A bill has passed the House of Representatives in Pennsylvania and is heading for debate and vote in the Senate which will require people to show photo identification before voting and would put tighter restrictions on where voting places can be located. It also would take away the right to vote from people convicted of a felony who are out of prison but on probation or parole.
"Our voting statistics are getting lower and lower on almost every
election -- not only for black people, but for white people as
well," said Tim Stevens, president of the Black Political
Empowerment Project. "This state does not need to discourage anybody
from voting."
What is the problem with this. What ever happened to finishing your debt to society for committing a crime? - The debt isn't repaid until your probation is complete.
"People who come out of prison should be embraced, not disgraced,"
Stevens said. "They should be embraced with an opportunity to become
a full-fledged citizen. By denying them the right to vote, possibly
for five more years or so, all we are doing is saying: 'You are not
yet part of us.' "
Correct. You're NOT part of us yet. You have done your coalition but your sentence is contingent on proving your resolve to become a contributing member of society, having done so at the end of your probation you can once again assume the rights forfeited by your commission of a crime.
What is with this society. Too many "get out of jail free cards" for my taste. People are not required to own up to their indiscretion and errors in judgment. Its' always someone else's fault RIGHT?
Dec 8, 2005
Followup on "Rights"
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Every illegally cast vote steals the vote of a legal voter. Photo IDs (especially those with addresses) that are checked when every vote is cast are the best protection of true disenfranchisement.
Re: Felons voting. Your sentence isn't up when you get out of jail. You get 5-10 years and get out after 5? Propation for 5 more means your are still serving time but now it's on the outside. Get over it and prove you belong back in society by keeping your nose clean.
Post a Comment