Only law-abiding citizens should be allowed to carry guns(AK)

kodiakdailymirror.com ^ | 30 March, 2010 | Giovanni Tallino

[marktwain]

Dear editor,

House Bill 408, a bill now moving through the Alaska Legislature, should be strongly opposed by all Alaskans, regardless of party affiliation. The intent of this bill is that of restoring the gun rights of non-violent felons who have paid their dues to society. If this bill passes, these ex-felons will be allowed to purchase and carry firearms and even to obtain concealed carry permits.

Those who know me, or have read my numerous letters to the editor, or have seen or heard me testify in favor of the right to keep and bear arms at Borough Assembly meetings or at teleconferences at the Legislative Information Office know how passionately I believe in the individual rights that the Second Amendment protects against the government’s ever- increasing encroachment on our freedoms. And some of those who know me may be surprised that I am now taking this stance.

I have, in fact, always fought for the gun rights of law-abiding citizens. Ex-felons may have paid their dues, but they showed in the past that they couldn’t or wouldn’t abide by the law. They may be reformed — or not. The right to keep and bear arms, and especially the right to carry concealed weapons, must be reserved for those above suspicion, those whose past is clean and irreproachable.

If this bill were to pass, Alaska would receive a gigantic black eye: We’d be known as the state that allows felons to be armed. Furthermore, the 37 other states that in the name of reciprocity now honor Alaska concealed carry permits would no longer allow Alaska citizens in transit or on vacation to carry their guns within their state lines. Alaska has nothing to gain from this bill, and everything to lose. Please let our legislators hear your voice speak loudly and clearly on this issue: No armed felons in this state!

[Eagle Eye]

Once a man is done with his sentence and has met the conditions of his parole he should no longer be denied the rights bestowed on all Americans.

I have argued for exactly that.

Either the price has been paid or it hasn't, but once it is paid then all rights should be automatically restored.

[Eagle Eye]

I’d prefer if the welfare class felons not be able to go armed again when they come out of prison to collect more government checks.

First off, how many of those every get off parole or probation?

Second, what makes you think they are unarmed at any point after their release from prison or jail?

[OneWingedShark]

>The intent of this bill is that of restoring the gun rights of non-violent felons who have paid their dues to society.

Questions: If they have “paid their dues to society” why should ANY of their rights be abridged at all? Voting, guns, etc? If “paying the debt” legally speaking is the same as paying your grocery bill, why should they continue to pay after they have “paid their balance”? If looked at in that sense, doesn’t it violate the “wheel of servitude” as well as the 4th Amendment’s applicability of rights to citizens?

>If this bill passes, these ex-felons will be allowed to purchase and carry firearms and even to obtain concealed carry permits.

And? Why is that wrong? ...maybe if you endorse the death penalty for things like murder and rape there wouldn’t be “violent felons” on the streets.

[OneWingedShark]

>>Once a man is done with his sentence and has met the conditions of his parole he should no longer be denied the rights bestowed on all Americans.
>
>Not to quibble my good man, but Rights are bestowed on all persons not just Americans.

Those would be human rights: things like self-defense [even w/ firearms], sanctity of free-will, etc. There are also Rights of the Citizen, which are things like voting.

[OneWingedShark]

>I’m sorry, but once you commit a felony I do hold you to a higher standard.

What of those who have committed the ‘felony’ of committing misdemeanors? {I.E. the ‘upgrade’ of misdemeanors to felony.}

If Justice is blind then, once you have ‘wiped the slate clean,’ you should be treated like EVERY other person.

[GATOR NAVY]

...the addition of several levels of felonies by our politicians is to not only shut down free speech, heinous or not, but to make sure that everything becomes a Felony so as to disarm the population without having to attack the 2nd Amendment.

I agree that the "dumbing down" of felonies is a matter of serious concern and that's why I support this bill.

[An Old Man]

"the right to carry concealed weapons, must be reserved for those above suspicion, those whose past is clean and irreproachable."

That post needs one of those big BS Meters!

[Dayman]

Parole needs to be abolished. All non-incarcerated citizens should be able to own, buy and carry firearms regardless of their history. If they can’t be trusted then they shouldn’t be free.

[deks]

What of those who have committed the ‘felony’ of committing misdemeanors?

That is an excellent point about a misdemeanor that becomes a felony when it is a "second offense".

[OneWingedShark]

>>What of those who have committed the ‘felony’ of committing misdemeanors?
>That is an excellent point about a misdemeanor that becomes a felony when it is a “second offense”.

Furthermore: What if the misdemeanor was, itself, invalid?
Consider the following state statute:
http://www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lpext.dll?f=FifLink&t=document-frame.htm&l=query&iid=66b036fd.eebbfe6.0.0&q=%5BGroup%20%2730-7-2.4%27%5D

Now, read that State’s Constitution regarding both the Right to keep and bear arms, and inherent [human] rights:
http://www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lpext.dll/nmsa1978/1/a/16?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0
http://www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lpext.dll/nmsa1978/1/a/12?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0

Please tell me how you can justify the existence of the state stature.

On that same vein, what of the barring of the purchase of firearms of people [men] who are _ACCUSED_ of “domestic violence?”

[grobster]

Marktwain

Thank you for your strong pro position on the right to keep and bear arms. However: This is a good bill. I support it.
This bill has nothing to due with arming felons. Both federal and Alaska state law have firearm possession restorative legal vehicles for ex offenders. They always have. This was the true intent of both congress and our legislators. HB408 simply corrects federal intrusion on state law. US supreme court split decision (6-3) in Caron vs US imposes the all or nothing clause to restoration. Alaskan ex offenders already can posses all types of firearms that anyone else can. However concealment is limited to on your own land or engaged in outdoor activity requiring protection. The FBI has wrongfully confused concealment with possession.

In Alaska’s bush firearm possession is necessary to feed your family and protect yourself from wildlife. What difference does it make if your coat is over your firearm or not. Never in history has a underclass of people been so maligned that their very lives are deemed worthless as American ex offenders. A dept paid is just that. As it now stands even a person wrongfully convicted, and receiving a full state pardon is banned from firearm possession by federal law. Interestingly a federal pardon restores all firearm rights.

It is the arcane rulings from the bench in case law that obscures, distorts and corrupts the intent of our elected lawmakers. This Alice in wonderland approach to something so important needs to be rectified.

The slippery slope effect is in full play here. Anti gunners are hard at work. First ban ex offenders, then those caught up in domestic violence, then what? Aggressive drivers, those that raise their voice, those that discipline their children, those with sleep apnea, those that don’t agree with the government... Be careful what you seek.

NRA position from link below:

www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_documents.asp?session=26&docid=6172