Posted on 06/19/2008 10:10:22 AM PDT by kingattax
A new state rule in Florida calls for more than 115,000 former felons who complete their sentences to be given back their civil rights, including the right to vote, hold public office, serve on a jury, and obtain state and local licenses for certain types of work.
The rule by the state’s Board of Executive Clemency ends a policy that, until now, required a panel to act individually on every restoration of rights requests.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist – attending a two-day summit of state officials, lawmakers, community activists, prison ministers and others brainstorming ideas for keeping former inmates from returning to crime after they are freed – says the decision to restore civil rights to ex-felons is based on fairness and being a part of a democratic society.
"Once somebody has truly paid their debt to society, we should recognize it," explains Crist, a Republican who had initially pushed for a broader clemency program.
“We should welcome them back into society and give them that second chance,” he told a crowd of law enforcement officials and advocates for prisoners’ rights in Tallahassee. “Who doesn't deserve a second chance?"
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
I hope this doesn’t mean voting rights.
If the government can take it away, is it a right? Or a privilege?..................
A very good reason why Crist is absolutely unacceptable as VP nominee.
That is if they can figure out how to vote.
The DNC will celebrate...
The votes of the honest, hard working and tax paying citizens are again rendered less effective.
The concept of the vote as a RIGHT — was the fundamental lie that led to the destruction of this Republic..
John Adams was right.
The privilege of the vote should not be given to the undeserving.
Do you have no clue as to how easy it is to be convicted of a felony and you suggest the death penalty, absurd.
The people of Florida are learning more and more that Charlie Crist is an idiot.
He’s done a terrible job as governor.
I may be of minority opinion, but if you serve your time, you’ve paid your dues. Let ‘em vote (even if most votes will be for the ‘rats).
McCain is comfortably ahead here. The odds of Obama winning florida are very small. I would be surprised if it is in play on October 15. We have retirees, cubans, military, and Jewish voters, not to mention the northern part of the state which is solid GOP. Obama will do worse than Gore or Kerry with all the above groups.
Yes, but these are ex-felons. The group we have holding office now are mostly still active.
Here we go. More proof the GOP wishes to lose election 2008.
Crist is a 1st class clown.
In my 8th grade social studies class over 40 years ago, we were taught that if you commited a felony, you lost your righ to vote, forever.
It is up to the State, working through it's elected representatives, to determine what repayment is necessary for such a debt. If the State has determined that such rights only need be relinquished during the time of incarceration and/or parole, that's their call to make. If the public doesn't like it, the public can petition their representatives or pursue whatever voter initiative process exists in Florida to change the rules.
"Once somebody has truly paid their debt to society, we should recognize it," explains Crist, a Republican who had initially pushed for a broader clemency program.My observations/questions:“We should welcome them back into society and give them that second chance,” he told a crowd of law enforcement officials and advocates for prisoners’ rights in Tallahassee. “Who doesn't deserve a second chance?"
1. If a person has "truly paid" his debt to society such that voting rights should be restored, then 2nd Amendment rights should also be restored. (If you can trust the person to vote, you should be able to trust him to own his own weapon.)
2. If a person is sentenced to 20 years, but gets out in 14 because of the way time served is calculated, then has that person "truly paid" his "debt to society"? It seems to me he still owes 6 more years.
You may as well put that into your tagline to replace (This tag blank until football season.)
Supposedly, they still cannot vote in the presidential race. But you know how bored/corrupt poll workers are in Florida.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.