I have mixed emotions on this issue because I had a father who was in law enforcement for 33 years, and I have an uncle who spent a lot of time in prison when he was younger for armed robbery, etc... My uncle made a mistake a few years back of hunting with a firearm and having pictures of some of the animals (with the firearm in the picture). He showed it to a "friend" who promptly turned him in. He spent six months at a halfway house at night....fortunately he was able to run his business (legitimate)during the day. He has stayed clean and continues to run his business, and the children that he has have all turned out good and are well educated. I would trust him with a firearm, even though he felon.

I also have a step nephew who isa two time loser (drugs) that, in his second arrest, had a firearm that my stepfather had given him (he wasn't using it at the time...they found it in his apartment). I wouldn't trust him with a firearm.

I think it needs be looked at on a case by case basis. Just because a person was convicted of a non-violent felony doesn't mean he should have access to a firearm, and vice versa.