Backcountry, look at my previous post and read it carefully. There is a way for some convicted felons (misdemeanors too) to get their record cleared up some. I have a friend who as a young adult did a pretty bad thing, beat up someone pretty bad. After 25 years of an exemplory life, contacted an attorney and to make a long story short, went to court and got the record changed to a lessor charge (not a felony). Cost lots of money and had to make amends with the person who he beat up (and they had to agree with the courts action). But I still believe that convicted FELONS should have their civil rights limited because of THEIR actions. No one held a gun to their head and forced them into the crime they committed.
CC, I know about a felon getting their record sealed or expunged (there is a difference between the two). And yes, that is feasible after a certain amount of time has passed since the offense was comitted. Don't have a problem with that. Basically, you make your bed hard you lay in it hard. However, you brought up a couple of issues that when living in the enviroment you were raised in seems to be an unheard of premise. But, in the environment I was raised in is all too common. Peer pressure is very real and dangerous. Yes, I personally know of a 13 year old boy (at the time, he is now 37) who will be spending the rest of his life in prison. Why, because a very well known gang thru out the U.S. threaten to murder not only him, but his family as well if he didn't do the "hit" they needed him to do. Was he a member of this gang...no....was he an associate...yes. But, "gun" WAS pointed at his head for a lack of better words. This I swear to you is not a lie nor movie. This is real situations were I've grown up at. If you believe I'm exaggerating, ask anyone on this forum or whomever you may know that lives in Vegas about North Las Vegas or the Westside of Vegas. I PROMISE you they will tell you I'm being "light" in my description. Different environments effect people and the way their raised. Where your from, hunting has probably been passed down generation to generation. Where I'm from, gang banging and all that comes with it is being passed on from generation to generation. Not a sob story because I'm one of the few that found a seam and worked my way thru it (thank God) but not without some bumps on the road never the less. And to be unbiased, ALOT of these dudes deserve to be buried alive IMO. Because, they just don't get that life is precious...raising a family like a man should is priceless! They don't get that and hence do some very knavish things. These people I'm not concerned with. Because, their not concerned about me or you. It's the ones like you and I both have described. The ones that get the common sense idea that I messed up in life and need to change that. Those that step up to the plate with the count against them and still swing for the fence. These people deserve to be looked at as "whole" citizens in a society that's losing its moral common sense DAILY! So, it's ok for them to pay taxes and things of that nature. But, it's not ok for them to EARN the rights that they gave away back?! How is that just and fair? Aren't we living in a country that preaches equality, justice, and a fair shake in life (not saying I totally believe in this marketing scheme lol)? But, to some extent this is what this society thrives on. Life presents a different package for all of us. We don't know what the gift is gonna be until we open it. Some of us will like our presents....a lot of us won't. That's just life. Make the best of it. And if you should happen to break the gift that was handed to you. Well, it's my belief there is always a way to fix it if that's what a person truly wants. But, to wipe your hands clean of another human being based off of a screw up is no different IMO than a convicted felon who did the most evil of acts. Both of them gave no second thought to the lives they are effecting.
