shoplift - no can vote!

[granny2young]

ACLU challenges Mississippi crackdown on felon voting rights
Holly Manges Jones at 7:20 AM ET

[JURIST] The Mississippi American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) [advocacy website] filed a lawsuit [press release] Monday challenging a list of felony crimes which prevent convicted individuals from voting in the state. The lawsuit was filed against the offices of the Mississippi Secretary of State [official website] and the Mississippi Attorney General [official website] on behalf of two state residents. Ten crimes were originally listed in the Mississippi Constitution [text] to restrict voting, but in 2004, the state added another eleven including robbery, statutory rape, carjacking, and shoplifting. The ACLU is challenging the added crimes.

The ACLU is petitioning the court to order a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order to allow individuals who have committed those crimes to register to vote. They are also asking that the October 6 voter registration deadline be extended so those convicted can still vote in the November elections. Mississippi [JURIST news archive] is one of 12 states that currently allows such limitations on voting, but its rules are considered to be the country's most restrictive. AP has more.

jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2006/10/aclu-challenges-mississippi-crackdown.php

[Frey]

The ACLU... protecting everything/everyone that/who does not need protecting... That needs to be their new slogan.

I am sorry, but if someone is convicted of a felony (and by convicted...I mean they went to court and were found guilty...due process and all), they should not be allowed to vote. I do not want a convicted rapist having any say in who governs this state.

[zipzam]

convicted of a crime and can't vote? NOOOO, GASP, WTH??

ok, here's an idea. DON'T commit the crime! i'm bothered by the aclu thinking these people SHOULD vote.

[King Rat]

Democrats have tried before to give convicted felons the right to vote but failed to get the laws passed. So now they (through their ACLU lapdog) try to get activist judges to do it for them. That shouldn't shock anyone since they've used this tactic to fight religion for a long time now.

[granny2young]

I have a problem with a person making a mistake in their life, especially when young and stupid, paying their debt to society and making restitution and still be punished the rest of their lives.

[Lorri]

Ok so you think the 50 year old who was caught shoplifting when they were 18 shouldn't vote - that makes no sense - if they were a habitual then ok, but they'd be in prison for it - maybe they should just say convicted felons and people on parole - to pick and choose what crimes is odd - there is little diffrence to me between the person who writes a bad check for something, and a shoplifter - except the smile the check writer shows as they burn you with their bogus check, or people who commit fraud - will they get to vote?

[Frey]

lorri said:

Ok so you think the 50 year old who was caught shoplifting when they were 18 shouldn't vote - that makes no sense - if they were a habitual then ok, but they'd be in prison for it - maybe they should just say convicted felons and people on parole - to pick and choose what crimes is odd - there is little difference to me between the person who writes a bad check for something, and a shoplifter - except the smile the check writer shows as they burn you with their bogus check, or people who commit fraud - will they get to vote?

Okay...not meaning to be rude, but what exactly are you trying to say? I do not understand whether you are for or against felons voting.

[zipzam]

granny2young said:

I have a problem with a person making a mistake in their life, especially when young and stupid, paying their debt to society and making restitution and still be punished the rest of their lives.

you do realize we're talking felony shoplifting? we're not talking about a mistake of stealing a pack of cigs: we're talking felony shoplifting. felony shoplifting involves stealing over a certain amount (i was thinking $300 but it may be $500).

we're not talking about taking voting rights away from someonve over a small mistake.

i support the decision to keep convicted felons from voting. imo, no right has been "taken away" from a convicted felon, the convicted felon "gave up" the right when he/she committed a felony.

[King Rat]

Convicted felons should not vote. It doesn't matter if the felony was for shoplifting or for murder. The purpose of not allowing them to vote, I would believe, is the fact that we do not want ex-felons deciding matters of law. Makes prefect sense to me.

[granny2young]

I guess we see people differently. Ex-cons are people, especially excons that paid their debt to society and learned and is now a productive member of society. I am referring to the 18 year old who is now 50 and still paying for that stupid mistake. God can forgive all matter of sin, why can't humans?

[TF Admin]

I'm in the middle. I believe once you've paid your debt, your rights should be totally restored after a period of 10 years with no additional convictions....misdemeanor or otherwise.

TF

[cntryldyx3]

admin said:

I'm in the middle. I believe once you've paid your debt, your rights should be totally restored after a period of 10 years with no additional convictions....misdemeanor or otherwise.

TF

I'm with you TF.If you have paid your debt and kept a clean record for 10 years,then you can vote.However if the felony was one for a violent crime,then no.I say that because of the way soome judges are being so lenient on rapists and people who are convicted of B&E.
On another thought,I wonder if they will give felons the right to own guns.


**Fixed your quote** - TF

[granny2young]

That is my thinking. After their debt has been paid and they truely are seeking a better life for themselves and those around them, they should have their rights restored. Talk about shooting the wounded! It would stand to reason if an ex-con had things to look forward to in his/her life they would be more apt to live a good life and strive for those things; on the other hand if they have no hope of getting a normal life back, then screw it

[King Rat]

There is a difference in "forgive" and "forget". While we should forgive those who break our laws we should not forget. Until the percentage of ex-cons reoffending drops dramatically, and until our justice system stops letting dangerous criminals (such as child molestors) go free with a slap on the wrist, I don't favor giving ex-cons the right to vote. Should ex-cons, as a group, show a likelihood NOT to continue breaking our laws then I would be moved to consider TF's idea of restoring that right AFTER 10 years of obeying our laws.

What we should be enraged about, instead of ex-cons not being allowed to vote, is the practice of the courts not allowing juries to know the rap sheet of the suspect they are judging. Also the practice of allowing the attorneys to pick and chose the jury.

[granny2young]

until our judicial system stops convicting people just because and not based on evidence, then I am inclined to trust an ex-con more than average joe.