeping violent ones in prison forever, period.0 -
Give em all Glocks upon release from prison.
Half of them will shoot themselves before they get in the car.0 -
I agree with him. Years ago we diluted the meaning of a felony. Some kids were faceing felony charges a few years agon in DC I think it was for throwing snowballs at a garbage truck. Should they never be allowed their right to bear arms? That's just stupid. Felonys use to be major crimes. Now you can get a felony for scratching your butt in public. We are so out of wack in this country it is crazy. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by dheffley
Too many variables to make a blanket statement on this one, but in general, once you've paid your debt and served your time, I'm good with full restorations of your rights.
My pause is, Joe is a gangbanger, used a gun in his crime, maybe even killed folks, gets a left wing liberal judge who thinks it's all because momma didn't breast feed him and only gives him 10 years, he joins the "human haters" gang in prison and causes trouble, but is set free after 5 years because the prisons are over crowded and he hasn't killed a guard, yet, then get's turned out in the public again.
No, I don't want this Joe getting his gun rights back because, in my opinion, he did really pay the debt to society he really owed.
Maybe they should attach restitution to the ability to get your gun rights back.
Joe will just ignore the law and pick up one on the street!
(criminals don't obey laws, that's why they're called criminals)
Allen0 -
quote:Originally posted by HavegunJoe
I agree with him. Years ago we diluted the meaning of a felony. Some kids were faceing felony charges a few years agon in DC I think it was for throwing snowballs at a garbage truck. Should they never be allowed their right to bear arms? That's just stupid. Felonys use to be major crimes. Now you can get a felony for scratching your butt in public. We are so out of wack in this country it is crazy.
Bingo. You've hit the nail on the head. Every "Chicken Little" is concentrating on the word "felony" without giving much thought to what actually constitutes a felony. As was mentioned, it used to be that the "felony" label was reserved for armed robbery, murder, kidnapping, etc. These days it takes a LOT LESS criminal activity to be labelled as "felony". As long as the crime was nonviolent, and the convict has served out his sentence AND probation period, I have no objections to that person having the right to protect himself and his family with a gun.0 -
Hunting or home safety I'll be okay with but I say nay to "good" felons for CCW. I mean what's the point in being good when felons are treated as good folks? 0 -
So, what you guys are saying is that a gun ban would in fact keep guns out of the hands of criminals, are you kidding me. Bottom line is that if your not in prison or jail you are a free man and should have all the rights the rest of us have.
This would also cure a lot of the problems we have with the justice system and our over crowded prisons. Just think how the parole boards would react knowing that a violent felon could buy a gun the moment he was released. You would see these repeat offenders spending a lot more time behind bars and the people in there for small drug offenses or victim-less crimes would be out earlier.0 -
There's so many things wrong with the justice system, I don't know where to start.
Too many crimes are considered to be felonies...
Too many felons don't serve anywhere near what their prison term is supposed to be.....
Felons who are released are so handicapped by the label "felon" that they can't re-integrate into society....0 -
quote:Originally posted by competentone
If you're too dangerous to be allowed to own a firearm, you're too dangerous to be released back into society.
It really should be that simple but that would require 1) doing work to change some laws and 2) upsetting some voters, therefore it will never happen.0 -
quote:Originally posted by grumpygy
quote:Colorado State Rep. Perry Buck believes so much in the right to bear arms that she thinks even convicted felons should be able to own guns -- once they get out of the clink, of course. And only if they were convicted of, you know, "good felonies," which Buck defines as non-violent crimes. Guns for (Good) Felons is the gist of a new bill from Buck, who introduced legislation that would allow for certain felons to be able to possess firearms once again. Buck's arguments are that nonviolent offenders are unlikely to commit violent crimes so it would be "irresponsible" to deny them access to instruments of violence
I agree, there are to many people denied self protection because of government laws that were never ment to make people forever disarmed.0 -
I've met Perry Buck and spoken with her on several occasions during her and her husband's campaigns. I've always liked her no-nonsense, ordinary-folks sensibility.
This topic is another one that my opinion has undergone some serious evolution on.
I tend to agree with DRP and MMOMEQ on this.
Except DRP seems to have Perry mixed up with her husband[8D].0 -
There certainly are alot of "non-violent felonies" out there, yes? Let's say a person lives their entire life hurting no one, not even a hint. And then they get pinched on one of those non-violent felonies. They do their time as a model prisoner. They report to the PO on time, every time - never a problem. Their right to own a gun should be restored, agreed?
What if the harmless felony was having lots of kiddie porn? Not doing or buying, something they picked up on the internet?
If felons do get gun rights returned we're going to have 99.9% agreeing on the line between getting & not getting, but that crossover point is going to be a PITA.0 -
That's a very good point. I was all in for giving them back their rights (non-violent offenders), but you're right it's a logistic nightmare of a slippery slope. I suppose all that would have to be spelled out in the law, and for me, I would err on the side of no rights if there is any controversy on the charges. 0 -
I have always felt felonies were too common and used for too many things. I think they should be restricted to crimes of violence (either directly or indirectly). 0 -
I didnt read all the posts but TEXAS Stipulates 10 Years after all time and probation served they may have a gun in their home only..
For protetcion of the home.
"Put that in your pipe and smoke it"
I LOVE TEXAS
Texan by BIRTHRIGHT0
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