Posted on 07/26/2011 5:08:24 AM PDT by marktwain
The ATF’s website has an FAQ section. First up: “I want information on relief of federal firearm disability? (I am a felon but want to own a firearm, how do I get my privilege restored?)” According to dictionary.com, a “privilege” is “a right, immunity or benefit enjoyed only by a person beyond the advantages of most: the privileges of the very rich.” It behooves the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to remember that all Americans have the RIGHT to bear arms. And once again, I state my firmly held conviction that ANY American who has paid his or her debt to society should have their gun rights restored. Automatically. Especially in light of the fact that . . .
Hundreds of thousands of Americans [have been] charged and convicted in recent decades under federal criminal laws—as opposed to state or local laws—as the federal justice system has dramatically expanded its authority and reach.
As federal criminal statutes have ballooned, it has become increasingly easy for Americans to end up on the wrong side of the law. Many of the new federal laws also set a lower bar for conviction than in the past: Prosecutors don’t necessarily need to show that the defendant had criminal intent.
The above’s an extract from an article in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal. The story revealed that there are now so many federal criminal statutes that . . .
Counting them is impossible. The Justice Department spent two years trying in the 1980s, but produced only an estimate: 3,000 federal criminal offenses.
The American Bar Association tried in the late 1990s, but concluded only that the number was likely much higher than 3,000. The ABA’s report said “the amount of individual citizen behavior now potentially subject to federal criminal control has increased in astonishing proportions in the last few decades.”
A Justice spokeswoman said there was no quantifiable number. Criminal statutes are sprinkled throughout some 27,000 pages of the federal code.
I’m not trying to weasel here. For sure there are hundreds of non-violent federal crimes for which any sensible person would not deprive a felon of his or her gun rights. I am equally adamant that we, as a society, should err on the side of caution and restore the gun rights of anyone who has done their time.
If we believe an individual is not safe enough to exercise their right to keep and bear arms, we should not release them back into society. If we release them, they should have their Constitutional rights restored. Would we permanently deprive a felon of their right to free speech?
It is getting close to being hog feeding time. I have my list. Do you have yours?
> ATF: Gun Ownership is a Privilege, Not a Right
Yes, but we all know that the holy humanist sacrament of child sacrifice, aka “abortion”, is a “Right” that can be found under the “penumbra” of the 4th Amendment.
oh I get it, a “privilege” ... like FOOD STAMPS!!
Unless you run a drug cartel in Mexico. Then the BATF will supply you with as many guns as you want!
The writer of the article says ALL Americans have a right to firearms when they pay their debt to society...
Even those who committed violent felonies with firearms?
Felons have adequate remedies for the having their rights returned to them.
If we hung all violent felons the problem would be nonexistent.
Your proposed standard for probation and parole would keep most felons locked up until the end of their prison terms. And yes, felons on release are routinely restricted from contact with criminals or going into certain places even though freedom of association is a First Amendment right.
Agreed but several alphabet organizations have made it very clear they will not tolerate that, or even truth in sentencing, which is why I routinely see guys walking free who have committed double digit felonies with no convictions or enough convictions that they should be still be incarcerated well into the next millenium.
Guys and gals, you DO NOT want these sociopaths to have ANY gun rights restored...
We cannot reward those who turn violence on their fellow citizens..
I think they are WRONG! Gun ownership is a RIGHT. No armed government with unarmed populace. Remember Tienanmen Square.
No question. 3 strikes laws have put a dent in career criminal ranks. Does your state have such a law?
From 3 to 4,500: What laws have you broken today?
July 23, 2011 by Douglas French
The U.S. Constitution mentions three federal crimes by citizens: treason, piracy and counterfeiting. Today, there are an estimated 4,500 crimes in federal statutes, write Gary Fields and John R. Emshwiller for the Wall Street Journal.
Clarence Darrow anticipated the prison nation that America is today a hundred years ago in his book Resist Not Evil. All areas of life have become part of the penal code, with an army of people operating as police, legislators, and the court system to enforce these laws...
http://blog.mises.org/17835/from-3-to-4500-what-laws-have-you-broken-today/
This is a tricky one, the government is criminalizing lots of conduct........Could one reason be to brand people with felony convictions so they can’t own firearms........Maybe felons should still be allowed to bear arms......Slippery slope
Hogs are dead, butchered, and diced up in the pasta salad.
If you are armed, as it is your Right to be, then we’d have fewer “felons” surviving to be incarcerated.
No, just enhancements for prior and persistent offenders which is almost never used. They had out Suspended Imposition of Sentence here like its candy. That is not a conviction and only encourages the thugs to make more victims.
It’s a mess here in the Lou.
If the state would give convictions like they should, the thugs would eventually do some serious Fed time for reoffending. But it doesn’t happen. Personally, I think if the states sentenced properly, there would be heck of lot less federal offenses.
Considering what they can obtain with or without governmental permission, the issue is: if they can’t be trusted with ‘em upon release, why are they being released?
I guess it depends on the crime. Violent felons should not be rearmed as molon labbie has pointed out.
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