Felons, Parolees Getting Hunting Licenses

HELENA, Mont. -- Hundreds of people barred from having guns because they are felons on parole or probation are still able to get hunting licenses in Montana with no questions asked, an Associated Press investigation found. Montana may not be alone.

While nearly all states ban felons from possessing guns, only a handful -- including Rhode Island and Maine -- keep them from receiving hunting permits, and just a few others -- such as Illinois and Massachusetts -- require hunters to show both a hunting license and a firearms license.

"Our license dealers have no way of checking," said Lt. Rich Mann, with the enforcement program for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. "If someone wants to play with the system and beat you at it, they will." The AP examination of Montana hunting and corrections records shows at least 660 felons on parole or probation received tags in the past year.

The findings are based on a comparison of unique first, middle and last names, along with other identifiable information, that appeared in databases of both hunters and felons.

A state probation official said the findings likely would prompt the state to consider its own records search to see if parolees are violating terms of their release. "Obviously that's a big concern, and it makes me want to look into each of these cases," said Ron Alsbury, Montana's probation and parole bureau chief. The licenses don't specifically require the use of firearms to hunt, and state officials note that most felons could legally hunt using other weapons, such as bows.

You know I never really thought too much about it, but come to think of it I had an employee who apparently served some time. We were sitting around at coffee time lamenting our life of squalid poverty when I jokingly said, 'you could always folly a guy down an alley,' an obscure reference to a Jack Kerouac novel and he said 'I already tried that and paid the price.'

I didn't ask for details and he didn't provide anymore. But most people I know hunt and he was among those people. I pulled his truck out of a mudhole he shouldn't have tried driving into one season.

I wonder if that's why he changed his name? I never had any fears about it him, before or after his 'confession' and never thought about his hunting with a rifle until now.

There was an incident in Michigan a few years back where a lady was shot during deer season. Initially, it was believed to have been a stray bullet. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that her husband had killed her so he could carry on with another woman who didn't want anything to do with him. A book was written about the incident, called The Sweater Letter. He almost got away with it.

At one time, we had an archery only license.

I've noticed that several believe in the "dues paid, get back to normal life" point of view about crime and punishment.

basically, if you're out of jail you should have all rights and priveledges restored. bigger problem is too many people getting out of jail too quickly and easily.

Why is it that they only take away your 2nd amendment rights after a felony? What about removing the 1st, 3rd, 5th or 14th amendment rights? Pick any of them. But no...they just remove one. I believe the original term was the Bill of Rights. Somehow that got turned into the Bill of Rights, and one privilege.

I am trying to find out for sure if a federal felon of over 10 years ago can own and shoot a bow and arrow.

I am reading a lot about other states who are allowing this but they are not saying if the felony was a state charge or federal charge.

Thank you in advance for any real news about this question.

Please feel free to send response to danhlds2005@yahoo.com

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