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Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison?

Violent Felons have a 2nd Amendment Right Y/N


  • Total voters
    21
  • Poll closed .

CalGun

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The 2nd Amendment does not ban a convicted felon of any kind from owning a gun, but most states do. In fact the Federal Government does by statute. Should this be the law of the land or as the extreme gun right advocates say should a person released from prison, completing parole, and becoming a part of society have a right to keep and bear arms simply because the constitution doesn't say they can't?
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

Under our current "legal justice system" I have reservations about restoring all rights to a convicted violent felon.


First I'd prefer to reform the system, so that the incorrigibles are either executed or put away somewhere secure and unpleasant for life, while those felons who are fixable are incarcerated in rehabilitation facilities and are not released until there is solid evidence of real reform.

If that were how our system worked, then once released from custody I would expect the reformed felon to have all his rights restored to him.



Even under our current system, the rule against felons owning guns is something of a bad joke. I've known felons to re-arm themselves within 24 hours after release. Best to assume anyone you cut loose into society WILL re-arm himself if he chooses to do so. The fact that they can't legally buy from a dealer doesn't slow them down in the slightest.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

First I think there should certainly be a distinction between violent and non-violent felons. Disarming non-violent felons is absolutely irrational.

As far as the violent ones go, I tend to lean more towards the belief that once they've completed their prescribed punishment, they should be treated equally. If they are still seen as "violent" or "owing something to society" then their punishment wasn't over.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

First I think there should certainly be a distinction between violent and non-violent felons. Disarming non-violent felons is absolutely irrational.

As far as the violent ones go, I tend to lean more towards the belief that once they've completed their prescribed punishment, they should be treated equally. If they are still seen as "violent" or "owing something to society" then their punishment wasn't over.


Yes. If it is not safe to have them living among us with access to firearms, then it is not safe to have them living among us period.

Because they WILL have access to firearms if they so desire and are willing to break the law to do so.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

Nope, they shouldn't be allowed to vote either.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

Nope, they shouldn't be allowed to vote either.


When we sentence someone to a specific term in prison, (rather than death or life without parole), we are in effect saying "your crime is one with a finite cost and a finite payment; serve this time and your debt is paid".


To return them to society as a second-class citizen lacking many of the rights enjoyed by other citizens is a contradictory expression, saying that they have NOT finished paying for their crime.


Now I'll grant, as I've said many times, the way we do "criminal justice" is seriously fracked up. People are incarcerated who should not be; people get released who should not be released. But we need to fix that instead of engaging in self-contradiction.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

The 2nd Amendment does not ban a convicted felon of any kind from owning a gun, but most states do. In fact the Federal Government does by statute. Should this be the law of the land or as the extreme gun right advocates say should a person released from prison, completing parole, and becoming a part of society have a right to keep and bear arms simply because the constitution doesn't say they can't?

Once someone finishes their sentence they should have all rights restored.If they can't be trusted with their rights then they should not be let out of prison in the first place. A person hellbent on harming someone is not going to be deterred by laws saying they can't get a gun.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

I would say other if that was a choice.


Violent offenders shouldnt own a firearm just like predatory sex offenders shouldnt be around children. But the person that is convicted of doing something that never involved a firearm or anything violent shouldnt lose his 2nd Amendment rights. Really the felon prohibition on gun rights is very dangerous. Since it has been proven to be constitutional all one needs to do to take more firearms away is to make more crimes a felony. This may sound ridiculous but how long until traffic violations like speeding become felonies? It has been proven that a vehicle can be a deadly weapon. So speeding could logically be considered reckless use of a deadly weapon.

A standard definition of a felony is any crime punishable by more than one year in prison or by death. You dont have to actually go to prison just receive a sentence that could have put you in prison. That means if you received probation and never saw the inside of a prison you lose many rights. Its curious why a felon who never sets foot in prison could be considered to dangerous to own a firearm. I mean the judge didnt consider them dangerous enough to actually put them in prison. Perhaps the felony penalties should only be applied to those that actually go to prison? Not those that never ever set foot in prison?

I have a couple of friends that when they were young broke into their high school damaged some stuff that turned out be expensive so they received felonies. They have never committed any other crime in the near 30 years afterwards. all of them have jobs are good citizens, children and two of them actively volunteer in their communities. But they are felons because they were stupid when they were 18. The problem is that many goody tissues people think that all felons are drugged out violent thugs out cause harm and that they will never change because they are too stupid to be anything else. But some people learn their lesson and make a complete 180 in life.

You might as well make them where a big F sewn on their shirts...
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

When we sentence someone to a specific term in prison, (rather than death or life without parole), we are in effect saying "your crime is one with a finite cost and a finite payment; serve this time and your debt is paid".


To return them to society as a second-class citizen lacking many of the rights enjoyed by other citizens is a contradictory expression, saying that they have NOT finished paying for their crime.


Now I'll grant, as I've said many times, the way we do "criminal justice" is seriously fracked up. People are incarcerated who should not be; people get released who should not be released. But we need to fix that instead of engaging in self-contradiction.

I disagree, I think that there should be enhanced consequences and certain privileges/right not being extended to convicted criminals. If you commit a violent felony it should be reasonable, under due process, to remove that person's gun rights after they have served their time. Felons can't vote, sex offenders are put on registries, and I don't think it's unreasonable to keep someone who committed a violent crime from owning a gun.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

I disagree, I think that there should be enhanced consequences and certain privileges/right not being extended to convicted criminals. If you commit a violent felony it should be reasonable, under due process, to remove that person's gun rights after they have served their time. Felons can't vote, sex offenders are put on registries, and I don't think it's unreasonable to keep someone who committed a violent crime from owning a gun.
Sexual offenders are sometimes "often?" pathological offenders. They are put on registries for the safety of the public. Violent offenders often aren't pathological, either involved in an escalated confrontation or taking revenge on an act that went unpunished. THe other violent offenders would be those who were thrust into the circumstance, I.E a home invader with no intentions of fighting someone is forced to engage in physical violence or be killed by the home owner. I see no logical reasons to disenfranchise felons post-rehabilitation.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

Sexual offenders are sometimes "often?" pathological offenders. They are put on registries for the safety of the public. Violent offenders often aren't pathological, either involved in an escalated confrontation or taking revenge on an act that went unpunished. THe other violent offenders would be those who were thrust into the circumstance, I.E a home invader with no intentions of fighting someone is forced to engage in physical violence or be killed by the home owner. I see no logical reasons to disenfranchise felons post-rehabilitation.

I don't want to put trust on "often." I think after time enhanced consequences are merited, doing the crime forfeits the right to own a gun post release.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

Nope, they shouldn't be allowed to vote either.
Do you fold or wad the Constitution before wiping your ass with it?
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

I don't want to put trust on "often." I think after time enhanced consequences are merited, doing the crime forfeits the right to own a gun post release.
"Often" suggests the majority, and denying rights to the majority based upon the actions of the minority is certainly questionable in practice.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

Sexual offenders are sometimes "often?" pathological offenders. They are put on registries for the safety of the public. Violent offenders often aren't pathological, either involved in an escalated confrontation or taking revenge on an act that went unpunished. THe other violent offenders would be those who were thrust into the circumstance, I.E a home invader with no intentions of fighting someone is forced to engage in physical violence or be killed by the home owner. I see no logical reasons to disenfranchise felons post-rehabilitation.

We're talking violent felons with an apparent pre-disposition to violence. We're also talking about our criminal rehabilitation system or lack thereof. Most matriculate in the can. We punish but we really don't rehab so when the time is served, it doesn't mean the problem has been cured. To me recognizing that fact says clearly not to give violent felons access to guns.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

If they can't they shouldn't be released from prison. Goshin is right, the system needs an overhaul.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

We're talking violent felons with an apparent pre-disposition to violence. We're also talking about our criminal rehabilitation system or lack thereof. Most matriculate in the can. We punish but we really don't rehab so when the time is served, it doesn't mean the problem has been cured. To me recognizing that fact says clearly not to give violent felons access to guns.
My post followed along the previous suggestions of an alternative criminal sentencing that practiced rehabilitation as opposed to punishment. Sorry for making such an equivocal post.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

I disagree, I think that there should be enhanced consequences and certain privileges/right not being extended to convicted criminals. If you commit a violent felony it should be reasonable, under due process, to remove that person's gun rights after they have served their time. Felons can't vote, sex offenders are put on registries, and I don't think it's unreasonable to keep someone who committed a violent crime from owning a gun.


Except that it doesn't. Keep them from owning a gun, I mean. They still can and many do, just not legally.


I'm saying if we can't trust them with a gun, don't let them out at all.... because if they want one, they'll get one.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

Under our current "legal justice system" I have reservations about restoring all rights to a convicted violent felon.


First I'd prefer to reform the system, so that the incorrigibles are either executed or put away somewhere secure and unpleasant for life, while those felons who are fixable are incarcerated in rehabilitation facilities and are not released until there is solid evidence of real reform.

If that were how our system worked, then once released from custody I would expect the reformed felon to have all his rights restored to him.



Even under our current system, the rule against felons owning guns is something of a bad joke. I've known felons to re-arm themselves within 24 hours after release. Best to assume anyone you cut loose into society WILL re-arm himself if he chooses to do so. The fact that they can't legally buy from a dealer doesn't slow them down in the slightest.





In a country like the USA where there are about as many guns of all types as people, any criminal who wants a gun will have little trouble finding one.

Criminals don't let laws stop them from doing what they want to do.

They are in the crime business.

Unfortunately for the rest of us.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

Except that it doesn't. Keep them from owning a gun, I mean. They still can and many do, just not legally.


I'm saying if we can't trust them with a gun, don't let them out at all.... because if they want one, they'll get one.
Your avatar being the perfect fictional case-in-point.

It's not every day a violent felon can twice escape a tipple-max prison and at the end of a long series of well-timed events find themselves commanding an interstellar armada and religion.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

Nope, they shouldn't be allowed to vote either.

So I presume you mean they won't have to pay taxes anymore, seeins how they aren't being represented by the govt if they can't vote.

Taxing people without representation would be hypocritical , dontcha think?

Considering our history.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

I don't want to put trust on "often." I think after time enhanced consequences are merited, doing the crime forfeits the right to own a gun post release.

The definition of a right is that it cannot be forfeited.

You're thinking of priveleges.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

First I think there should certainly be a distinction between violent and non-violent felons. Disarming non-violent felons is absolutely irrational.

As far as the violent ones go, I tend to lean more towards the belief that once they've completed their prescribed punishment, they should be treated equally. If they are still seen as "violent" or "owing something to society" then their punishment wasn't over.

To be fair though, if you put non-violent people in jail with violent people, they have to become violent to survive, so they will be violent on release.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

To be fair though, if you put non-violent people in jail with violent people, they have to become violent to survive, so they will be violent on release.

This is why I think non-violent offenders should ALWAYS be separated from the violent ones. They should be in minimum security prisons and treated completely differently. These people actually have a real chance of integrating back into society. Putting a tax evader in with murderers and rapists is just insane.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

This is why I think non-violent offenders should ALWAYS be separated from the violent ones. They should be in minimum security prisons and treated completely differently. These people actually have a real chance of integrating back into society. Putting a tax evader in with murderers and rapists is just insane.

But that is exactly what happens and there are consequences to that.
 
Re: Should a convicted violent felon be allowed to own guns after release from prison

But that is exactly what happens and there are consequences to that.

I know, that's why I pointed out that I wholeheartedly oppose this policy.
 
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