Gun rights after you complete your sentence.

[bowbuild]

Just curious.....How many here believe that once a convict has served his time, deserves his gun rights restored?? I personally believe that as long as a firearm was NOT used in any way, there is NO reason not to fully have your rights restored.....On the other hand what's the point of "right to bear arms" when it turns out to be a privledge?

Bowbuild

[pianoman9701]

Just curious.....How many here believe that once a convict has served his time, deserves his gun rights restored?? I personally believe that as long as a firearm was NOT used in any way, there is NO reason not to fully have your rights restored.....On the other hand what's the point of "right to bear arms" when it turns out to be a privledge?

Bowbuild

I don't think there's a blanket answer and it depends on the crime. I'd never restore rights to a predator/child molester. Violent felons would be reviewed case-by-case. Some violent felons are much more likely to reoffend. Drug charges without violence, quite possibly. No simple answer for this question.

[Fl0und3rz]

You should make this a poll.  But it is hard to give easily categorized options, because there are not many blanket answers.

I did some research a while back, and, in WA, you can easily get voting rights restored, once you complete the terms of your sentence, including financial terms.  However, no similar statutory mechanisms exist regarding gun rights and crimes, at least at the time of the research. 

I personally feel that for non-violent, non-repeat offenders, the same should be true (a statutory mechanism for restoration upon completion of the terms of your sentence, including financial terms), but that is a federal issue as well as a state issue. 

I'd favor increasing hurdles to restoration for non-violent, repeat offenders and for violent (or weapons-related or other aggravating circumstances), non-repeat offenders (after considerable time and/or demonstrated acts of rehabilitation), although I am probably in the extreme minority on the latter.

For violent (or weapons-related or other aggravating circumstances), repeat offenders, forget it.  These people should remain locked up, doing hard labor, along with many of the classes of sexual predators. 

[jay.sharkbait]

No

The only privilege is getting to return to society after serving out the sentence.

[pianoman9701]

Doesn't matter if they get their gun rights back. Criminals will always find a way to get them.

Campmeat, your comment has nothing to do with the topic at hand. The OP is asking about lawfully being able to procure firearms after serving a sentence. Why don't you comment on that, CM?

[CAMPMEAT]

Doesn't matter if they get their gun rights back. Criminals will always find a way to get them.

Campmeat, your comment has nothing to do with the topic at hand. The OP is asking about lawfully being able to procure firearms after serving a sentence. Why don't you comment on that, CM?

Ya happy ? I removed my comment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bowbuild]

No

The only privilege is getting to return to society after serving out the sentence.

I personally can't see if you believe in the constitution how anyone can say no??? I understand there are crimes that are ridiculously gross..... On the other hand, a "right" in my mind is something that can't be taken away??? We all have things we hate, or "feel" should justify the ability for The state to invoke certain standards that meet societies values, but are values ENOUGH to take a right....that is a slippery slope in my opinion.

Bowbuild

[pianoman9701]

Doesn't matter if they get their gun rights back. Criminals will always find a way to get them.

Campmeat, your comment has nothing to do with the topic at hand. The OP is asking about lawfully being able to procure firearms after serving a sentence. Why don't you comment on that, CM?

Ya happy ? I removed my comment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not really. It'd be nice to have your comments on the OP. I appreciate your insights on things sometimes. 

[woodman]

Doesn't matter if they get their gun rights back. Criminals will always find a way to get them.

Campmeat, your comment has nothing to do with the topic at hand. The OP is asking about lawfully being able to procure firearms after serving a sentence. Why don't you comment on that, CM?

Ya happy ? I removed my comment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Campmeat, I liked your comment and thought it was true and relevant. I thought pianoman was out of line with his comment.

[jay.sharkbait]

No

The only privilege is getting to return to society after serving out the sentence.

I personally can't see if you believe in the constitution how anyone can say no??? I understand there are crimes that are ridiculously gross..... On the other hand, a "right" in my mind is something that can't be taken away??? We all have things we hate, or "feel" should justify the ability for The state to invoke certain standards that meet societies values, but are values ENOUGH to take a right....that is a slippery slope in my opinion.

Bowbuild

Have a look at the 5th amendment

[magnanimous_j]

Seems most people think it’s too complex a question to answer yes or no, and I agree.

People who come out of the corrections system are supposed to have paid their debt in full and we are supposed to treat them that way. Obviously, this does not happen and having a felony on your record is still a life sentence in a lot of ways. But if we can’t even trust them with their own constitutional rights, then we need to rethink the way we handle corrections.

[Mike450r]

Convicted felons have the ability in Washington state to petition the court for reinstatement of rights.  This means that the right to bear arms is not always taken away forever with a felony conviction. 

That being said I feel certain felony convictions should receive all rights back after all probation and parole conditions have ended without the need to petition the court. 

[Humptulips]

No

The only privilege is getting to return to society after serving out the sentence.

I personally can't see if you believe in the constitution how anyone can say no??? I understand there are crimes that are ridiculously gross..... On the other hand, a "right" in my mind is something that can't be taken away??? We all have things we hate, or "feel" should justify the ability for The state to invoke certain standards that meet societies values, but are values ENOUGH to take a right....that is a slippery slope in my opinion.

Bowbuild

Well, rights can be taken away. That is the very nature of punishment in our criminal justice system. Don't even have to be convicted of a crime. Rights are taken away if you are committed to a Psychiatric facilty.

To the question though I do think there should be an avenue to have them restored after a person has paid for their mistake.

[KFhunter]

No

The only privilege is getting to return to society after serving out the sentence.

I personally can't see if you believe in the constitution how anyone can say no??? I understand there are crimes that are ridiculously gross..... On the other hand, a "right" in my mind is something that can't be taken away??? We all have things we hate, or "feel" should justify the ability for The state to invoke certain standards that meet societies values, but are values ENOUGH to take a right....that is a slippery slope in my opinion.

Bowbuild

Well, rights can be taken away. That is the very nature of punishment in our criminal justice system. Don't even have to be convicted of a crime. Rights are taken away if you are committed to a Psychiatric facilty.

To the question though I do think there should be an avenue to have them restored after a person has paid for their mistake.

They've breached the public trust, committed a crime with turpitude they should loose their rights.
Most of them don't even serve half their time locked up and even then become worse while in jail.



nope - you don't have my vote.  I'll settle for them obtaining Saturday night specials off the street, junk guns save lives.
Those broken POS guns they get off the street is just as likely to backfire as hit an innocent or cop.  Restore their gun rights and they could purchase a nice new auto at BigR for use in their crimes for cheaper than a POS street gun.



When or if.....(probably never happen)   we start seeing police arresting mostly new bad guys/gals instead of the same ones over and over and over...perhaps we can talk.

[bowbuild]

No

The only privilege is getting to return to society after serving out the sentence.

I personally can't see if you believe in the constitution how anyone can say no??? I understand there are crimes that are ridiculously gross..... On the other hand, a "right" in my mind is something that can't be taken away??? We all have things we hate, or "feel" should justify the ability for The state to invoke certain standards that meet societies values, but are values ENOUGH to take a right....that is a slippery slope in my opinion.

Bowbuild

Well, rights can be taken away. That is the very nature of punishment in our criminal justice system. Don't even have to be convicted of a crime. Rights are taken away if you are committed to a Psychiatric facilty.

To the question though I do think there should be an avenue to have them restored after a person has paid for their mistake.

Bottom line then....there is no rights, funny watching how people are so willing to let them go.