Castle Law and Felony Convictions Discussion

[Molon Labe]

I cam across this on another forum and though i would weigh in for some 2nd amendment opinions on protecting ones self, family, and property.  Home owner was a felon with a gun.

http://fairoakscarmichael.news10.net...s%7Cbc%7Clarge

[BUGEYE]

If his crime was not violence against a child or the elderly, and if he did his time in prison and stayed clean during a probation period, then he should at least have the right to defend his home.

[Swift One]

Part of becoming a felon is being aware that you are going to loose some rights.  Believe it or not, it has been a decent deterrent in keeping some folks from committing a felony.
 
Every deer season, I have prisoners that know I hunt tell me that they are just sick to their stomachs that they can no longer hunt with a firearm do to them not being able to possess one anymore.  I'm not talking baout the gangbangers- they will have weapons in their hands again.  I'm talking about the drug abusers, and drunks.
 
Unfortunatly, it's the same with defending your home.  It's time for those guys to bring a knife to a gun fight.  I'm a little on the fence with it myself.  But I think that if you allow any felon to regain thier ability to have firearms in theor possession again, even if it's for defending the home, sympathizers will nit pick it to death until any felon can have a firearm once they get out of prison.

[Flash]

Kind of makes ya glad you're not a felon. Pennsylvania made poaching large game a felony. Maybe more crimes should be a felony.

[yellowtail3]

waaaay too easy to be a felon in America. Piss off a flight attendant? Felon.


Once a guy has served his time, he ought to have his rights restored. I CURSE THE STATE.

[Swift One]

Once a guy has served his time, he ought to have his rights restored. I CURSE THE STATE.

Then what deterrents are in place to keep people from committing felonies?  Some folks decide not to become felons JUST BECAUSE of the fact that they can loose some rights.  It has nothing to do with a moral compass in more than alot of cases.
 
Another thing.  Prison IS NOT what it used to be.  With all the wide screen TVs, XBoxes, time cuts, college degrees, and kinder more gentle midset that prison systems have, going to prison is really not a deterrent for alot.

[BUGEYE]

It should be hard labor in prison.

[Swift One]

It should be hard labor in prison

I very much agree with that......

[Molon Labe]

The issue isn't about what kind of punishment should be meted out by the Judicial System, but rather what should happen when that punishment phase is over.  If someone has been convicted, punished, and released back into society. Should they have the right to protect themselves, family, or property in their own homes, or should they be regulated to being a victim by order of the Federal Government.

When this country was founded having a firearm was one of the basic tools needed for survival.  It was necessary for providing meat, protection against wild animals, and hostile natives. We may have less reason to hunt now, and fewer wild animals, but there are still plenty of hostile natives

[Swift One]

Like I said before, a true carreer criminal has no thought what so ever in breaking the law.  But I know for a fact that some folks will not commit a felony based on the fact that they are afraid to loose their right to bear arms.  I know more than a few freinds that would have loved to put their hands on their ex wives for what they put them through during their divorce.  But the fact is, they didnt want to get hit with domestic battery and loose their guns.  So, they chose to suck it up and just deal with the BS.  Loosing your weapons is a very good deterrent for some to not go over the edge.  Myself included.

[Dixie Dude]

I think if someone committed a non-violent felony and served their time.  They should be able to possess a gun.  Violent ex felons, maybe not.  There are a lot of things a person could be convicted of being a felon.  Theft without a weapon.  White collar crime like embezlement, drug use, accidental manslaughter from say a DUI.  Breaking and entering without a weapon.  I think after they did their time, their probationary time, and stayed clean for a while, then their complete civil rights should be restored.  Felons shouldn't be allowed to vote until they did their time, etc. 
 
I know a friend who had a restraint against him in a previous divorce about 10 years prior.  Kept him from being able to own a gun.  He went back to Missouri and got the governor to pardon him, and got his gun rights back.  Took a lawyer, about $2,000 and a job with the county engineering department to get cleared.  Never convicted of anything, just a restraint order by his by-polar ex wife.   

[BAGTIC]

Part of becoming a felon is being aware that you are going to loose some rights.  Believe it or not, it has been a decent deterrent in keeping some folks from committing a felony.

"Rights" are by definition unalienable. They can neither be forfeited or surrendered. You are stuck with them whether you want them or not.
I am constantly amazed by the number of so called 'Americans' who do not understand that basic principle of American democracy prefering the socialist philosophy that everything we are and have was given us by the State and that which the State giveth it can take away.

[Swift One]

socialist philosophy

LOL, dont leave the reservation on me here.  Im not a socialist.  I just think it's a good deterent for some that are considering commiting some crimes.  I love guns my friend. 
 

They can neither be forfeited or surrendered

And you are dead wrong with that statement.  You get convicted of a felony, and you loose your right to bear arms.  Where have you been?

[Doublebass73]

If something can be taken away by the government it's not a right, it's a privilege.

If you agree that felons shouldn't be able to bear arms then you agree with the Gun Control Act of 1968 since this is where it came from.

How did society survive prior to 1968 when felons could own guns?

Was there more or less gun crime before 1968 than there is now?

Is any type of gun control a good idea?

I personally find it frightening that any of my fellow gun owners think that any type of gun control is a good idea.

[joeinwv]

...accidental manslaughter from say a DUI. ...

Terrible example. Criminal negligence resulting in death, while intoxicated. Certainly shows the type of judgement and responsibility you want in a gun owner.

[srussell]

think on this. if you shoot someone protecting youself. and the law finds you were not acting within the law . now you could have felony charges put on you. you just lost your rights to have a firearm to protect your self with. weather you were right are not .

[Swift One]

 .....

[finisher]

California has some the most restrictive laws in the nation. Being from LA, I can tell you that these laws have not deterred too  much of anyone from carrying weapons. And these people are not just the street thugs. Every day in that city, you have 25 million people (in just the metropolitan area alone) that get by without riots and madness(to a degree). 25 million and yet they somehow maintain order. And it is not because of the cops, or the gun control laws. It is because people "know" (in the overall and PROPORTIONATE sceme of things) not to get out of line with each other.

That city will eventually chew up and spit out anyone who is not laid back and can't get along with people. Although like our entire civilization, the city will eventually crumble, but in the mean time, it takes care of itself because of 25 million people with knives ,bats, construction tools, and yes, guns; and lots of them.

[victorcharlie]

I'm pretty sure there is a process by which a felon can have his rights restored.

I'm also pretty sure this would involve lawyers and most of them don't work for free very much.

So, I'd think the process would be rather expensive so only those who could afford it need apply.

Money talks......