Felon Check

[Multidigits]

Probe of felons with hunting licenses leads to 19 arrests (Minnesota)

Agencies join to fight illegal gun possession

In a new initiative with the Department of Natural Resources, state probation agents have arrested 19 felons who purchased hunting licenses this fall for possible firearms violations, officials said Thursday.

Dozens of felons bought gun deer hunting licenses last year despite laws banning them from possessing firearms. Convicted felons are not asked to disclose their criminal history when seeking a hunting license, and the state has no tracking methods. Rep. Terry Musser (R-Black River Falls) said he will draft legislation requiring criminal background checks on firearm hunting license applicants.

Beginning Nov. 12, state probation agents made home visits to 62 felons on probation or parole to check whether they were in possession of firearms. So far, 19 of the felons targeted in the initial sweep were taken into custody and investigated either for firearm possession or unrelated rule violations, said Department of Corrections spokesman John Dipko.

[Foam Steak]

You wonder if any of those charges will stick. I think I heard G. Gordon Liddy say something to the effect "I may not be able to own a gun, but there is no law saying my wife can't own one".

[wprebeck]

That's when the words "constructive possession" will come into play.


If there's a gun in the house, you can bet the felon will be charged, and it'll probably stick. Not to mention that there's a BIG deal going on with revoking probation/parole violators right now. Seems there's a lot of media attention going on with a guy who should've been revoked, wasn't, and then (allegedly, of course) shot a mother and her young daughter while out.

Things are changing a bit with that....no one likes egg on their face, least of all, judges.

[ptbrauch]

Rep. Terry Musser (R-Black River Falls) said he will draft legislation requiring criminal background checks on firearm hunting license applicants.

So now they won't only be felons, but they'll also be poachers. Do they really think that this will stop felons from possessing firearms?

[KodiakJoe153]

So now they won't only be felons, but they'll also be poachers. Do they really think that this will stop felons from possessing firearms?
They can't poach if there back in jail.

[michunter]

So now they won't only be felons, but they'll also be poachers. Do they really think that this will stop felons from possessing firearms?


Same thing what I was thinking :rolleyes: If they do it now with a gun , they will do it with a gun and not bother getting a license . Another tactic to waste time and money !!In my opinion some felons should be able to posess a gun .Depending on the type of the crime, If they have gone a time like lets say 20 years no crimes no nothing . They should be able to apply to get their rights back . People screw up , I do not think they should be penalized the rest of thier life !!!

[rme hunter]

I agree not all of them are out there trying to sneak around and break the law again. Everyone make mistakes. Let them apply for there license and voting rights back.

[michunter]

I agree not all of them are out there trying to sneak around and break the law again. Everyone make mistakes. Let them apply for there license and voting rights back.



I look at it this way if they can bow hunt, cross bow hunt . They should be able to do it with a gun as well . With todays technology some of the crossbows shooting like they do , I don't see a problem with it. I know a guy who got a breaking and entering charge 22 years ago when he was 19 , got a felony for it . He did it when he was drunk and stupid growing up . he had a misdameanor on his record . By law he can not get it expunged . I told him to get a pardon from the governor , she wont give it too him . I mean yes it is a crime he did it , he did his time , and it was not a crime with a weapon . So in my eyes he should be able to get his hunting rights back with a firearm . Now getting a concealed weapons permit no that should not ever happen . But hey thats my two cents
!!!:D

[buckfever]

I look at it this way if they can bow hunt, cross bow hunt . They should be able to do it with a gun as well . With todays technology some of the crossbows shooting like they do , I don't see a problem with it. I know a guy who got a breaking and entering charge 22 years ago when he was 19 , got a felony for it . He did it when he was drunk and stupid growing up . he had a misdameanor on his record . By law he can not get it expunged . I told him to get a pardon from the governor , she wont give it too him . I mean yes it is a crime he did it , he did his time , and it was not a crime with a weapon . So in my eyes he should be able to get his hunting rights back with a firearm . Now getting a concealed weapons permit no that should not ever happen . But hey thats my two cents
!!!:D

I don't know Michigan law, but "breaking and entering" is almost universally treated as a misdemeanor, which would not prevent your friend from owning a firearm.

Felonies are different and obviously entail more severe penalties. If your friend has a felony conviction on his record, it was because he was charged and convicted for burglary.

I disagree that felons should be able to carry firearms to hunt. Three reasons: (a) deterrence; (b) xbows and bows are not even close to being guns; and (c) felons are more prone to commit violent crimes.

[wprebeck]

Was your friend charged with the crime in Kentucky?

Becuase "burglary" is the only thing he coulda been charged with (assuming the laws weren't reworded and changed over the last few years...). And, burglary is a felony. All three levels of burglary are felonies, to be specific.


Personally, I don't think anyone convicted of a felony in Kentucky should be allowed to possess/own/carry/whatever a firearm. Other states have different laws, and the penalties differ. For instance, in Michigan (at least 10 years ago, this was correct) carrying a concealed weapon is a felony. Here in Kentucky, it's only a misdemeanor. That's fine by me, too.

Here's my logic in NOT allowing felons to legally own firearms...first off, people know what they're doing is illegal. Breaking into someone's house can get you shot. It's not like your friend was playing mailbox baseball, or TP'ing someone's house. He broke into a house (or business, you didn't specify). Either way, he's now somewhere he's not supposed to be, and if it were my house, he'd leave with a few more holes in him than when he entered. I don't give two poops if he was drunk and stupid, and the whole "he's only 19" argument is a load of crap. He's old enough to vote and die for his country.....he should use sense enough not to drink and break into places he's not supposed to be...

And again, he (like most everyone) knew it was illegal. So now he's entered the court system. Does anyone here (besides the folks who do it for a living) have any idea how hard it is to actually become a convicted felon, at least in Jefferson county? You've really got to work at it. Judges will give you chance after chance after chance. For instance, I had to fight a guy over some crack he had concealed in his rear end (don't ask...regular occurance at work). Short version of the story is that he had been locked up for trafficking four times prior, and not convicted ONE TIME of a felony. Jefferson District court is a version of the game show "Let's Make A Deal", and you've gotta try really hard to get a felony conviction there.

So, no. I don't feel sorry for folks who commit felonies, and lose gun rights for life. They knew the punishments in advance, and still committed the crime. I personally think we should bring back the guillotine for executions (relatively painless, cost efficient, and man, does it prove a point), and add PFO 1 to the list of capital offenses. For those who don't know, that's (P)ersistant (F)elony (O)ffender 1st degree. Basically, it's a three strike kinda thing, and PFO1 is the third. It's good for 10 years flat, no parole, nothing. Scares a lot of folks into taking deals, but that's about it. If you've screwed up enough to get convicted of a felony for the third time, well...screw you. We don't need you here (not with 45,000+ inmates coming thru as of yesterday), and someone will turn 18 tomorrow who'll take your spot in jail.

One of my favorite sayings is this:

"It's easy to stay out of jail....hundreds of thousands of people do it every day." Many, if not most, folks go their whole lives without being locked up. Of those that do, a majority of them get popped for something stupid, like not paying a ticket or catching a DUI, and then never come back after their experience. I see folks like that a lot at work...I see MORE of the others...the ones for whom jail and prison is more of a home than their own is.

Sorry for the rambling post, but this subject pisses me off a bit. I'm as pro-gun as you can get, but folks who cry about felons being denied their "rights" get on my nerves. It's easy to figure out, as most folks on this board have; don't commit a felony, don't worry about losing gun rights. Oh, and before I forget...adding a background check to get a hunting license is just stupid. There're already laws about gun ownership and felons (state as well as federal). How about we enforce THOSE laws, and stop adding more. Politicians are so stupid, you've gotta wonder if they forget to breathe sometimes....

But that's another rant for a different time...

[michunter]

Was your friend charged with the crime in Kentucky?

Becuase "burglary" is the only thing he coulda been charged with (assuming the laws weren't reworded and changed over the last few years...). And, burglary is a felony. All three levels of burglary are felonies, to be specific.


Personally, I don't think anyone convicted of a felony in Kentucky should be allowed to possess/own/carry/whatever a firearm. Other states have different laws, and the penalties differ. For instance, in Michigan (at least 10 years ago, this was correct) carrying a concealed weapon is a felony. Here in Kentucky, it's only a misdemeanor. That's fine by me, too.

Here's my logic in NOT allowing felons to legally own firearms...first off, people know what they're doing is illegal. Breaking into someone's house can get you shot. It's not like your friend was playing mailbox baseball, or TP'ing someone's house. He broke into a house (or business, you didn't specify). Either way, he's now somewhere he's not supposed to be, and if it were my house, he'd leave with a few more holes in him than when he entered. I don't give two poops if he was drunk and stupid, and the whole "he's only 19" argument is a load of crap. He's old enough to vote and die for his country.....he should use sense enough not to drink and break into places he's not supposed to be...

And again, he (like most everyone) knew it was illegal. So now he's entered the court system. Does anyone here (besides the folks who do it for a living) have any idea how hard it is to actually become a convicted felon, at least in Jefferson county? You've really got to work at it. Judges will give you chance after chance after chance. For instance, I had to fight a guy over some crack he had concealed in his rear end (don't ask...regular occurance at work). Short version of the story is that he had been locked up for trafficking four times prior, and not convicted ONE TIME of a felony. Jefferson District court is a version of the game show "Let's Make A Deal", and you've gotta try really hard to get a felony conviction there.

So, no. I don't feel sorry for folks who commit felonies, and lose gun rights for life. They knew the punishments in advance, and still committed the crime. I personally think we should bring back the guillotine for executions (relatively painless, cost efficient, and man, does it prove a point), and add PFO 1 to the list of capital offenses. For those who don't know, that's (P)ersistant (F)elony (O)ffender 1st degree. Basically, it's a three strike kinda thing, and PFO1 is the third. It's good for 10 years flat, no parole, nothing. Scares a lot of folks into taking deals, but that's about it. If you've screwed up enough to get convicted of a felony for the third time, well...screw you. We don't need you here (not with 45,000+ inmates coming thru as of yesterday), and someone will turn 18 tomorrow who'll take your spot in jail.

One of my favorite sayings is this:

"It's easy to stay out of jail....hundreds of thousands of people do it every day." Many, if not most, folks go their whole lives without being locked up. Of those that do, a majority of them get popped for something stupid, like not paying a ticket or catching a DUI, and then never come back after their experience. I see folks like that a lot at work...I see MORE of the others...the ones for whom jail and prison is more of a home than their own is.

Sorry for the rambling post, but this subject pisses me off a bit. I'm as pro-gun as you can get, but folks who cry about felons being denied their "rights" get on my nerves. It's easy to figure out, as most folks on this board have; don't commit a felony, don't worry about losing gun rights. Oh, and before I forget...adding a background check to get a hunting license is just stupid. There're already laws about gun ownership and felons (state as well as federal). How about we enforce THOSE laws, and stop adding more. Politicians are so stupid, you've gotta wonder if they forget to breathe sometimes....

But that's another rant for a different time...




Well I will say I did not cry about it . When a person is young and does the crime , Yes I agree he was totally wrong . So if they are going to keep a felon from posessing a gun . They mines well not let them hunt or posses any weapons at all , because you can kill someone with a bow and arrow . And with todays equipment you can do it very easy . So tell me why is it anyone can walk in and buy a muzzleloader , no back ground nothing . Hell when I bought my Muzzy a few years back , I was not require a back ground or nothing All I did was sign a paper saying I took posession of the gun from the retailer . But when I bought my twelve gauge years back ihad to fill out all kinds if paperwork . In Michigan when you are convicted of a crime (felony) state staue says after 3 years you can hunt with a firearm again . But Federal law reads different . Seems to me they need to make a law for the whole country instead of who it benefits . So lets me ask you this if you knew me and all thes years I was a covicted felon , I had my crime expundged or pardoned you would have a problem with me having a gun now ? Or would you consider me scarred for life if that what you want to call it ?

[12 pointer]

Well I will say I did not cry about it . When a person is young and does the crime , Yes I agree he was totally wrong . So if they are going to keep a felon from posessing a gun . They mines well not let them hunt or posses any weapons at all , because you can kill someone with a bow and arrow . And with todays equipment you can do it very easy . So tell me why is it anyone can walk in and buy a muzzleloader , no back ground nothing . Hell when I bought my Muzzy a few years back , I was not require a back ground or nothing All I did was sign a paper saying I took posession of the gun from the retailer . But when I bought my twelve gauge years back ihad to fill out all kinds if paperwork . In Michigan when you are convicted of a crime (felony) state staue says after 3 years you can hunt with a firearm again . But Federal law reads different . Seems to me they need to make a law for the whole country instead of who it benefits . So lets me ask you this if you knew me and all thes years I was a covicted felon , I had my crime expundged or pardoned you would have a problem with me having a gun now ? Or would you consider me scarred for life if that what you want to call it ?

IF, you commited the crime with a weapon such as armed robbery, you should NEVER imo be able to use a gun again. Just what a person deserves.

[michunter]

IF, you commited the crime with a weapon such as armed robbery, you should NEVER imo be able to use a gun again. Just what a person deserves.


What if no weapon was involved ?

[buckfever]

Oh, and before I forget...adding a background check to get a hunting license is just stupid. There're already laws about gun ownership and felons (state as well as federal). How about we enforce THOSE laws, and stop adding more. Politicians are so stupid, you've gotta wonder if they forget to breathe sometimes....

But that's another rant for a different time...

I hate to break it to you, but the sole purpose of this new "background check" (sponsored by those "stupid" politicians) is to "enforce THOSE laws" that prohibit felons from possessing or using firearms.

It won't change anything with respect to how people buy their licenses. All is does is impose a duty on the various F&W depts to keep records of their gun hunting applicants and compare those records against a national database of convicted felons.

In other words, this new proposed law doesn't affect regular citizens and only helps law enforcement catch felons who violate the rule preventing them from possessing or using guns.

IMO, it will work for a couple of years, and they'll be able to catch the stupid ones that actually buy gun hunting licenses. Over time though, the felons will figure it out. As it becomes common knowledge, they will simply stop buying gun licenses.

[buckfever]

What if no weapon was involved ?

You're trying to split hairs and draw lines.

Most everyone agree that a person convicted of a violent felony while using a weapon doesn't need to ever possess a firearm again.

I think the current rule prohibiting gun ownership by felons is perferctly fine. IMO, people that would break into other people's homes to commit burglary have demonstrated such bad judgment that society shouldn't have to worry about them carrying around a firearm. Their actions show a recklessness that endangers others whether they're carrying weapons or not.

Why should the American people (i.e. civilized society) have to go back and expend taxpayer resources listening to hard luck stories and inquiring into the history, age or whatever of every felon who now wants to own a gun to determine whether they should be allowed to do so?

In the big picture, seems to me it's a lot easier to simply say "tough luck, buddy, you should've thought of that before you engaged in your stolen goods fencing operation".

[trust me]

In my view, prison isn't for punishment. It's to get those people out of society that can't or won't co-exist peacefully with the rest of us. If you can't work and play well with others, then we have a place just for you.