Colorado May Allow Felons to Own Guns

The non-violent ones, anyway

It isn't often that a Republican beats a Democrat to the proverbial punch when it comes to granting freedoms to ex-felons.

A Colorado bill being floated by Republican State Rep. Perry Buck would allow non-violent felons the right own firearms, reports the Denver Post. Buck's claim: a history of violence is key, felon or not, so there's no good reason to keep guns from the hands of those who've never committed an act of physical aggression.

"Nonviolent felons are no more likely to commit a violent act in the future than non-felons are," says Buck, "so it is irresponsible to prohibit people from being able to protect their homes or hunt when there is no evidence to suggest that they are going to commit a violent act."

According to Buck, the bill, which was only introduced earlier this week, is slowly gaining support among Democrats. And while the idea will undoubtedly be unpopular with some, so far no fellow lawmaker has come forward to criticize the proposal to allow criminals the right to be strapped.

"They will be allowed to have their constitutional right back," said Buck. "There is a big difference between an income-tax felon and a homicide felon."

Via the Denver Post.

Do you agree with Buck's idea to allow non-violent felons guns?

[Medicinebow]

I'm not sure this is a good idea. But, it's not one of the answer options.

[PolitixMary K]

Thanks for suggesting, that should be an option. I've added it to the poll.

[Vance1]

Colorado May Allow Felons to Own Guns? why not they can smoke pot...LOL

[thejimbo]

We got a comedian in the house unlike the other goobers on this site. ;)

[PoliticalSpice]

@thejimbo More important, give them the right to vote...

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

@PoliticalSpice - Whoa, whoa, whoa, not so fast. I don't mind them having the right to own a firearm to protect themselves or their family, but if they are a criminal I don't know that I want them having the right to affect public policy.

[PoliticalSpice]

@Neo_NtheMatrix Think a firearm cannot affect public policy, or is it just that JFK, RFK, MLK and rep Giffords are democrats?

[Vance1]

@thejimbo
Guns have only two enemies; rust and politicians.

[Penn1699]

This is BS. Many felonious cases are plea bargained to misdemeanors. Not a smart idea CO.

[jessejaymes]

That doesn't make sense. If a felony case is plea bargained to a misdemeanor then the person can own a gun already.

[Penn1699]

@jessejaymes the point is many violent felony crimes are plea bargained. So you have two felony counts. One assault with a deadly weapon. One elder abuse. The assault with a deadly weapon is plea bargained to misdemeanor charge. The elder abuse charge sticks. In two years you get the deadly weapon charge expunged. So now we have elder abuse, which can sometimes be a non-violent crime.
So your telling me they should let the ahole that tried to cut open his mothers throat now be allowed to own a gun?
Of course the aholes friend is going to "buy" or have the aholes guns transferred to him until he gets another lawyer here in CA to manipulate the system some more.
Perhaps people should just obey the law and there wouldn't be a problem.

[jessejaymes]

@Penn1699 That's absurd. Elder abuse would be considered a violent crime.

[Penn1699]

@jessejaymes welcome to CA. It happened.

[jessejaymes]

@Penn1699 When? In 1980? Come on now. today elder abuse would preclude owning a gun under any such law. You know it, I know it, everyone knows it. Any kind of abuse would qualify as a "violent crime" in today's society.

[Malitia_Man]

There are many ways to become a felon without being violent person... So... Yeah... If the "felon" wasn't convicted with a violent charge, then why not?

[EMS_Servant]

I agree, a guy who gets out of prison after serving his time for say tax evasion or some otherother white colarpeople crime should be allowed to own a gun.

[DARSB]

So the argument is a non-violent felon is completely unchanged by years in prison? Well, maybe, I guess, but couldn't we start with restoring a right slightly less likely to go horribly wrong? Like voting?

[Medicinebow]

And then what? if he/she votes democrat we know they aren't trustworthy?:)

[PoliticalSpice]

Exactly, restore the right to vote ad well as the right to own firearms, if a republican gets elected they can then avail themselves to their second amendment remidies... :)

[frigginhell]

A non-violent felon does not mean a criminal was not guilty of a violent crime. As pointed out above it just means their conviction was for a non-violent offense. They could plea to lesser charges and have the worst charges dropped in favor of a lighter sentence and not fighting it in court. It happens every single day. This is a poorly thought out idea. It would need far more extensive checks into each and every person it would affect to make it even worth considering.
What about a felon who was apprehended without issue because he broke into a house but was unarmed. His apprehension was made easier by the fact that he didn't have a weapon. Now he can legally purchase one when he's released. Did he learn to quit being a thief or did he learn to take a gun the next time so he has a better chance of getting away. This is stupid on so many levels.

[swampthang324]

I could be wrong but I think some states already automatically restore rights like voting and the ability to get certain professional licenses. I believe Georgia and Colorado are two examples.

[harold_lloyd]

Felons lose their civil rights for a reason, they have proved to be not worthy of the rights of citizenship.
I don't see any reason to change that.

But then I'm not a right-wing idiot playing a political game.

[PoliticalSpice]

Once a person has served their time I see no reason not to testore most civil rights, including a right to vote, and get professional licences. Denying licenses to most felons just limits options to work and make money in a lawful manner. How many felons are convicted for drug offenses that they may no longer be susceptible to if they determine to stay off addictive drugs? I think there are entirely too many victimless crimes on the books to make that something someone loses civil rights over...

[harold_lloyd]

@PoliticalSpice
Would you want someone convicted of fraud to be your stock broker?

A convicted felon is not locked out, they can apply to have their civil rights restored.
I do not think restoration should be automatic.

I would say that after a period of good behavior, to include restitution where appropriate, a felon should be able to ask for his rights to be restored, and barring any reason to the contrary, they should be.

Be very wary of the 'victimless crime' thing.
Often the victim is somewhat removed from the criminal act itself.
Sometimes the act is criminal because it is an offense against the state, which is theoretically all of us..

[PoliticalSpice]

@harold_lloyd No, I elaborate on this in my comment to savage max below, but in general I beleive in automatic restoration of most civil rights.

As to an act against the state being a victimless crime, you're not persuading me with an example that, amoung other things, covers possession of drugs. I really think our society criminalizes too much, imprisons to many and should focus on heftier sentences for serious crimes, decriminalization of victimless crims, fewer people in prison, and getting more people employed, in education or in drug treatment.

[harold_lloyd]

@PoliticalSpice
I guess you're just a nicer person than I am.
But I also agree that a lot of priorities are screwed up with regard to what we consider to be criminal. Including some drug possession and use.
But that doesn't change the fact that when you smoke marijuana, there is a link between you and some Mexican cartel. Unless you grew it yourself. But if you did, don't say so here...

[PoliticalSpice]

@harold_lloyd when I started smoking marijuana mexican cartels did not extist. They came into being based largely on the basis of nicons war on drugs, and much of the marfical marijuana available in california is grown in grow houses operatrd by americans. Regardless, i care less. My position is the same. It is the u.s. govt and there decsion to have a war on drugs that is responsible for the rxistance of the mexican cartels...

[Jack-Black]

Did not vote. Dont like the choices. It depends. Is this felon a repeat offender? How long have they been out of jail? Is the probation period over?

[RobertJHarsh]

This reminded me of a many article about Felons able to get hunting licenses. Here is one: http://www.andymboyle.com/portfolio/felons-hu...

There was a big issue in Dayton a couple of years ago (yes, I am trying to find that article) about a felon who went bow hunting and got busted for it. If the felon is non-violent, then why can't he or she own a gun?

[Jimiracle]

For some who have a felony DWI and get their lives straightened out, I say after 10 years or so to allow it (pending a fresh D&A eval).

[SavageMazx]

I have a close friend who became hooked on oxy after an accident on a fishing boat, he was caught in a bust buying a large amount personal use, it was enough that it automatically put him in the "intent to distribute" that was when he was 17 and he sentenced as an adult....he is now 38 and has never been in trouble again. That one act has from that point on barred him from owing a firearm....would I be ok with him being able to have a gun....yes....but to if every felon would then be allowed to....I think it opens a big can of worms....

[PoliticalSpice]

What about having the right to vote?

[SavageMazx]

@PoliticalSpice I have no problem with them voting, perhaps after the are released, who knows maybe even return rights in a slow process after they prove the will keep thier nose clean....worth some discussion though.

[PoliticalSpice]

@SavageMazx Well my position is automatic restoration of most civil rights once they have served their time. Professional licences are a big issue, since not being able to get them prevents many from earning an honest living, but not all automatically. An attoney or sccountant for example, who did time for fraud should not be able to work in those professions again. A child molestor, in my veiw should never be allowed out, but if they are you certianly don't sant them getting a daycare or teachers licence, etc. but in general you want to encourage honest employment, voting, all aspects of cotizenship, including gun ownership if it is appropriate, given the circumstances...

[Throttlejockey]

If the time is payed, then they have payed there dues. Yes

[Chromalord]

Wait, I thought it was Arizona's responsibility to do the bat-shit crazy stuff?

[Medicinebow]

Welcome to Colorado. You can be a felon, smoke dope and have a gun....just don't own a magazine over 10 rounds.

[jessejaymes]

I agree with the governor. Some one who writes a hot check to feed their family or who had a pot conviction year ago are not a threat to society with a gun. This is common sense legislation and I support it.

[jessejaymes]

correction: I agree with congresswoman.

[TheJimmy]

Every American should be allowed to own a gun, even O.J. Simpson when he gets out. It's not like he ever shot anyone.

[Thegrif]

Ao one the one hand we got stiffer gun control lawz for use legal gun owners, and on the other we are gonna arm felons.
Ok I see...
This country is more screwed up than a monkey with a football.
Lmao

[Thegrif]

Sorry ya'll for my type-o's, drove 7 hrs and worked 10. My lil peanut brain is toast

[Altonroe]

Go figure. The criminals have been making and changing the laws for years. They are taking over as politicians. It's called working smart for them.

[tomincali]

i see no reason not to as long as they have done their time and finished parole of probation,unless of course their crime was using a gun to commit the crime.

when a citizens has their full rights it should mean all rights otherwise how are the a free citizen.

[hillbilly45]

If they have a clean record for 2 to 3 years.

[bigblock]

The felons in my area carry guns all the time. That's why we non- felons must do the same. Peace through superior firepower. Works every time.

[Dan_Tien]

"Nonviolent felons are no more likely to commit a violent act in the future than non-felons are," I'm not sure if that is true. If you demonstrate disregard for the law and the rights of others, then that makes you less trustworthy than someone who has not.

[Fishbone345]

They can own a gun, but can't vote, get a job and return to society as a responsible person and pay taxes, belong to some social network, etc...
I'm sure given the choice between killing themselves and others they will choose the former. Way to be trusting Colorado.