This stuff gives me the "willies". It's no slap on the wrist when the Feds pick up the charge for "unlawful possession of a "firearm" by a felon". The Statuatory minimum is 5 years. Make that a an illegal class three weapon and you are gone for a long time...I think 20 years. Fed time means 87% if you get the 54 days/year good time. How the Crippen girl in the article only got 18 months is interesting. Either the judge bucked the min/mans (almost impossible) or she cooperated in another matter.
Now Clinton yanked the US Marshall's previous right to restore gun rights to felons who applied with good intent and Bush and Ashcroft sure don't sound like they are going to do anything to help. Another 20 years or so and probably 1 in 20 American males of adult age will be vulnerable to these draconian laws ...some even with only misdemeanor records. Problem is....how does one start a political movement to restore gun rights to felons who've "paid their debt" as they say?...LOL....might as well try to build a rocket to the moon with Sterno cans.
The pivotal time will come when enough "normal joe" American families have a loved one doing time for this overkill law. Then folks might pay attention. For now, if one is busted for a firearm violation, they better hope the Feds don't grab the case.