Holder wants to let convicted felons vote again

[Dave]

http://news.yahoo.com/let-ex-convicts-vote-us-attorney-general-174810650.html

Just another way to get millions more Dem voters, alongside amnesty for illegals.

[Skip]

Gun rights too?


US Attorney General Eric Holder Tuesday argued convicts who have served their jail terms should have their civic rights re-instated, so they can vote and fully re-insert themselves in society.

Or is it just partial re-insertion? Like just the tip?

[SuperiorDG]

Gun rights too?



Or is it just partial re-insertion? Like just the tip?

Always worked for me.

[Sawin]

Always worked for me.

Me too, once. She counted it, so I guess I have to, too.

What a toolbag that guy is. I cannot wait for this administration to be out.

[Zundfolge]

Criminals, dead people, illegal aliens ... there's a reason we call these people "unregistered Democrats".

[BPTactical]

. there's a reason we call these people "unregistered Democrats".

And we need to make sure that those that initiate such stupid things are known as "unemployed Democrats".

[ChuckNorris]

How about voting repeatedly? Let's go for broke, frickin' asswipe!

[newracer]

I have no problem letting felons vote or own firearms.

[Teufelhund]

I have no problem letting felons vote or own firearms.

I have to agree. If you have paid for your crimes, you shouldn't be permanently stripped of your rights. This should not, however, only apply to voting; if they want to restore rights after the debt to society has been paid, it should be across the board.

[Sawin]

I have always felt that if their sentence has been served in full, then their debt has been paid to society... That being said, there is little doubt that after any extended period of time in prison, they will come out with very limited opportunities for success. Their lives have been controlled and provided to them in such a degree, and their skill-set, education, reputation, true character, and societal acceptance damaged to such an extent, that the vast majority of them will become government dependent again quickly there after. Holder is not blind to this fact. Statistics are very clear on the matter.... If he wants to reinstate all of their rights, then I'd be ok with it. If he just wants to reinstate their right to vote and nothing else, then he can forget it.

[wctriumph]

Yes, if they have served their time and are not revolving door criminals, then I am not against restoring civil rights once probation terms are completed.

[KevDen2005]

Many states allow felons to vote again. Each state individually controls that decision.

[Mtn.man]

Ha, they voted last election, so might as well get da paper work.

[Roger Ronas]

I think once a person has served their term and paid debt to society, then they should get their rights back. All of them.
it's unfortunate that after getting a felony, and paying their debt, they are still punished as far as getting housing, jobs and such.

[<MADDOG>]

"Across this country today, an estimated 5.8 million Americans -– 5.8 million of our fellow citizens –- are prohibited from voting because of current or previous felony convictions," Holder said at a speech to Georgetown Law School.

"These restrictions are not only unnecessary and unjust, they are also counterproductive," he said.

"By perpetuating the stigma and isolation imposed on formerly incarcerated individuals, these laws increase the likelihood they will commit future crimes.

"They undermine the re-entry process and defy the principles -- of accountability and rehabilitation -- that guide our criminal justice policies," he added.

Really? Ex cons are so butthurt about not being able to vote that he or she recommits another crime?

Either this article is horribly written and misquoted Holder, or (interject theory here).

[RblDiver]

I think once a person has served their term and paid debt to society, then they should get their rights back. All of them.
it's unfortunate that after getting a felony, and paying their debt, they are still punished as far as getting housing, jobs and such.

I understand this idea mentally, but there are certain crimes I still am not comfortable with giving voting rights back, like murder, child rape, etc.

[Zundfolge]

I think once a person has served their term and paid debt to society, then they should get their rights back. All of them.
it's unfortunate that after getting a felony, and paying their debt, they are still punished as far as getting housing, jobs and such.
I can see that, and I'm open to an honest debate over the issue, however I don't for a millisecond believe that Eric Holder gives two shits about the rights if the people or correcting any injustice, ALL he cares about is getting more Democrat votes. Period. Same thing with Immigration "Reform".

[speedysst]

I have no such sympathy. Don't want the stigma, don't commit felonies. Maybe the felon should have thought about the consequences before committing the crime!
I think once a person has served their term and paid debt to society, then they should get their rights back. All of them.
it's unfortunate that after getting a felony, and paying their debt, they are still punished as far as getting housing, jobs and such.

[battle_sight_zero]

I have to agree. If you have paid for your crimes, you shouldn't be permanently stripped of your rights. This should not, however, only apply to voting; if they want to restore rights after the debt to society has been paid, it should be across the board.


Disagree lets say Nathan Dunlap or James Holmes is someday paroled by your logic they should have thier rights restored. No way! However the simple way which Colorado lacks is to allow the court to allow the perp his rights later after careful analysis. For Colorado the Governor is the only one who can restore 2nd amendment rights. Good luck with that

[vossman]

"By perpetuating the stigma and isolation imposed on formerly incarcerated individuals, these laws increase the likelihood they will commit future crimes.


By this thought process, they should have every right restored to them once they are released.

[battle_sight_zero]

I think once a person has served their term and paid debt to society, then they should get their rights back. All of them.
it's unfortunate that after getting a felony, and paying their debt, they are still punished as far as getting housing, jobs and such.

In some cases. Their are many people with felony records doing just fine. Life including jobs is what you make of it. Often crime involvement especially for the group Holder is rallying for is an excuse not to better themselves. Sure their are those 1 mistake people out there but that is rare. Sometimes that one mistake person has committed a terrible crime that they certainly dont deserve their rights back.

[davsel]

It has nothing to do with restoring a felon's rights.
Holder's only concern is increasing the number of black votes.

From: http://www.kvue.com/news/national/244889621.html

On a topic with racial overtones, Holder said 2.2 million black citizens, or nearly one in 13 African-American adults, are banned from voting because of these laws, and he said the ratio climbs to one in five in Florida, Kentucky and Virginia.

"Although well over a century has passed since post-Reconstruction states used these measures to strip African-Americans of their most fundamental rights, the impact of felony disenfranchisement on modern communities of color remains both disproportionate and unacceptable."

[cofi]

Are there any other countries that create this underclass of citizens?

Once you pay your debt to society all of your rights should be restored

[Teufelhund]

Disagree lets say Nathan Dunlap or James Holmes is someday paroled by your logic they should have thier rights restored. No way! However the simple way which Colorado lacks is to allow the court to allow the perp his rights later after careful analysis. For Colorado the Governor is the only one who can restore 2nd amendment rights. Good luck with that

For those we would consider to have perpetrated particularly heinous crimes, such as the two examples you provided, the sentence should be fitting to consider their debt paid. In my opinion, these particular scumbags should be/should have been put to death immediately after their trial. If you do something as horrible as these two, we shouldn't ever have to worry about you being paroled. There are a lot of crimes considered felonies that aren't nearly on the same level as murdering a bunch of innocent people; the former should come with a sentence, followed by probation, followed by full restoration of the rights you had before you fucked up.

I simply think if a sentence is doled out in response to being convicted of a crime, it should be the entirety of the punishment.

[buffalobo]

I understand this idea mentally, but there are certain crimes I still am not comfortable with giving voting rights back, like murder, child rape, etc.

There should be no return to society for such crimes.

Lobbed from my electronic ball and chain

[<MADDOG>]

It has nothing to do with restoring a felon's rights.
Holder's only concern is increasing the number of black votes.

I agree...

[Clint45]

I understand this idea mentally, but there are certain crimes I still am not comfortable with giving voting rights back, like murder, child rape, etc.

Anyone under court supervision (probation, parole, etc) is still serving a sentence and denied certain rights of citizenship. For serious felonies such as those, parole can be indefinite to permanent.

Many states do reinstate rights automatically after the completion of a sentence, either immediately or after 10 years with no new offenses. Other states revoke rights forever unless a pardon is applied for and approved. Some states arbitrarily deny most pardon applications or otherwise refuse to restore rights, even for a single minor offence committed decades earlier. Some of those minor offenses might even be perfectly legal in neighboring states.

[Big E3]

I would be willing to restore there right to vote only after they completed there sentence. If that sentence was for 30 years and they are paroled early in 20 years they can vote ten years after released on parole. That way if Nathan Dunlap is ever paroled he can vote right after his sentence is completed, and that would be right after he dies.

[SideShow Bob]

And if given back the right to vote, what do you think most of the repeat felons will vote for ?
Why stricter gun laws for law abiding citizens of course. Why would they not make their continued criminal career easier and safer.

[Roger Ronas]

You assume that they will be repeat offenders. Yes, some of them will but not all. Some will actually be rehabilitated, or at least no want to go back to prison.
JMHO
Roger



And if given back the right to vote, what do you think most of the repeat felons will vote for ?
Why stricter gun laws for law abiding citizens of course. Why would they not make their continued criminal career easier and safer.

[<MADDOG>]

You assume that they will be repeat offenders. Yes, some of them will but not all. Some will actually be rehabilitated, or at least no want to go back to prison.
JMHO
Roger

Holder notes that nearly all of these prisoners will eventually be freed, but the recidivism rate -- the number who will commit new crimes and be jailed again -- is "unacceptably high." A Pew Center study put the figure at 43 percent.

[battle_sight_zero]

Holder notes that nearly all of these prisoners will eventually be freed, but the recidivism rate -- the number who will commit new crimes and be jailed again -- is "unacceptably high." A Pew Center study put the figure at 43 percent.


Or 67.5 percent will be arrested again within 3 years for a serious crime. http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=17

Those 67.5 percent dont deserve a second chance.