Bernie Sanders says felons, even Boston Marathon bomber, should have right to vote in prison

[RaleBulgarian]

i could still see moving it some. though i don't like hard drugs, i wouldn't ban someone caught with a gram of coke from voting for life even after the sentence and probation are complete.

Agree. Conviction for possession of a small quantity of drugs (basically personal use amounts) shouldn’t permanently effect anyone’s Constitutional rights. Addiction is a sickness, not a crime.

 

[GreatNews2night]

It's not just Bernie's skeletons. He's simply too far left for most Democrats. The left simply doesn't believe what right wing media has spent the last 10-20 years telling its customers it thinks.

The younger generation is farther to the left, sure. But they're hardly the bulk of Democrats at this point.

Yes, not to forget, the younger generation is made of unreliable voters. They make a lot of noise but don't show up, on election day.
Yes, Americans are not far left, yet.

 

[Chillfolks]

Anyone convicted of a crime looses right to vote and own a gun.
If you are eligible for bail you keep both unless you are unable to make bail and are in jail pre trial.
Once sentence is complete including all probation, fines, restitution ect you have both voting and gun rights restored.

That's my view

 

[Captain America]

**** a convict.

I got no sympathy for them. Sure, there might be some that should be an exception to the rule but I am much too shallow a person to give a damn.

I know, I know. I'm a dickhead.

But that's how I am. Just keepin' it real people.

 

[Integrityrespec]

Throwing in the Boston Marathon Bomber is just trying to get emotional reactions. There really is no reason why people in prison shouldn't be able to vote, they're still citizens and most will still be released someday. Why is it that conservatives are so passionate about disenfranchising as many people as they can?

Criminals are placed in prison as punishment, losing the vote is part of the punishment. I'm certainly open to restoring the right to vote to those that serve their sentence but I agree with their not voting while incarcerated.

 

[Bucky]

Are they still US citizens?

People like the Boston bomber and pedophiles are the extreme that’s used to inflame emotion so people stop thinking.

Sander’s point about slippery slope is well taken. There are people here in DP who’ve already taken the position they only people employed, or even only property owners, should have the right to vote.

Bernie Sanders said specifically he would give voting rights to the Boston bomber. We are not talking about reformed criminals.

 

[Bucky]

**** a convict.

I got no sympathy for them. Sure, there might be some that should be an exception to the rule but I am much too shallow a person to give a damn.

I know, I know. I'm a dickhead.

But that's how I am. Just keepin' it real people.

What about sex offenders?

 

[Divine_Wind]

Bernie Sanders: Boston bomber, felons in prison deserve right to vote

What a disgrace. Senator Sanders looking out for the rights of terrorists, pedophiles, murderers, and the worst of worst in our society. These are monsters that are not redeemable in life. They will stay in prison for the rest of their lives. He should be ashamed of himself.

Sorry, but that's a misrepresentation of what he's said about it. He's supporting Constitutional rights as sacred. I disagree that felons should vote while under sentence, but agree that they should have their full rights restored, including owning a gun, upon completion of their sentenc.

Too bad Bernie doesn't feel the same way about the Second Amendment, eh?

 

[ajn678]

I guess you guys are right in that most American terrorists are right wing extremists that would almost certainly vote Republican, so maybe we could make an exception for them to not vote. Otherwise, no, inmates do not lose all of their constitutional rights, only a handful, and the vast, vast majority of people in prison have never been convicted of a crime. We have a system where there are only two options in the ballot so I do not see the harm in letting all American citizens vote without exception.

I know as conservatives that's going to be a very foreign concept as you've likely got an entire laundry list of reasons you want to strip voting rights from people, innocent and not.

What the actual **** are you talking about?

 

[Bucky]

Sorry, but that's a misrepresentation of what he's said about it. He's supporting Constitutional rights as sacred. I disagree that felons should vote while under sentence, but agree that they should have their full rights restored, including owning a gun, upon completion of their sentenc.

Too bad Bernie doesn't feel the same way about the Second Amendment, eh?

So do you believe sex offenders should have all their rights restored upon completion of their sentence?

 

[JustHanging]

So you support voting rights criminals and terrorists that will never be released from prison as well?

I do.

To be honest, I haven't really thought about it much, but off the top of my head I can't think of any good reasons they should be denied the right to vote, so I'll argue that position.

Your move.

 

[ajn678]

Sorry, but that's a misrepresentation of what he's said about it. He's supporting Constitutional rights as sacred. I disagree that felons should vote while under sentence, but agree that they should have their full rights restored, including owning a gun, upon completion of their sentenc.

Too bad Bernie doesn't feel the same way about the Second Amendment, eh?

No, actually he said they should be able to vote while in prison. You are wrong.

 

[Bucky]

I do.

To be honest, I haven't really thought about it much, but off the top of my head I can't think of any good reasons they should be denied the right to vote, so I'll argue that position.

Your move.

I think that is a disgraceful position. You will not even find one gun supporter on this forum that believes a terrorist or murderer while in prison should be able to have access to guns.

 

[ocean515]

Throwing in the Boston Marathon Bomber is just trying to get emotional reactions. There really is no reason why people in prison shouldn't be able to vote, they're still citizens and most will still be released someday. Why is it that conservatives are so passionate about disenfranchising as many people as they can?

There is a very good reason why convicted felons shouldn't be allowed to vote.

When someone breaks the law, they are tacitly accepting the ramifications for doing so. It's a choice they make. A crime that warrants a felony charge, includes the provision that part of the debt to society that must be paid is the loss of voting rights. Allowing felons to vote is tantamount to a partial pardon of their crime.

At the end of the day, why can't Bernie, and anyone else who agree with this, be honest? This policy effort has nothing to do with compassion, or anything else. Just like changing the voting age to 16, or supporting open borders, this is all about votes and power.


Just say so. Everyone knows that is the case.

 

[Acadia]

Bernie Sanders said specifically he would give voting rights to the Boston bomber. We are not talking about reformed criminals.

Yup, blow up Americans and YOU get a vote and YOU get a vote and YOU get a vote!
You might even get your picture on the cover of Rolling Stone.

 

[Bucky]

There is a very good reason why convicted felons shouldn't be allowed to vote.

When someone breaks the law, they are tacitly accepting the ramifications for doing so. It's a choice they make. A crime that warrants a felony charge, includes the provision that part of the debt to society that must be paid is the loss of voting rights. Allowing felons to vote is tantamount to a partial pardon of their crime.

At the end of the day, why can't Bernie, and anyone else who agree with this, be honest? This policy effort has nothing to do with compassion, or anything else. Just like changing the voting age to 16, or supporting open borders, this is all about votes and power.

Just say so. Everyone knows that is the case.

Unfortunately, there are more and more bleeding heart liberals in our legal system. They believe in reforming criminals and compassionate sentencing. What happens unfortunately is that it puts more and more criminals on the street instead of prison, where the blood of those they kill in the hands of the prosecutor and courts.

 

[Acadia]

Sorry, but that's a misrepresentation of what he's said about it. He's supporting Constitutional rights as sacred. I disagree that felons should vote while under sentence, but agree that they should have their full rights restored, including owning a gun, upon completion of their sentenc.

Too bad Bernie doesn't feel the same way about the Second Amendment, eh?

Bernie was arguing that he supports the Boston Bomber voting from prison. The BB will always he under sentence. Until he dies or we kill him.

 

[Acadia]

Unfortunately, there are more and more bleeding heart liberals in our legal system. They believe in reforming criminals and compassionate sentencing. What happens unfortunately is that it puts more and more criminals on the street instead of prison, where the blood of those they kill in the hands of the prosecutor and courts.

There seems to be a growing movement to not convict and imprison anyone who doesn't commit a violent crime. Until they do, I guess.

 

[JustHanging]

I think that is a disgraceful position.

Oh my, you have me in the iron grip of your logic. Not.

I said at the start, I'm not hardcore about this, haven't really thought about it. So convince me you're right. Appeals to emotion aren't going to do it.

You will not even find one gun supporter on this forum that believes a terrorist or murderer while in prison should be able to have access to guns.

I agree. I mean that would be kind of stupid giving someone who has already proven they are violent and prepared to kill the best killing weapon known to man.

What does that have to do with voting?

 

[Bucky]

Oh my, you have me in the iron grip of your logic. Not.

I said at the start, I'm not hardcore about this, haven't really thought about it. So convince me you're right. Appeals to emotion aren't going to do it.



I agree. I mean that would be kind of stupid giving someone who has already proven they are violent and prepared to kill the best killing weapon known to man.

What does that have to do with voting?

Giving voting rights to these people can have catastrophic results.

 

[Chillfolks]

Oh my, you have me in the iron grip of your logic. Not.

I said at the start, I'm not hardcore about this, haven't really thought about it. So convince me you're right. Appeals to emotion aren't going to do it.



I agree. I mean that would be kind of stupid giving someone who has already proven they are violent and prepared to kill the best killing weapon known to man.

What does that have to do with voting?

They have proven themselves unable to be part of a responsible law abiding society. If the right to vote is so important don't commit a crime that could jeopardize the right. If committing crimes is more important don't bitch when you loose the right to vote.

 

[Gaius46]

Bernie Sanders said specifically he would give voting rights to the Boston bomber. We are not talking about reformed criminals.

It was a loaded question. The broader question was about giving felons the right to vote. The interviewer threw the Boston bomber into the mix as if he’s representative of all jailed felons.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

Oh, and before the usual attacks start, let me clarify: I'm no fan of Hillary Clinton. I just dislike her a tiny bit less than I dislike Bernie Sanders.

I have to admit, saying that convicted terrorists in prison have the right to vote is probably enough to disabuse me of wanting to support him. And it's not because I am convinced that he could make such a thing a reality, he never could even with Dem supermajorities wall to wall. It's that if this is the tip of the Iceberg of Cockamamie Ideas, and it probably is, I don't even want to know what's beneath the surface.

 

[JustHanging]

Giving voting rights to these people can have catastrophic results.

Another appeal to emotion. Why? How?

 

[Divine_Wind]

Bernie was arguing that he supports the Boston Bomber voting from prison. The BB will always he under sentence. Until he dies or we kill him.

Understood. Did you understand my post?