A new issue in the arena of gun politics in the United States has surfaced. According to an original examination done by the New York Times, felons across the country are able to regain their Second Amendment right to bear arms after doing time—including those who have been convicted of violent crimes like first-degree murder and manslaughter.
The process of reinstating gun rights to felons began in the 1980s when Congress responded to a campaign by the National Rifle Association to allow states to dictate their own laws on the subject. Since the 2008 Supreme Court ruling that upheld the Second Amendment, the efforts to restore gun rights to individuals have only expanded.
This new approach means that in some states, little or no review is required for a felon to gain access to a firearm. In some states, the Times found that felons automatically regain their gun rights as soon as they finish serving their sentences. Even violent felons in some parts of the country face no waiting period before they can apply for gun ownership.
Though the newspaper said they found little information about which felons were getting their gun rights back and how many of those have gone on to commit crimes, the Times did cite a number of cases that ended in tragedy.
