A 2 Wants To Know exclusive is raising new questions about guns and public safety. It all started as we looked into the criminal history of a Christmas Eve shooting suspect from Winston-Salem. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety says Patrick Smith has three previous felonies - but never went to prison.
He got probation time and time again. That discovery had a lot of you sounding off on our Facebook page. Many of you asked how did a felon get his hands on the gun in that Christmas Eve shooting?
In North Carolina some felons can have firearms and it's perfectly legal. According to an online explication of the law from the UNC School of Government, the new policy started in 2010. Under the new rules, those convicted of a nonviolent felony and having no domestic violence misdemeanors - can apply with the courts to get a gun again. But there's a big catch - you have to be approved and you have to have a clean record for 20 years.
Clearly that's not the case with the Winston-Salem shooting suspect since he's only 23-years-old and his last conviction was in 2012. We tried reaching out to both the Winston-Salem police and the Forsyth sheriff for an explanation.
More @ Dig Triad
In general, I have no problem with nonviolent felons having a right to own firearms after a period of time after their release. In fact, I do not oppose violent felons getting their right to own firearms back. After a lengthy period of time of course. Some eighteen or nineteen year old does something stupid. After their release, if they have had no other legal problems after being out of jail for say twenty years. After that time, I would not oppose a process they could acquire the right to own a firearm again.
ReplyDeleteBadger
They'll get one anyway, if they want.
DeleteWhat ever happened to the concept that pulling time in prison was payment for your debt to society. Sure I agree that violent felons, repeat offenders and those prone to domestic violence shouldn't have guns but if a man has pulled his time and is living as a "citizen" it's wrong not to allow him his constitutional rights. If he can vote and drive he should have the right to own a gun to hunt or protect himself unless his actions have proved he's not worthy of that trust.
ReplyDeleteSo you don't think I'm making some sort of personal argument, I've never been in trouble in my life other than a speeding ticket or 5. I've never even lost my drivers license and haven't had a traffic ticket since Thanksgiving day of 1990. I do know some guys that made mistakes in their teens and early 20's selling drugs to their friends, who have been productive members of society ever since and they should be allowed to own a gun.
I have a friend who had a felony in 1960 and legally wasn't able to have a gun until this year in NC.
DeleteI will will pull the personal card. I was convicted of a felony assault charge 8 years ago by a corrupt prosecutor and a complicit judge. All the accusations were false by a bitter ex wife. No evidence, just words. Spent more than $150,000 on attorneys, expert witnesses, you name it. Still got the ram rod. There was a political element to it because I owned alot of of really nice guns that got "auctioned" to the local LEO. So...anyone that spurts some BS that they are a fighter for liberty...but only when it applies to "law abiding" citizens...well, how long will it be until you are the cocksucker that's not law abiding?
ReplyDeletealot of of really nice guns that got "auctioned" to the local LEO.
DeleteSeems like they could have been disposed of legally by your lawyer with you receiving fair market value.
Chuck Schumer cut funding for the ATF program that let certain felons petition for their right to own a firearm again. It should be able to be googled. Another reason to hate the worm.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good description of him though he actually looks like a mole:)
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