Florida restores voting rights to felons - 18 Oct 08

[mexico992]

"I think everybody is one bad decision away from prison." --Michael Hargrett

what a cool guy :)

[Apparatchiki310]

its takes years sometimes to get your rights back and even with your rights back their still no oppurtunity .

[georgegrasser]

Why would you want to vote in a society that treats you like an outcast anyway?

[Everybodysright]

Many, many vote restoration requests are denied in Florida (and probably other states, too). Restoration is not automatic. A squeaky clean record afterward and letters of recommendation are also required. If this guy had been a rich boy when he was caught, his lawyer would have worked out a deal with the state's attorney general to have him enter a diversion program and drop the felony charges to a misdemeanor. That's why this is a civil rights issue.

[Clemburke1111]

Every,,I think it would be fine, that they can have the right to vote,,but Felons have more rights that homosexuals,,that pisses me off,,I served in the AF and Am a firefighter and have zero records,,and I have far less rights than these former felons.

[Everybodysright]

Right you are, and there's no valid reason for the discrimination that homosexuals endure. I've never understood why some people are so threatened by the existence of homosexuals. As long as sex (and, yes, love) is between consenting adults, society and government should stay out of it. I'm personally grossed out by sex between people 30 yrs in age apart, so I just don't think about it. One civil right's issue does not discount another.

[Clemburke1111]

I agree especially about the 30 yrs differnce thing I am not thrilled about 20 yrs differnce ,,but then again its not my place,,but your right with your point

[Clemburke1111]

WOW, Felons have offically more rights that gays they can even get married in or out of Prison.

[nilesriver2]

thats pretty shallow, but hey you probably have an agenda. so you think its ok that someone with a felony wont every be able to be a part of normal society again. Thats a great way of keeping them from reoffending. Maybe your right lets shut down all prisons and just put them all to death that would save the hassel of being compassionate. If I were fighting for gay rights I would hate to have you on my side of that arguement or any other.

[Clemburke1111]

nil, I think it would be fine , that they have the right to vote, but Felons have far more rights than Homosexuals, that pisses me off .Iservedin the AF and am a firefighter and have zero records and I have far less rights than these former felons. Can you grasp that?

[nilesriver2]

I do. but other than marrage or what comes with it what rights do you lack? I'm not trying to argue.....just understand

[Clemburke1111]

Staying in the closet as a service man is very serious,,,The right to my Two Wonderful children from state to state Hospital Visitaion  if one of us should become ill, the list goes on and on and on, even as a firefighter it was a scarey tas hell. What is there not to understand?

[nilesriver2]

I get it. hopefully things will change

[grester]

Selling Cocaine is a mistake??? oops, I didnt mean to sell cocaine, I made a mistake...

What's worse is the people pushing for felons to vote, they are the true enemies of America.

[nilesriver2]

The true cause of recidivism is people like you not allowing people that have made mistakes pay for it and move on.

[afrircans1970]

Oh, so the "paper work is too slow".....? What a stupid thing to say. This reeks of emotionalism!

Should we all just fall upon the floor attempting to give to these people who take from society? I'll bet that many limousine-liberal white people would NOT want these people living next door. But they should VOTE; oh yes....so that their party can remain in power. This is the same all over the world!

Just look at the way movie stars speak. They NEVER want the "disenfranchised" living near them!

[FlatulenceFox]

Follow the logic of your rant above. You are saying that since a person considers an undesirable too low class to live in their neighborhoods, the these low class people should not be allowed the vote either. Does that make sense?

I think you would be too undesirable to live in my neighborhood. So would it be right of me to deprive you of voting as well?

[Jaric55]

GOOD for Florida. Voting is a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT!

[timmyboe]

Fuck Florida.

[Uaz31]

I think they need to EARN their right to vote again that it should not be a simple process. They need to prove that they are competent and responsible individuals and not on the same path as before.

It's a fact most people that get out of prison go right back to what they did to get in prison in the first place. Why should they be allowed to vote against the law that condemns them and protects everyone else?

[Clevelandmarko]

DRUG DEALERS SHOULD NOT VOTE EVER.

[WalterCDonaldson]

go inspect a building dumbass!

[philly1537]

i think they should it their right but i would want these people being the deciding factor

[SirChadwic]

"Before they leave prison, they should be told about their rights and about the laws as part of helping......" Get the phuck outa here. Ignorance of the law is not the states fault. We ALL should be told about every freaking law but we are left to search for ourselves. Thats what makes us citizens. Just listen to the last words of this vid and tell me how much money should we spend on informing him of his rights to vote and what good it would do. Do you not have ears that hear?

[macflyfilm]

Sad.

[SexOffenderIssues]

Big Brother doesn't want the oppressed, who could decide if they are elected or not, to vote. Any felon, and I mean any, should get their right to vote back, once they completed their sentence, period!!!!!

[nerdycub]

No. They they couldn't follow the laws they can't have a say in how the law is written.

[Warnomore50]

A traffic cop can follow the average persons car for 30 minutes and write enough violations to make them a felon in most states.

[iwillpunchyourface]

Warnomore-- where did you hear this? I would like to read it.

[Warnomore50]

I used to be a police officer in Louisiana. In that state 13 traffic tickets in one year and you were a felon.