I know and recognize all of what you said on yr. belated post #115--I just like to re-state the usual reservations as they come to me. But I WOULD have a problem with a "released felon" being allowed to carry a handgun, whether it bolsters the "inalienable" concept or not.
Especially if his being a felon involved the use of a handgun in armed robbery,etc.---allowing him to carry would be like restoring driving privileges to a DUI who killed or seriously injured a pedestrian or other driver.
your problem should be with the lenient sentencing of such felons and not the fact that everyone has a right to defend oneself with the most effective means...
the right to keep and bear arms cannot be taken away... the second amendment says nothing about felonious behaviour for the state can and will define such to keep individuals under control...
violent felons should be kept in for longer times, agreed, but once out, their rights should be restored... a penalty cannot be so extreme that one must forfeit protecting oneself.
teeman
'shall not be infringed' means just that.