By Paul Lathrop | Contributing Editor
The Orlando Weekly is reporting that a bill is currently being considered in several house committees that would restore the rights of convicted felons to keep and bear arms.
For the former offender to qualify to have their rights restored, the crime must have been non-violent. The convicted person must have completed all parts of their sentence, including finishing time served, probation, and paying all fines.
Persons who commit felonies that are deemed violent would not be eligible to have their rights restored. Some of those crimes would include murder, attempted murder, felony sexual offense, leaving the scene of a crash involving death or serious injury, and several others.
According to the sponsor, State Sen. Keith Perry, the legislation is about reducing recidivism.
“If we can reduce recidivism rates, there’s less victims of crimes,” Perry said, “and public safety should be a paramount issue in Tallahassee.”
Perry said he has had people with prior convictions who have served their time say they still feel as though they are being punished.
“They still feel excluded from the community,” Perry said.
A felon returning to society is often treated as a second-class citizen and finds it difficult to adjust. Restoring the fundamental human right of self-defense with the most commonly used tool for that purpose may make that transition easier.
