Now THIS is gonna make for an interesting gun control thread.....

[Honkey_Kong]

Anything can be challenged. Even the existing laws are out of whack. What are your thoughts about a felon owning a gun?

This is a simple answer. When a felon is released from prison and not on parole/probation, their debt to society is paid for. If they're still a danger to us, then what are we doing letting them out of prison? So my answer is they should be able to have a gun just like a non-felon should be able to.

Mind you guys, I'm not pro-gun. I'm pro-getting-rid-of bullshit legislation.

[evander87]

This is a simple answer. When a felon is released from prison and not on parole/probation, their debt to society is paid for. If they're still a danger to us, then what are we doing letting them out of prison? So my answer is they should be able to have a gun just like a non-felon should be able to.

Mind you guys, I'm not pro-gun. I'm pro-getting-rid-of bullshit legislation.

I respectfully disagree. If you commit a serious enough crime to be considered a felony and are convicted part of your punishment is the jail time / probation, the other part is you forfeit your rights to vote and carry a gun for life.

[dan991]

I respectfully disagree. If you commit a serious enough crime to be considered a felony and are convicted part of your punishment is the jail time / probation, the other part is you forfeit your rights to vote and carry a gun for life.

So again... you're saying that if you get caught doing 25 mph over the speed limit you should lose your right to vote and own a firearm? A "felony" has nothing to do with how serious a crime is. Anything that has a possible sentence of 366 days in jail or more is a felony. The possession of anabolic steroids is a felony.... and there are a lot of trivial crimes that are felonies. Nobody is saying give someone who just got of prison for manslaughter a gun, or someone who's been locked up for armed robbery. BUT... the law says "all felonies" are an exclusion.

[ElDude]

So again... you're saying that if you get caught doing 25 mph over the speed limit you should lose your right to vote and own a firearm? A "felony" has nothing to do with how serious a crime is. Anything that has a possible sentence of 366 days in jail or more is a felony. The possession of anabolic steroids is a felony.... and there are a lot of trivial crimes that are felonies. Nobody is saying give someone who just got of prison for manslaughter a gun, or someone who's been locked up for armed robbery. BUT... the law says "all felonies" are an exclusion.

Felonies are felonies for a reason... It is USUALLY a pretty major crime. Some, I agree may be trivial such as small possesion of CERTAIN drugs. Others are major... I think people who are convicted of rape, murder or child molestation should have a bullet put in between his eyes as soon as he is convicted. It would save us tax dollars and get rid of a piece of shit on this earth! 25MPH over the speed limit ain't a felony. it is a major traffic violation. Also, if you are a convicted felon you are allowed to get your right to vote/bear arms back depending on the state you live in. It can be a long and arduous process, but it does and can happen.

[dan991]

Felonies are felonies for a reason... It is USUALLY a pretty major crime. Some, I agree may be trivial such as small possesion of CERTAIN drugs. Others are major... I think people who are convicted of rape, murder or child molestation should have a bullet put in between his eyes as soon as he is convicted. It would save us tax dollars and get rid of a piece of shit on this earth! 25MPH over the speed limit ain't a felony. it is a major traffic violation. Also, if you are a convicted felon you are allowed to get your right to vote/bear arms back depending on the state you live in. It can be a long and arduous process, but it does and can happen.

In the state of IL... speeding 25 over is wreckless endangerment; a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Do you find bouncing a check for $200.00 a "major crime"? Its a felony in most state and they do in fact enforce it. Reality is that there are a lot of PETTY crimes that are felonies; none which should remove a citizens right to bear arms.

The problem with "some states" being where your rights get restored is that the feds do NOT see it that way. Once you are convicted of a felony per Federal Law you are not legally allowed to own a firearm regardless of what the state does with your rights. The fact that most states use the FBI NCIC instant check system at gun sale points means that a convicted felon cannot purchase a firearm because the fed system will tell the dealer to deny the sale. So, the state may say yes but the feds say no. Which is it? THAT is where the gun laws must be re-written at the federal level otherwise the citizen is the one that's gonna ultimately pay the consequences.

[ElDude]

In the state of IL... speeding 25 over is wreckless endangerment; a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Do you find bouncing a check for $200.00 a "major crime"? Its a felony in most state and they do in fact enforce it. Reality is that there are a lot of PETTY crimes that are felonies; none which should remove a citizens right to bear arms.

The problem with "some states" being where your rights get restored is that the feds do NOT see it that way. Once you are convicted of a felony per Federal Law you are not legally allowed to own a firearm regardless of what the state does with your rights. The fact that most states use the FBI NCIC instant check system at gun sale points means that a convicted felon cannot purchase a firearm because the fed system will tell the dealer to deny the sale. So, the state may say yes but the feds say no. Which is it? THAT is where the gun laws must be re-written at the federal level otherwise the citizen is the one that's gonna ultimately pay the consequences.

Well the driving thing is crazy. Are you talking about bouncing a check (Not sufficient funds)? They can only prosecute you for a felony for bouncing a check if they have proof you wrote those checks to commit fraud. I just don't think a GOOD person would do that. I have bounced check over $500 because I just fell on hard times. It happens.

I dont think any type of thievery is a trivial crime, whether its $1 or $1,000,000. If someone steals $200 (steals a check for $200), or steals anything from me I would want them to get punished for it. They deserve what they get. If it is a felony so be it.

[dan991]

Well the driving thing is crazy. Are you talking about bouncing a check (Not sufficient funds)? They can only prosecute you for a felony for bouncing a check if they have proof you wrote those checks to commit fraud. I just don't think a GOOD person would do that. I have bounced check over $500 because I just fell on hard times. It happens.

I dont think any type of thievery is a trivial crime, whether its $1 or $1,000,000. If someone steals $200 (steals a check for $200), or steals anything from me I would want them to get punished for it. They deserve what they get. If it is a felony so be it.

They can prosecute you for whatever they want. I prosecuted someone for writing me a bad check (NSF) for $800.00 for an old 4 wheeler they bought from me. I called the cops to find out what I could do. I got a copy of the bad check, sent him a Certified Letter telling him the check was bad and he had 30 days to make good on it. He didn't and the case went to the DA whom charged him with a felony. 7 months later when the cops caught up with him I went to court and he ended up taking a plea bargin, no jail time and 2 years probation. He was then a convicted felon. I was the victim in it; and I still don't think that because of a 4 wheeler this dude doesn't deserve the right to vote, own a gun, etc.

I don't disagree with punishment. I disagree with a life long ban on your right to protect yourself, vote, etc. if the crimes you are convicted of are non-violent crimes.

[ElDude]

This is a simple answer. When a felon is released from prison and not on parole/probation, their debt to society is paid for. If they're still a danger to us, then what are we doing letting them out of prison? So my answer is they should be able to have a gun just like a non-felon should be able to.

Mind you guys, I'm not pro-gun. I'm pro-getting-rid-of bullshit legislation.

Whaaaaaaa?! I totally disagree with that. If a murderer is released from prison and not on probation he is still and always will be a murderer. Just because he spends time in prison does not mean he comes out a rehabilitated person. Prison has quite the opposite effect on people. Over half of prison populations end up back in jail/prison within a year of them getting out. Prison may rehabilitate a few but not the majority.