felons for sheriff

a voting issue coming up here in NC is to add to the constitution, that a convicted felon could not run for nor hold the office of sheriff. this probably stems from Gerald Hege running for office again http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Hege. from what i understand , there are felons serving as sheriffs.
what made me think that this is a gun issue. is that as a felon they are not allowed firearms by the federal gov..
i was wondering what people from different parts of the nation think about this?

papa bear said:

a voting issue coming up here in NC is to add to the constitution, that a convicted felon could not run for nor hold the office of sheriff. this probably stems from Gerald Hege running for office again http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Hege. from what i understand , there are felons serving as sheriffs.
what made me think that this is a gun issue. is that as a felon they are not allowed firearms by the federal gov..
i was wondering what people from different parts of the nation think about this?

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I would hate to think that there are current felons holding the office of sheriff and it seems like it would be difficult to get around the issue of firearms restriction and properly preform the duties of sheriff. However, I do think there should be a system in place for lower level felons and offenders (non-violents) to get their felony status amended. Some bad eggs should stay labeled bad eggs, but I do respect the argument of stigmatization and non-integrative-shaming.

The Sheriff does not need a gun to perform his duties, which are administrative in nature.

I see a couple of problems, though:
1) A Sheriff is the legal possessor/owner of all the department's firearms. As we all know, felons can neither own nor posses firearms, and can get arrested for "constructive possession" just as easily as for actually holding it in their hand.
2) Conviction of a felony generally terminates your right to hold public office - especially an "office of public trust".
Depending on the jurisdiction that right may or may not be restored at some time by some process.
3) The first time someone gets a warning instead of a ticket, or gets "roughed up" during an arrest, or the manhunt fails to catch the suspect, or anything else happens the Sheriff is going to be accused of either favoring his criminal buddies or exacting revenge on all the squares who sent him up years ago.

All that being said, I am personally aquainted with several felons who have since lived a law-abiding and productive life - just as I am aquainted with several felons who need to be locked up again. Being a felon does not make one a completely bad person, but it sure is not who I would want for Sheriff no mater how "reformed" his life was.

stay safe.

The term 'felon' is a joke and is, as far as I am concerned, of little consequence when it comes to who can and can not be sheriff.

maybe he wasn't a felon but instead a phallon...

I watched Wyatt Earp on Sunday, and read through the rather lengthy Wikipedia entry on him.

These days, he probably would have been convicted of a number of things. He was still a good sheriff in his day, however.

Jack House said:

The term 'felon' is a joke and is, as far as I am concerned, of little consequence when it comes to who can and can not be sheriff.

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See, here in Virginia it makes all the difference in the world. By law you cannot hold the office. Does not matter what other rights you get restored. Not even a Presidential pardon can make it happen. Only way is via an unconditional pardon from the Governor.

stay safe.

skidmark said:

See, here in Virginia it makes all the difference in the world. By law you cannot hold the office. Does not matter what other rights you get restored. Not even a Presidential pardon can make it happen. Only way is via an unconditional pardon from the Governor.

stay safe.

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Then so be it. If you have any desire to hold office, don't screw up. Show you have what it takes throughout life to later hold that office.

Enough said.

since9 said:

Then so be it. If you have any desire to hold office, don't screw up. Show you have what it takes throughout life to later hold that office.

Enough said.

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I'm not sure I agree with you. There but for the grace .... And I know a lot more folks than I'd like to admit to knowing that became felons for paperwork errors when there was no mens rea to commit the crime.

Some of those folks have had some or all of their civil rights restored, but getting that absolute pardon is one tough political move. I'm not sure Ghandi could have gotten his petition approved.

stay safe.

Yeah, I just filled out my absentee ballot and voted 'against'.

No, I'm not joking if you're wondering.