There are felons, and there are felons. They are often quite different, and the one type most law-enforcement personnel come to grips with on a daily basis are generally NOT the ones that should be considered eligible to have their gun ownership rights restored. Many of those who perhaps should are ones whose crimes are of the white-collar kind (I don't mean drug dealers or heavy users!). Daily contact with scumbag repeat offenders usually warps a person's perception of human nature, often to the point where everyone becomes a suspect. I've seen this happen!

Basically, I see no reason why a Superior Court judge cannot exercise sufficient intelligent discretion to be empowered to decide, on a case-by-case basis, if a convicted person should or should not be permitted to get this right back. There should be NOTHING automatic about it. But let's face it. If a freed convicted felon plans to use a firearm for future criminal activity, it just is not reasonable to believe that the person is going to ask a court for permission to own a gun-they will just steal one, and do it anyway! In case people forget, MOST career criminals steal their firearms,or buy them on the black market!

"What many people do realize is that it isnt "easy to get a felony" as has been previously been implied. I dont have one, my friends dont have one, 95% of the poeple I know dont have one, including my family schoolmates, co workers at all of my jobs, even most of you guys probably dont "have one" [8D]. "

This may be correct. But there are lawmakers in MANY jurisdictions who are working diligently to make offenders out of LAW ABIDING people who own guns!

BTW, the right to vote is one of the ones the convicted person loses, as well as the right to seek and hold public office, and to be licensed in certain profesion, such as an M.D. or a nurse, etc..