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Grass roots gun rights activists are aware of this and if Bush does not change soon, his anti-gun policies may harm the election chances of other establishment Republicans.

I have to laugh at this. How many Americans even KNOW anyone who's committed a felony, much less having committed a felony themselves?

Felons shouldn't have guns. Period.

I'd think time would be better spent elsewhere than in trying to make the case to let criminals possess firearms.

The court states:

"We are mindful of the serious concerns articulated about convicted felons regaining the right to possess firearms, and of the need for congressional review and enhancement of the safeguards and procedures for appropriately accomplishing this apparently worthy goal,"

Sinskpur you state:

"Felons shouldn't have guns. Period."

Amendment II states:

"A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, SHALL NOT be infringed."

What part of "shall not" is not understood?

In addition, no where in Art I, Sec 8, Powers of Congress, is there a reference to felons losing their right to keep and bear arms or for that matter any right.

Felons retain the right enumerated in Amendment VIII:

"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

It is disingenuous, absurd, and illogical that a portion of the Bill of Rights is suspended by Congress, which has no explicit power to do so, one enumerated right while another enumerated right can never be suspended by Congress.

There is absolutely no reference to "compelling state interest" stated in the Constitution for the Congress to invoke to constiutionally suspend rights.

This is congressional and judicial corruption at its worst.

This almost doesn't sound like a gun rights problem as much as a Judicial rights problem. How in the world can someone be called a felon for doing something in another country that would be perfectly legal here? Lose your rights because you had a beer in Saudi Arabia?

I see statist-boy shows up again defending the indefensible and shilling for his figurehead/mascott/icon. Are you sure you're not a clintonoid in need of a personality to sew your lips to? You act like it.

I know someone who was convicted of joyriding when he was 19 (nearly 40 years ago). Since then, he's grown a 2 million dollar real estate busines, became a county commisioner and is active in his church... in addition to being a wonderful human being.

Yet the morons amongst us would have him and his family slaughtered should anyone have the will to do so.

How many Americans even KNOW anyone who's committed a felony, much less having committed a felony themselves?

First of all, if these "felons" are so dangerous, then why are they being allowed out of jail to start with?

Being a "felon" by today's definition is not what it was 20 years ago. Most people would be very surprised by how easy it is to get branded a felon, under what passes as our legal system.

(IIRC, not only are felons barred from buying guns, but also anyone with a misdemeanor conviction that could have resulted in more than 1 year in jail)

Felons shouldn't have guns. Period.

Depends on what you consider a "felony".

I have to laugh at this. How many Americans even KNOW anyone who's committed a felony, much less having committed a felony themselves?

Right now today....1 in 32 Americans is in prison, awaiting prison or on parole/probation. That probably translates into 1 in 12-15 adult males....that's a lot of disenfranchised gun owners. It's a serious problem for non-violent felons since the 1987 Sentencing Guidelines took discretion from judges.

If you are a convicted felon (non-violent or otherwise....which most are today ....in jail for drug crimes) and you are caught with just something as benign as an old Iver Johnson or JC Higgins 22 short revolver....you will do at least 5 years Fed time with no parole.

To me...that's draconian. 'Course I'm not much into JBT adulation to start with. Don't forget...this also includes some misdemeanors...don't tell me you don't know any misdemenor perps either...LOL. ;>)

After you have served the punishment accorded to you, you are no longer a criminal. You should watch your tone when you responed to people, in real life you would get punched in the face for your tone.

Felons shouldn't have guns. Period.

Yep, and all we need is a few good laws to take care of that. Everyone knows that criminals can not get access to firearms on the street. Like the guy in the van down on Garden street, no he is not selling illegal weapons, he's selling drugs, NO WAIT, we have a law against that, so thats not possible, he's selling squirt guns, yeah thats it.

Anyone that tells you differently is just spouting viscous, anti-social, unpatriotic lies.

Felons shouldn't have guns. Period.

Roughly 12% of Americans are convicted Felons. Less than half of them were incarcerated for their crimes. FYI, the classic common law definition of Felony (and the one Scalia uses) is a serious crime punishable by death.

I have a friend who is a convicted felon because his dog jumped the fence and chased a deer while he was on vacation.

Soon to be...a Convicted Felon:
First a brief history of myself and what I have done. Served 20+ years in the Army, now a retiree. I've served with the 1st Ranger Battalion and several Infantry Battalions in the 82nd Airborne Division. Have been in combat twice and decorated. Now on to the topic, I was at a nightclub which is frequented with Active Duty Military and Civilians. I was in the company of two female bartenders acquaintances from another bar. As I was ordering my drink, one of the ladies came crying to me and said "this guy ripped my blouse". The lady is well endowed and was not wearing a bra. I asked which one and she showed me...I confronted the guy and he said the usual 7 letter phrase, so I hit him in the eye/jaw area...his head hit the bar and the footrest area of the bar...I hit him one more time and saw blood and immediately stopped and stood back, then bent over and checked his vital signs...all was ok and I was arrested for assault(misdemeanor) In the Jail I was served with a warrant for Aggravated Battery(felony)because he lapsed into a coma and needed surgery I was told. Fast forward, He is fine and even went to Ranger School and a deployment to Afghanistan...But my lawyer (now 10k in the hole) says I have to take the plea bargain because the victim(Ranger) who didn't want to prosecute had a change of heart. So the law says "intentional grievous bodily harm with loss of limb or serious disfigurement". Neither happened and he's still jumping out of airplanes as I did and doesn't look any different from what I'm told. So, now I look forward to 6 months in, 5 years of Probation, 120 hours community service(thats like a DUI) and my civil liberties forfeited, because I took it upon myself to confront and subdue a guy who grabbed at a woman. Mot saying the letter of the law was not broken, but the prosecutor like most of them is always looking for the win, not justice. Upon release I can't drive a tractor trailer (I have a valid CDL "A" with all the endorsements and a superb driving record, also a qualified Trainer) I can't go overseas for contract work because "Felons" can't have firearms nor body armor. I can't get a government license to work(Notary Public, Paramedic, etc) So in your humble opinion as a concerned US Citizen, what type of employment can you recommend to me upon my release for the state DOC? Had that been the prosecutor's wife, I'm sure I would be hailed a hero as I was after Grenada and Iraq...