The Conservative Cave
Current Events => General Discussion => Topic started by: Chris_ on March 21, 2008, 11:13:04 AM
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ACLU helps felons fight for voting rights
Terrence Johnson, a convicted felon, said he just wants to feel like an American and have the same rights as all citizens — the right to vote.
Johnson, a Shelby County resident, has filed a legal complaint in U.S. District Court in Nashville, along with two other individuals and with help from the American Civil Liberties Union. He wants to be able to have voting rights once again even though current unpaid child support and restitution is holding him back.
“I just feel like I’ve not been a part of any type electoral process at all post my conviction,†Johnson said. “I’ve completed by probation and everything. I want to feel like an American.â€
According to the complaint, Johnson was convicted of wire fraud in 1999 and ordered to pay over $40,000 in restitution for his offense. He also owes about $1,200 in overdue child support for a daughter he now has custody of.
Current state law requires that a felon “shall not be eligible to apply for a voter registration card… unless the person is current in all child support obligations,†and “unless the person has paid all restitution to the victim or victims of the offense ordered by the court as part of the sentence.â€
It’s a provision of the state’s law that Rep. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville) fought hard for during the 2006 session when lawmakers tried to streamline the process of reinstating felons’ voting rights.
Campfield said as part of paying their debt to society, felons should be caught up on their child support payments.
“I think it’s very reasonable that if these people want to prove they’re upstanding members of society, great, this is an opportunity for them,†he said.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) doesn’t see it that way. The group equates the requirement of paying outstanding child support to a poll tax, once used to deter blacks and economically disadvantaged individuals from voting.
MORE (http://e-paper.nashvillecitypaper.com/Daily/skins/CityPaper/navigator.asp?Skin=CityPaper&Daily=TCP&Action=view/article&BaseHref=TCP/2008/03/21&Page=5&EntityId=Ar00504&BP=OK&AW=1206115690961)
IMO, convicted felons should never have their right to vote restored. They chose to forfeit that right when they committed the felony. Loss of that right is a part of the punishment and should be permanent. Don't like the punishment? Don't do the crime. :banghead:
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Last I heard rights could be taken away after due process, i.e. the right to live where you want.
Would the ACLU launch the same argument to restore 2nd Amendment rights?
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Last I heard rights could be taken away after due process, i.e. the right to live where you want.
Would the ACLU launch the same argument to restore 2nd Amendment rights?
Last I heard the ACLU was with the school of thought that says the second amendment does not guarantee the RTKBA. IOW, the school of loonacy and moonbattery. :mental: