Timjoebillybob
Grandmaster
- Feb 27, 2009
- 9,421
- 149
Kind of seems to me that voting is one of the most important rights that a person can have. I maybe wrong but I think the Constitution mentions it but frankly my memory fails me here and I don't often review exactly what it says, So I can't remember in what context and where it was mentioned. But actually it also originally didn't give this right to blacks or women hence we have two of the Amendments to the Constitution that we have now.
I wonder what the percentage of repeat offenders there are as that seems that would be a great point to make here as well.
The original Constitution doesn't say much about voting. Here is the full quote.
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
There have actually been 4 Amendments regarding voting. The 15th which stated that states can't deny or infringe voting based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The 19th same except for it's sex. The 24th which prohibits poll taxes and failure to pay other taxes for primaries and selecting electors for VP and Pres. And the 26th which states that the states can't deny the right to vote due to age if the person is 18 or older. There are a few other restrictions due to the 14th, as an example religious tests.
For the most part other than above the states are free to set whatever rules they wish. Such as voter ID laws, felons can/can't vote, whether or not that non citizens can vote in elections other than VP and Pres, etc. They could put in place that a person can't vote if they have been found mentally incompetent as an example.
In regards to recidivism rates, it varies depending on the crime.
https://www.bjs.gov/content/reentry/recidivism.cfm
I've mentioned before that I don't specifically agree with the current criteria. This doesn't mean that the UBC would include it anyway. I'm certain the details would have to be worked out anyhow. Regardless if you think I'm going to champion a crooks case I am not. Besides just because your a felon this also doesn't mean it was for a violent crime. Is violent felons the only ones prohibited from gun ownership or does it apply to all felons? Consequences, it's a consequence of doing something you shouldn't have done in the first place.
Federal law prohibits all felons minus a few "white collar" crimes. Along with DV and misdmeanors which carry a sentence of either 2 or more, or over 2 yrs in jail. Can't remember which and I'm feeling to lazy to check. Which is what the background check goes by. And why wouldn't the UBC go by it, all the UBC would do from the proposals I've seen and the laws passed in the various states simply expand the current criteria to all transfers/sales with some exceptions rather than just ones from an FFL.
IN law prohibits serious violent felons as defined in the IC and DV. Main difference is what is considered a "firearm". Federal law doesn't consider black powder or most antiques to be firearms. IN does. So under Fed law a murderer who was released could legally go out and purchase a cap and ball pistol, but not if they are in IN.
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