The rapidly explosive geometry of choice in a situation which may be very brief leaves maybe three considerations before becoming a victim of room temperature. Even serving jail time because your first choice of defending yourself in a split second is the right thing is a good choice. All choices have consequences. Better to serve five years for manslaughter than to be a loss to your family forever.
I use Bernie Goetz as an example.
I understand that, but 90% of the time, the person who gets locked up is guilty of the crime that he or she was charged of, and more likely than not a greater crime (and the crime is plead down to a lesser included defense). The Bernie Goetzes of the world are few and far between.
I have no sympathy for convicted felons and their right to vote. From a philosophical standpoint, we all have default rules, which we agree to obey. If you break the rules, one of the consequences is that you forfeit your right to vote. Tough luck. Don't commit the crime in the first place and you don't lose that right.
Agreed, but the solution is to have not so many frickin' felonies.
A felony is supposed to be a special crime, with special consequences.
Smoking near a public school might be a felony these days.