[NC Gov.] Easley seldom pardons felons who hope to hunt

Raleigh News and Observer ^ | 24 December 2007 | Mandy Locke

[joe fonebone]

drug laws are stupid.....we need to end the war on drugs, or re-think the way it is fought.....

[cripplecreek]

I think the “Felons can’t vote” thing comes primarily from democrats who want them voting while in prison. I believe Maine is the only state that allows incarcerated people to vote.

The thing is, active felons don’t sit around pining away for a right to vote. Allowing current inmates to vote is a bad idea because they’ll vote just for a change of pace and they’ll vote for whoever makes the best promise.

[wbill]

Actions have consequences. Even if I (personally) don't agree with them. This guy would be better served to talk to other 18 year old boys and say "This is what happens. Regardless of what everyone says, it's not 'Just Pot'."

And, I'd say, that nothing is stopping this guy from going hunting with whoever he wants....he just can't carry a gun.

Some of my best memories are sitting in a deer stand, or walking up a few woodcock with my uncle, just chewing the fat. More often than not, we didn't see a thing, but had a great time. And, what's more important, he passed on all of the family stories, knowledge, etc, to a very interested teenage boy.

[Brilliant]

They have been convicted.

[Brilliant]

Look at their rap sheets.

[The Pack Knight]

Federal law (18 USC § 922) does precisely that. As marktwain noted, the law has been declared unconstitutional where it exceeds Congress’s authority under Article I of the Constitution. I know of no successful 2nd Amendment challenge, however.

[The Pack Knight]

Of a felony. Not necessarily a violent one. Federal law makes no distinction between the two, however, and denial for life of their right to keep and bear arms was never a part of their sentence.

[Sybeck1]

My father in law is a felon and a gun owner. Of course he’s with his wife on private land when they hunt.

[Inverse]

Agreed that was a bad example to bring up.

However the one who was busted for pot possession and then has made good for 21 years is a different story (IMHO).

[JLS]

A 68-year-old homebuilder in Alamance County accused of taking indecent liberties with a girl wants to hunt one last time.

Newspaper reporters and now READERS TOO:

1. My guess is the guy is not asking for a pardon prior to his trial, so I would guess he was a long way from 68 when the incident happened. I know that wont change the mind of those in favor of the current witch hunt, but seriously a reader should understand from the context of this article that the age is current age not age of offense which might have been an 18 year old with a 15 year old girl friend or something far more problematic.

2. People asking for pardons are not accused, but have been found guilty. A reporter should know better and write better than that.

3. It sounds to me like Easely is turning everyone down not just hunters.

One has to wonder if this reporter was assigned this story, didn't lie it and put in the guy who accidently shot someone and this 68 year old to undermine the thesis his editor asked him to write about?

[Soliton]

The bigger picture is that with governor’s right to grant clemency comes the responsibility to consider it.

Huck used it too much and has been attacked.

Mitt NEVER issued a pardon presumably because he didn’want a Willy Horton possibility.

This Gov. only pardoned people who didn’t need it.

After what has been done to Huck over the issue, you can expect fewer and fewer pardons to be given by anyone interested in higher office.

By the way, even a misdemeanor DUI will keep you out of Canada for life.

[The Pack Knight]

He’s only issued 5 pardons his entire term. I posted this less because of the pardon issue and more to highlight what I think is an absurd situation created by laws which automatically deny anyone convicted of any felony the right to keep and bear arms for the rest of his life, even after he has served out his sentence.

[cripplecreek]

By the way, even a misdemeanor DUI will keep you out of Canada for life.

Yep. I'm going through the "rehabilitation" process right now. It takes about a year and can cost between $200 and $1000 dollars. I took a trip to Windsor about a month ago and didn't have any problem getting in but I still want to make it all legal. My friend's neighbor is a retired border guard there and he says it's unlikely that I would ever be asked about my status unless I'm stopped by police while there.

[drjimmy]

This Gov. only pardoned people who didn’t need it.

That's not necessarily true. Even when it has been determined that someone convicted of a crime is absolutely innocent, a pardon may be the best way (and certainly the quickest way) to get them out of prison and clear their name.

[SouthTexas]

Allowing current inmates to vote is a bad idea because they’ll vote just for a change of pace and they’ll vote for whoever makes the best promise.

Of course, no one else votes this way.

[secret garden]

I agree.