McAuliffe restores voting rights for 206K ex-felons

[ShotgunBlast]

My personal belief is that if you're free and out on the street, you should have all of your rights restored. If people have a problem with that, then I guess our prison sentence lengths need to be looked at and extended. You're either rehabilitated or you're not.

Of course McAuliffe does it in the most hypocritcal and scummy way possible - by executive order in an election year. Instead of pressing to modify the state's constitution, a stroke of the pen by one man days after the General Assembly finishes its session for the year is all it takes. And does this executive order also restore the gun rights of these felons? Of course not. There wouldn't be any hypocrisy if that happened.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe today signed an order restoring the voting rights of 206,000 ex-felons, a sweeping action the governor said was aimed at rectifying Virginia's "long and sad history" of suppressing African-American voting power.

Coming in a presidential election year, a swift backlash ensued as Republicans accused McAuliffe of abusing his executive power to help longtime ally Hillary Clinton win a battleground state by putting more likely Democratic voters on the books.

The governor's order applies to all violent and nonviolent felons who have completed all phases of their sentences and supervised release as of Friday - even those who have not applied for a restoration of rights - a departure from past policies in which governors restored rights on an individual basis.

...

“Considering that the entire General Assembly was in session just two days ago, the timing of this action should give all legislators pause," said Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City."Perhaps this governor does not expect to have to work with the General Assembly next session, as he might be planning on an appointment to an office headquartered in a different capital city."

http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/g ... fb212.html

[WRW]

Yeah, my personal belief is that loss of voting rights is a part of the penalty for felony conviction.

And there is no conspiracy to suppress black votes, they voluntarily placed them in peril themselves.

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[skeeterss0]

I was wondering does this restore their gun rights also? or just their voting rights?

[WRW]

https://commonwealth.virginia.gov/judic ... of-rights/

That page has a Q&A with that question.

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[SHMIV]

Right thing, wrong reason.

Generally speaking, once you've done your time, served your sentence, fulfilled any reparations, etc., you should have all rights restored.

That said, sentences are generally too light, in my view. Violent criminals should not be roaming the streets within 10 years of conviction; instead, they should be given permanent residence at the local graveyard within 12 months of conviction.

But, back to the original topic, the method and reasoning on the part of Shrillarys toy submissive is highly suspect, for reasons already cited above. Is there any recourse to block this action, or are we stuck with it?

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[SHMIV]

Also, how many of those 206,000 people will be reincarnated within 12 months, you reckon?

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[WRW]

Also, how many of those 206,000 people will be reincarnated within 12 months, you reckon?

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And that's the reason for the loss of rights. They have proven themselves untrustworthy and time served does nothing to restore that trust. If they are sufficiently concerned with restoration of rights, there is a procedure available to restore them.

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[SHMIV]

That's why I say sentences are too light. We should bring back the public display of minor criminals. Outside of the court house in Colonial Williamsburg, there are the stocks. You could amuse yourself by swinging by the court house and ridiculing the criminals on display; pelt them with rotten vegetation, hurl bedpan contents at them. Great fun. And, a great deterrent.

Frequent public hangings would also, in addition to providing public entertainment, would also be a good deterrent.

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[WRW]

Punishment should fit the crime...and that is what prison time is, a portion of the punishment. Penal institute, penalty, penalize, etc. have a root from Latin for "pain". The loss of certain rights is also a penalty that can be brought to an end by displaying rehabilitation for a period of time after incarceration and parole has ended and displaying a desire to have those rights reinstated.
It seems to me that those that wrote and voted for this law had put some serious thought into it. Those that believe that prison time atones for sins have heard a cliche and accepted it as truth.

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[kelu]

11,000 democratic votes slashed.

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia’s highest court has struck down Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s executive order restoring voting rights to more than 206,000 felons.

http://nypost.com/2016/07/22/virginias- ... ng-rights/

[SHMIV]

Nice. It's good to know that Hillarys boy-toy can be stopped, on occasion.

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[wittmeba]

I have mixed feeling regarding criminals doing their time. If they fulfill their time, probation, etc whether they get back their voting rights or not -- I am neutral.

I have no mixed feelings regarding TMC getting a slip in the face as it just seems to be political! With his attitude I have difficulty believing he feels what he signs.

[OakRidgeStars]

The Dems won't be deterred by this setback. They will continue to attack VA's voter ID requirements as racist or something.

[Reverenddel]

(shakes head) Gadamma those carpetbaggers.