Felons know that before committing the crimes and it is a choice they make. If caught and convicted there should be negative consequences to their lives.
Many if not most felons do not commit just one felony but continue on the path of criminality.
This law does not stop the convicted felon from getting a gun. This guy did and he stopped the bad guy. Now he has face the consequences of the free choice that he made. If he is a good guy that made one mistake a long time ago then charges may be dropped or he may find a sympathetic judge or jury.
He also had the option of applying to the governor for restoration of rights. As I said before AFAIK felons are allowed to own black powder weapons so his right to defend himself with a firearm hasn't been taken away.
On the other hand, had he been a reformed law-abiding citizen and done what the law required (remain disarmed), and IF he had a wife and child, and the intruder had been a sicko -- what then, Eagles6?
The pious punishment of disarming him, had he gone along, would have resulted in God knows what horror. Sure, it's a hypothetical, but a very realistic one. Firearms protect families, too.
Pretty stupid "punishment."