Posted on 02/12/2019 10:37:25 AM PST by maggief
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) announced Tuesday that since he took office, voting rights have been restored to more than 10,000 residents previously convicted of felony charges.
The announcement comes as Northam has faced calls from prominent Democratic politicians in Virginia and elsewhere to resign after he admitted he wore blackface to a dance party during college.
“I believe in second chances and making our Commonwealth more open and accessible to all,” Northam said in a statement released by his office.
"Virginians who have repaid their debts should be able to return to society, get a good job, and participate in our democracy," he added.
According to the figures released by Northam's office, 10,992 Virginians have had their rights restored, including the right to serve on a jury and hold public office, since he took office last year.
"This is an important achievement that marks my administration’s unwavering commitment to fairness, rehabilitation, and restorative justice," Northam added in his statement.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
I am of the opinion that citizen’s rights should be suspended for wards of the state which includes criminals. Those out on parole, are still wards of the state and while some rights might be restored, not all rights are restored.
It should also be part of sentencing, for the loss of any rights. For example, as part of a sentence for a gun crime, the sentence should specifically state the loss of 2nd amendment rights. So, of it is desirable to prohibit felons from voting, include that as part of the standard sentence.
WHAT ELSE IS THIS GUY GOING TO DO BEFORE HE IS FORCED TO LEAVE?
Every day it’s something new.
How the heck did he get pass the primaries???
He thinks this will delight law-abiding African Americans, and as a result they’ll forget about the blackface thing.
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Old saying from Jeff Foxworthy:
It just doesn’t feel like Christmas if we don’t go up to the state pen and visit Mom.
Maybe some millions of African Americans do not have any relatives now out of prison and now being able to vote again. He won’t impress them. I hope they will get off the Dem plantation and stop being used.
Funny one.
Next line: “Should I go into my Michael Jackson dance now?”
“Uh, no. Maybe later. Much later, sir.”
Even before Northam and MacAllif there was a process that people who had gone to jail with felonies and after probation was successfully completed they could indeed file for reinstatement of voting and firearms possession. And the paperwork was routed through the governor and the governor would make a determination and a letter would be sent positively endorsing or negatively endorsing the request.
But the fact of the matter is this has always been on the table but McAuliffe wanted to do a blanket forgiveness of felony in order to garner additional eleventh hour votes and that was shot down by the House of Burgesses.
One you have completely paid your debt to society all your rights should be restored.
We should NEVER have two classes of citizens....
"And now for my next impression........Jesse Owens!"
Most of his votes probably came from the area around Washington D.C.
Quite obvious he’s a demonrat.
My god these a-holes destroy states fast. WTF was the GOP trying to do their due diligence about these scumbag a-hole Rats during the election?
I don’t like him.
He’s so full of himself.
He put up a statue of himself by the road in front of his house.
He’s wearing a jockey suit and holding out a ring.
Spitting image of him, though.
1. Have you rehabilitated yourself? ____Yes ____No
2. Which party will you vote for? ____Democratic ____Republican ____Other (specify:_____________)
He is correct on this move. Once a citizen has paid their debt to society they are done and all constitutional rights must be restored. This includes second amendment rights.
Doesn’t he have to MANUALLY sign each of these? Not sure how he could have
Will they get their gun rights restored? If not, why not?
Jeez Louise
What a prick he is
Second chances? More like gotta find support somewhere
It is clear to me that there still is a lot of racism in America, the vast majority is within Democrat politicians and voters.
Since I remember.
If there is no lasting loss of Rights for a Felon, Voting and possession of Firearms, why is there such a thing as a Felony in the first place?
People know what the lasting effects on their lives will be before they commit the Felony. I’ve known that since I was a Child. Do the Crime and you do the time.
As I stated earlier, if there is no difference in punishment for committing a Felony versus committing a Misdemeanor, why is there a distinction between the two in our Justice System?
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