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Home Front: Politix

New York cop killer released from prison given right to vote under new Cuomo policy

2018-05-26

[FOXNEWS] A cop killer recently released from prison will get another added benefit of freedom: the right to vote.

Herman Bell, 70, who served 44 years in prison for the murder of two New York coppers in the 1970s, was granted parole last month by the state parole board. But a fresh decision by New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Sonny Cuomo

to issue conditional pardons to more than 24,000 parolees means Bell can vote in the upcoming election.

"How could he do something like that? This is a convicted felon. He killed coppers in New York," Dianne Piagentini, the widow of one of the murdered officers, said on "Fox & Friends" Friday, noting Bell was "tried and convicted" and given "25 years to life" in prison.

Posted by:Skidmark

#12 It gnaws at me to say this, but Mike has a point in #9 - it's a states issue.

As a citizen of one of those states, I recognize the concept that serving time should clear the board. However, given the high rate of recidivism and the fact that being a felon shows a certain lack of judgement, I'd like to see a waiting period of a coupla three years before we restore voting rights.

Posted by: SteveS 2018-05-26 22:14

#11 Our POS former governor pardoned thousands of felons so they could vote.

Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2018-05-26 18:53

#10 Andrew's just making sure all his aides and Democrat Pols arrested in corruption probes can still support him

Posted by: Frank G 2018-05-26 11:52

#9 ...Interestingly, I looked up whether or not there were any Federal laws preventing felons (outside of Federal custody/supervision) from voting. The answer appears to be no. And even more interesting, at this point THIRTY EIGHT states allow some or total restoration of voting rights upon release. Two - ME and VT - allow voting while IN prison.

As much as I hate to acknowledge this, this appears to be one of those situations where the 10th Amendment rules:

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

And again, as much as I hate to acknowledge it, these states - as legislated by their duly elected officials - have every right to make this call. The only way to change this is a Federal law (which is unlikely at best to survive judicial review were it somehow passed) or activism at the state level to repeal or change current statutes. That's only slightly more likely, but it at least has a chance. In the meantime - and especially given the potential effect on future elections - the GOP had better remember Willie Horton, and PDQ at that.

Mike

Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2018-05-26 11:31

#8 Criminals voting for criminals.

Posted by: Abu Uluque 2018-05-26 10:13

#7 If you are released from prison, you should have ALL your rights restored.

To include weapons ownership? Abused children returned? Give it some additional thought please.

Posted by: Besoeker 2018-05-26 09:58

#6 If you are released from prison, you should have ALL your rights restored. If you aren't fit to ever have your rights restored to you, you should be executed or imprisoned for life. Allowing the government to regulate which rights people may keep after prison is just another way of extending the long arm of government.

Posted by: Vernal Hatrack2366 2018-05-26 09:30

#5 The Dems hustling the parolee/convicted felon vote?--Anything to win elections. I can see the restoration of rights under certain restrictive conditions to further rehabilitation, but come on, this is so transparent as a vote-hustling scheme. What's next pushing for voting rights for the 8-9 year old group?

Posted by: JohnQC 2018-05-26 08:15

#4 Out of the shadows, a voice whispers "Willie Horton..."

Posted by: M. Murcek 2018-05-26 08:12

#3 Fredo's brother thinks he has national appeal for higher office

Posted by: Frank G 2018-05-26 07:33

#2 Had he been executed, the voting issue would have only been relevant in Chicago.

Posted by: Besoeker 2018-05-26 04:31

#1 The way i hear it this alleged person didn't just shoot the cops - but tortured them first and shot them multiple times - not for poor aim, but to prolong the suffering.

Some people would do anything for votes....

Posted by: CrazyFool 2018-05-26 00:09

00:00