Should convicted felons get their rights back once their sentence is up?

Should convicted felons get their civil rights back once they have finished up their sentence including probation. These rights include voting. Do you think they should get some or all rights back. (Gun). My personal opinion is that they should get all their rights back. They paid their dues and how can they be productive if the law keeps holding them down. When it comes to guns, they should only be able to have a gun if they don't have any history of violence. If we keep holding their rights we aren't going to help them stay out of trouble.

Do they deserve another chance?

Best argument gets the 10 points even if you don't agree with me.

Once a convicted felon completes his/her sentence and once again becomes a productive member of society I believe he/she should be allowed to Vote. Anyone who pays taxes to a government that Enacts laws that affect that person and their family deserves say in that government, and has a say in how the tax dollars they contribute to the community and country are spent. "taxation without representation" was one of the battle cries of our revolution and reason this country was founded, it wouldn't make much sense in this country to force someone to pay taxes but not allow them representation.
Guns maybe a little trickier. That may be one right you don't get back. This could be supported by the recidivism rate in the country. There is a higher probablity of committing another crime once you have been incarcerated. I believe in second chances but could you imagine the outrage, and sadness if a convicted felon was allowed to have a gun again and someone's child or loved one was killed? Not something you want on your concience. You can read my profile. I don't advocate gun control for law abiding citizens, it seems its easier for criminals to get access to them than it is people who obey the law. Arm the riteous and those thinking of committing a violent crime may think twice.

If they have paid the price, why not?

No.

Yes they should.

Yes, with exception of there being exceptions to full restoration.

No. They deserve to work, but once they became the felon, they knowingly gave up their rights to vote.

If former felons could vote, which they can in most states but not all (Florida!), Al Gore would be president now. And we would be debating what to do with our budget surplus instead of how to get out of the quagmire that is Iraq.

i believe it depends on who is the convixt if that convict had a history of violance, they should not be out in the first place but if their record is good and it was a one time stupid thing they did, i believe that they should get their rights back.

Actually, felons can vote in 36 states once they have completed probation.

And they get their civil rights back, with the exception of gun ownership. Although I'm the last person to support an armed citizenry, I think a registered firearm could be allowed.

Yes, if they paid their debt to society, then their rights should be restored. I find it hard to believe that compassionate Americans would want to keep a person down. I also feel that if they perform any labor while incarcerated, they should paid at the prevailing wage in the free society. They are not slaves. They merely broke the laws of the country. Unless they are murderers, child molesters. Then they should be put to death, and restoring their rights would not be an issue. A guy caught carrying a pound of weed is no more of a criminal than a guy driving an eighteen wheeler full of beer !!!!!

Absolutely. Once the debt to society is paid, then you get a new start and hopefully will do better.

No. Why should they have the same rights and privileges of someone who has lived by and obeyed the law. Why should a felonious drug dealer have the same rights as someone who bust their tale everyday and sometimes still don't make enough to live a decent life?

I think there should be some up front deterrant for crimanal activity (if you do this, you lose that). In some cases some rights should be forever taken away, but not all cases. Not all felons lose these rights even now.

well they shouldnt get it rite after the sentence and probation is up cuz look at some of the ppl they get off probation and they are back in jail. they should have to prove themselves to get it back

If you are going to give them their rights back then there wouldn't be much point in taking them away as punishment in the first place, would there?