i hear what you are saying tony,  but to me once they have done their time its time to let them all the way back in.

i agree that for some crimes they should lose the right to vote and the only way to ensure that is to never let them out.

 

but you can't let someone go,  tell them to join the rest of us again and at the same time make damn sure they know they still don't belong or have rights.

 

jayyr

we are not talking about punishment here.  they have already been punished.  we are talking about the most importent of rights.   everyone who is an american should have the right to express themselfs with their votes.

 

jayyr

After all is said and done, this topic boils down to one single sentence! The felon knew exactly what he was doing... and in becomind a convicted felon, that is the price you pay.

 

Raymond.

hi raymond,  welcome to the group.

 

ok lets look at what happend to my little brother.  he was out fishing with his cousin and a game warden stopped him.   his cousin had a handgun.  

both were charged and convicted.  my brother because he was the one over 18.  he can't vote.  because his cousin was underage he can now vote.

 

but all that aside,

 

this law was enacted at a time our country was trying to keep blacks from forming any type of power.  driving is a privelage,  voteing is a right.  

not only is it our right to vote,  its our most importent one.   i can see not letting people in prison vote or even those on probation.

but onece you have done your time you have fullfilled what society has asked of you.   and you start anew.

 

jerald

 

Often times a person is a victim of circumstance...for example 2 people charged and convicted of possession of a firearm when only one had the weapon on them. If I am not mistaken, many states have a process where-by the Governor's office can "Pardon" or modify a felony conviction "Under special circumstances"...or the courts might be able to exponge a conviction under similar circumstances!

 

That aside...and the issue of race aside...it still comes down to what the laws of that state are at the time of the commission of the crime! Everyone knows, even as a teenager, that carrying a gun is illegal! They know it is a crime. They know, if caught, there will be a severe punishment. In the case you describe, I believe the second teen knew the first teen had the gun. The reasons for carrying the gun are not at issue here.

 

There are criminal penalties after a conviction for a felony, not simply the sentence, and I believe that it is intended to discourage other's from committing felonies. Obviously that stategy has not worked in our socity. But the law makers pass the laws, the police and courts enforce them and the jails, prisons implement the punishment. The probation and parole officers are supposed to follow up on monitoring.

 

Unfortunately, the criminal laws and punishments aimed at the violent and dangerous felons often times apply equally harsh to those of lesser felonies as well. It is a side affect of the laws between crime and justice. There is no shortage of legal cases where people have been prosecuted or punished too harshly, or in violation of civil right, due process and out right prosecutorial misconduct.

 

But while we could go around and around this issue for days, weeks, and years, we eventually come back to your one single sentence that set off a series of events leading to his felony conviction.

 

 

 

I wish you the best.

 

Raymond.

"There are criminal penalties after a conviction for a felony, not simply the sentence, and I believe that it is intended to discourage other's from committing felonies. Obviously that stategy has not worked in our socity. But the law makers pass the laws, the police and courts enforce them and the jails, prisons implement the punishment. The probation and parole officers are supposed to follow up on monitoring."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You know how I feel about the guy who hurt you.   And you are right,  he never should have seen daylight again much less have the same rights we do.

There are different classes of felon's and the laws should apply according to the crime commited.  If someone is caught will a little dope they shouldn't have to give up the right to vote. 

Half of us smoked pot at a time when just having a joint was a felony.   But we are the lucky ones and didn't get caught.  I agree not every felon should have the right to vote. 

But every state should have a system in place to give someone a chance to show they have redeamed themselfs and are ready to vote.

 

jerald

i think the prison system in america has become nothing more than a way to get cheap labor for corporations. also to silence the voices of not only minorities but all people convicted of a felony. in college i had to do a report on the prison system. i found out that we spend more on incarceration than we do on national defense. this is simply wrong. do some research...you will see how much of our social funding has been redistributed to the prison system. you will also see that the prison system has been drastically changed from a facility to rehabilitate inmates, to a system that simply houses inmates. these inmates must work (i dont dissagree with this practice of manditory work) and alot of catalog orders for magazines and such are actually taken by inmates inside the prison. so while inside instead of learning a trade or skill to set them straight...they just become more angry better criminals and therefore commit new crimes and jump into a cycle of criminal behavior. make no mistake i dont think rapists, muderers, or child molesters should ever get out of jail.. and to be honest i think all child molesters should be executed. my psychology teacher told us that molesters are the only group of mental illnesses that cannot be treated. i am for extremely harsh punishment for murderers as well as rapists. but society thinks that is out of line...and so look what we have to deal with now. i know its not PC but if we killed these types of offenders there would simply be less of these types of crimes.

 

thats my 2 cents.....while i agree the boy was treated unfairly....unless he could prove he had absolutely no knowledge of the weapon in question, as the only person over 18 he is solely responsible under the law.....may not make it right but it is simply how it is....just like i go to a party and the cops bust it....if im the only person over 18 or 21 then i take the heat for the entire party. doesnt make it right,,,,,but thats just how it is.