Should felons be able to bowhunt Utah?

[HuskyMusky]

In most states felons can bowhunt, not Utah however.

Martha Stewart can't own a gun, what her crime has to do with guns/violence is beyond me, and why she wouldn't be allowed to bowhunt Utah doesn't make much sense if you ask me.

 

[anglinarcher]

Martha Stewart Hunts!? How come I don't see camo pattern bedsheets, and a recipe book specifically for wild game??


J/K....Common sense tells me if they have aleady paid there debt to society and don't have a history for violence there should be no problem.

 

[jenbickel]

I definitely think that as long as the crime is not violence related and they did their time, they should be able to bowhunt. I would love to bowhunt with Martha Stewart, I'd bring the drinks if she brought the snacks!! yummmm.. Could you imagine eating a 5 layer chocolate cake with raspberries so lightly baked in and some sort of truffles on top and fudge melted over everything.. Beats the heck out of the stale jerky I usually take.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

I don't think I am going to spend too much time worrying about the hunting rights of felons.

 

[purebowhunting]

Hunting is a privilege, everyone knows the consequences of a felony before its committed, should take away as many right and privileges as possible.

 

[jenbickel]

Hunting is a privilege, everyone knows the consequences of a felony before its committed, should take away as many right and privileges as possible.

Oooo!! Good point!! Maybe I should think with my brain instead of my stomach.

 

[Kevin Root]

I don't think I am going to spend too much time worrying about the hunting rights of felons.

I'm with you Bitterroot Bulls. I don't want to seem insensitive to felons but I kind of see it as, when you screw up that bad, you lose some rights.

 

[Drhorsepower]

I'm surprised there is this many posts on this topic....

 

[Jon Boy]

I have mixed feelings on the topic. I know a guy in his 30s that hung out with the wrong people and made some bad decisions when he was 18 (burglary, grand theft). He did his time and paid his fines and now is a hard working law abiding citizen. Works 40 hours a week and hasnt had a run in with the law since. He still cant possess or a hunt with a firearm, and apparently cant hunt in utah with a bow either. The point is some people do screw up and do stupid things and pay for it, and they learn from it, thats the point of the criminal justice system (even though it doesnt seem like it all of the time)

 

[Joe Hulburt]

The only problem I have with felons being able to bowhunt and NOT rifle hunt is that here in Oregon at least is forces all ex-felons become bowhunters. I see where there could be some potential for that to be a problem. Most people are good and will try and change and stop breaking laws but a small percentage will not and they will be breaking laws as archery hunters and consequently give us all a bad rap. Of course the reality is a lot of those lifetime criminals will just poach without even trying to pretend to be a legit hunter so I may be making more of it than need be.

 

[Montana]

I play by the rules to respect myself, my profession, my employer and most of all my family. It is how I was raised and how I raise my family... Respect yourself and others. And along with this comes rewards in all aspects of life. And if you don't then you are not rewarded.

So therefore... No, I do not

 

[HuskyMusky]

I find many people seriously lacking empathy these days. Also many people with the do anything wrong no matter how miniscule and their attitude is lock'em up and throw away the key forever! I'm quite certain most people have done something wrong, whether intentioned or not at some point in their life.

Good/great people do make mistakes, even if just once in their lives. ie, the 50yo guy who was busted at 18 for marijuana, the 19yo who hooks up with his hs girlf and becomes a sex offender/felon, white collar criminals, mind you martha stewart wasn't a felon for insider trading but rather lying to a fbi agent! which police officers are legally allowed to lie all they want to us, but the moment we lie to an fbi agent it becomes a felony?!?!

So sure if you think "lying to an fbi agent" should mean you can never own a gun/hunt/bowhunt in some states again in your life, then I'd have to say you're logic and empahty is lacking.

Life isn't black and white, it's grey.

 

[HuskyMusky]

just caught this statistic, 4 million of the 5.3million felons in the US are not incarcerated.

 

[BOHNTR]

If convicted of a felony......no firearms and/or voting privileges.

 

[In God We Trust]

Kind of a weird topic

If it is not a violent felony than yes to owning guns and hunting. I went through a rough patch when I was 17-18. I was never charged with a felony mind you but I am of the mind that people make mistakes from time to time. Those of you that say otherwise are lying to yourselves. Many people have paid for their non violent crimes and are now productive contributing citizens. They have already been punished and should not continue to be punished for the rest of their lives. A little level headed thinking would fix a lot of problems these days.

 

[T43]

Lets see husky musky so far your posts basically state that you think non residents shouldn't have to pay high tag prices and now your siding with convicted felons about hunting privileges. Next you post defending someone who lied to authorities about committing a felony and try to make the FBI out to be the bad guys. I just hope our tag prices are to high to worry about bumping into a convicted felon with a weapon in the middle of nowhere. We all know the rules why should we make exceptions for those who choose not to follow them?

 

[Montana]

So I actually had to look this up because I felt like I was missing something here... The post is about a Felony right? A FELONY...
Below is what I found....

Examples of Felony Crimes:

Murder
Rape
Arson
Treason
Terrorism
Kidnapping
Burglary
Generally, crimes that offend predominant morals

 

[Kevin Root]

So I actually had to look this up because I felt like I was missing something here... The post is about a Felony right? A FELONY...
Below is what I found....

Examples of Felony Crimes:

Murder
Rape
Arson
Treason
Terrorism
Kidnapping
Burglary
Generally, crimes that offend predominant morals

I'm reading this the same as you Montana. We are talking about a felony, not a petty offense or a misdemeanor. None of us are blameless or perfect but we do have to live/pay for the consequences of our actions.

Petty Offense: In short, they are misdemeanors that never warrant any time in jail.
Misdemeanor: A misdemeanor is considered a crime of low seriousness.
Felony: Felonies are considered the most serious types of crimes.

If we forgive every criminal, or grant clemency for every criminal act, we would be living in anarchy. There are consequences for our actions. Forgiveness does not necessarily mean all consequences of past behavior disappear.

 

[Midwest to Outwest]

Everyone should have to deal with the consequences of their actions...That said, every crime has its punishment that is theoreticly paid for in fines or jail time as determined by the court. I do not have the list of "what is a felony and what isn't." Maybe there should be no exceptions but maybe some debts to society should be able to be paid in full with the person then getting to start fresh. No doubt some crimes should carry a lifetime ban from certain privileges. Doesn't really affect me, but I'm sure there are some 'felons' out there who can be great sportsmen and an asset to the hunting community. Depends who they are, NOW.

 

[Montana]

Everyone should have to deal with the consequences of their actions...That said, every crime has its punishment that is theoreticly paid for in fines or jail time as determined by the court. I do not have the list of "what is a felony and what isn't." Maybe there should be no exceptions but maybe some debts to society should be able to be paid in full with the person then getting to start fresh. No doubt some crimes should carry a lifetime ban from certain privileges. Doesn't really affect me, but I'm sure there are some 'felons' out there who can be great sportsmen and an asset to the hunting community. Depends who they are, NOW.

I mean no disrespect to you... But the one MAJOR thing that you are missing. Though they have served their time, I can guarantee you the peoples lives they destroyed by their actions don't end in 7 years. I have a close friend that lost his 13 year old daughter by being hit by a drunk driver at 3pm in the afternoon. Eligible to get out in 5 years. I understand he was a great guy, but I am sorry his actions DESTROYED peoples lives, aside of the life he took. Getting fired up... Should stop here.