Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Rand Paul backs restoring ex-felons' voting rights

Rand Paul Backs Restoring Felons' Voting Rights - Mollie Reilly, Huffington Post:

September 17, 2013 - "Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) supports restoring voting rights for convicted felons who have completed their sentences.... Speaking at Louisville's Plymouth Community Renewal Center, Paul said he would push for changes to legislation to make it easier for felons to restore their right to vote and own firearms upon completing their sentences. Under current Kentucky law, felons must petition the governor in order to regain these rights.

"'I am in favor of letting people get their rights back, the right to vote ... Second Amendment rights, all your rights to come back,' Paul said. 'I know of one man who 30-some-odd years ago had pot plants in his closet in college, got a felony conviction in college, still can’t vote, and it’s plagued him his whole life trying to get work.'

"Paul linked felon voting rights to the problem of disenfranchisement in African-American communities. 'One in three young black males has been convicted of a felony and they’ve lost their voting rights. I think it dwarfs all other (election-related) issues,' Paul said....

"Paul said he plans to reach out to state legislators on the matter, particularly Republicans who have opposed such legislation in the past."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/17/rand-paul-felons-voting_n_3941171.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
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