How long does he keep paying the price for a "poor decision?" How long have you paid the price for poor decisions you've made?
I never said you should trust him "automatically." I just said his rights should be restored. He should earn trust the same way anyone else does, even starting a little behind the rest of the pack.
It lasts forever. Or at least as long as the damage you did lasts. Certainly, some of my poor decisions have stuck with me.
Frankly, I have issues with birthright privileges. IMHO, citizenship should be earned - and forfeited if you are convicted of a felony. There should be a re-earn that that citizenship, but sitting in the cooler for X number years is not part of it.