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78% For, 22% Against
1,921 votes cast

H.R. 2449, The Fresh Start Act of 2011

  • This item is from the 112th Congress (2011-2012) and is no longer current. Comments, voting, and wiki editing have been disabled, and the cost/savings estimate has been frozen.

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Kenny

July 10, 2011, 12:01pm (report abuse)

This bill has a very good chance of passing if we all put our efforts behind it. Let's give people a chance to have a better quality of life and move forward.

***

July 10, 2011, 12:52pm (report abuse)

It's a great day for all American citizens of this country. Congress is finally starting to listen to reason and have understood that it makes no sense to punish people for life because of one mistake. I believe the people that are opposing this type of legislation are helping us get this legislation passed. When 1 out of 100 people have been incarcerated in this country people start to listen. To many good people are being punished for life and that makes no sense in today’s world.

***

July 11, 2011, 1:11am (report abuse)

Not a chance in hell. This is the same old crap Cohen tried last time and it went nowhere.

People are have criminal records because they were convicted of committing crimes. That is what happens. So if all you convicts don't want a criminal record here's a clue - DON'T COMMIT A CRIME. It's real easy to understand even for convicted felons.

VOTED NO ON THIS ONE!

***

July 11, 2011, 7:50am (report abuse)

This bill will pass it's just a matter of time. Keep your heads held high relief is on the way.Don't let ONE person that opposes this bill deflate your efforts.

***

July 11, 2011, 3:42pm (report abuse)

You only wish there was ONE person opposing this bill. If that were the case the bill would have passed long ago.

Too bad all you felons won't be hiding any time soon.

Paul Flournoy

July 11, 2011, 4:44pm (report abuse)

You hate Cohen because you're an anti-semite. Take a hike, hater!

@Paul Flournoy

July 11, 2011, 4:52pm (report abuse)

Now just how in the hell did you come up with that fantasy. I'm a Jew you putz. I hate this bill because I hate criminals.

All you can come up with to discredit those who oppose this travesty is to spread lies and smear people. I suggest YOU take a hike.

***

July 11, 2011, 5:41pm (report abuse)

Obviously you have surrounded yourself with the wrong type of people in your life, but thankfully this bill isn't for the career criminal. This bill is for people that have made one mistake in their life and wish to provide for their family.

I've met a lot of good hard working Jews that I consider friends, so please don't try and bring down their race with your pitiful antics. Besides I thought you didn't believe in God now you're a Jew, you are starting to make a lot of people sick with your B.S.

Face it you’re old and washed up and life wasn’t fair to you so you’re trying to take it out on everybody else. Just because you’ve made bad decisions in your life and are probably miserable with everything doesn’t mean other people should not have a chance at better quality of life.

This bill will pass whether you like it or not, get over it. Get busy dying or get busy living and try to live out what few years you have left in peace.

***

July 11, 2011, 6:38pm (report abuse)

"I've met a lot of good hard working Jews that I consider friends"

What a pitiful human being you are. You clain to have Jewish friends. You have no friends, you shmekeleh.

I don't know or care who you think I am. But I do care that this bill should never pass. Even the dumbest yold will tell you this is not a good thing.

***

July 11, 2011, 7:09pm (report abuse)

Give it up old man you are no more of a Jew than I am. Today you're a Jew yesterday you were a Atheist and I guess tomorrow you'll be a Muslim. You can't be believed and you're scared that somebody will become something you can't and that's successful.

Start telling the truth you'll feel a lot better about yourself. Face it your life has been a waste and that's not going to change, you're too old now. The only thing you can do is reflect on your life and wish that you had done things different. So I guess you feel that if you can't be happy why should anybody else, am I getting pretty close to figuring you out old man.

***

July 11, 2011, 7:30pm (report abuse)

I almost forgot you idiot it's not shmekeleh it's schmekel. Before you start using words that you can't even spell look them up first.

***

July 11, 2011, 10:47pm (report abuse)

You might do a little more checking loud mouth. The word is "shmekeleh" when referring to someone as a little penis. And that means either sex when referring to someone as a prick. So now you know.

***

July 11, 2011, 11:04pm (report abuse)

Look the word up dumba$$ it's schmekel. Are you really that stupid that you can't even google the word? No wonder you've been a failure at everything you do. Besides your lunch is over get back to work cleaning up after the successful people.

***

July 11, 2011, 11:09pm (report abuse)

So you use Google as your resource for language? Good grief no wonder you are so dumb. And you have the gall to tell me about my language.

Here's an idea, why don't you use your precious google to look up my words and see what you can find.

What a kafin kup you are.

Joshie

July 11, 2011, 11:25pm (report abuse)

NO! NO! NO!

Criminals should never ge forgiven. They should burn in HELL.

***

July 11, 2011, 11:27pm (report abuse)

Your language, now that's a joke, if that's your language you better go back to elementary school and slap your teacher because you didn't learn a thing, wait a minute it's not their fault that you’re stupid maybe you were born this way, sorry. Maybe you can look it up in your Jewish book for dummy’s vocabulary list and figure out how to spell it.

Oh and by the way I looked it up and schmekeleh doesn't exist but schmekel does. Good luck in your religious conversion.

***

July 11, 2011, 11:32pm (report abuse)

Sure you looked it up. If you had you would have to admit you are wrong. And you can't do that.

Your lack of education certainly shows as does your racial and religious intolerance.

This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

For those who care about justice please vote No here and also tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Thank you.

***

July 12, 2011, 12:05am (report abuse)

I will have to agree with you about those that continually go out and commit crimes (plural). I don't believe if your only goal in life is to make crime a career choice then you should not be able to hide.

This bill, if you read it, only allows individuals that have no previous convictions or post convictions an opportunity to have their record expunged for the one and only time that they got in trouble a chance to have their record expunged.

People make mistakes in their life and there should be opportunities for each individual to have a chance to be whole again.

Please vote yes and let people know that if you have done your time remained a law abiding citizen and maintained an impeccable example of what a person should be then we can give them a fresh start at life.

***

July 12, 2011, 1:05am (report abuse)

Vote NO!

***

July 12, 2011, 2:20am (report abuse)

Any bill that intends to allow expungement of a record for an individual who screwed someone out of $24,999 will never get my vote.

And on top of that it has the typical federal government payoff/blackmail of giving bonuses to those states that enact similar laws and fining states that do not.

This bill is not in the best interests of the society as a whole and should not be ever be considered.

Please vote no and let your representatives know that you do not support this bill.

J. T.

July 12, 2011, 2:39am (report abuse)

There's no such thing as a reformed criminal. Once a thug always a thug.

VOTE NO!

***

July 12, 2011, 7:54am (report abuse)

Vote Yes.

People make mistakes this bill is for those that made ONE mistake in their life.

These are not career criminals.

***

July 12, 2011, 8:38am (report abuse)

THESE ARE CRIMINALS, CONVICTED FELONS.

DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO HIDE THEIR PAST CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES.

VOTE NO!

***

July 12, 2011, 8:53am (report abuse)

These are not criminals, there are people that made one mistake and wish to provide a better quality of life for their family.

At some point we have to say enough is enough and let them be whole again. It makes no sense to punish them for life because of one mistake.

Vote Yes and let them be productive citizens like everyone want's to be.

Thank You and may God bless you.

***

July 12, 2011, 9:16am (report abuse)

Criminal

Definition - A person who has committed a crime.

The specific individuals who would gain from this law have been convicted of criminal activity. They have criminal records. Ergo, they ARE CRIMINALS.

You can coat a turd in chocolate but you would still have a turd. Same applies here.

This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

For those who care about justice please vote NO here and also tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Thank you.

***

July 12, 2011, 10:03am (report abuse)

Vote yes and give these people a chance at a better life.

***

July 12, 2011, 10:08am (report abuse)

Why are we scared? Why do we judge people that we don't even know?

People that live in misery want to see others in the same condition. For some, happiness only comes when they feel like they have power or control over others.

Can a person that sold some drugs over a decade ago not be forgiven? Can a person that harassed wild life not be forgiven? I believe we all know the answer, its common sense; yes.

Instead of keeping our foot on someone’s neck we should be encouraging those to reconnect with their communities and allow them the freedom to do so. Nobody wins when we repress individuals from achieving a higher goal.

The goal of this bill is to allow individuals that made a mistake in their life to become whole again and not live in fear of not being able to get employment.

If we can trust our judicial system to prosecute we should have enough trust to believe that they can determine if someone should have a second chance at life. We all win with this one.

***

July 12, 2011, 10:15am (report abuse)

Just to let people know there is a guy that is a convicted felon because he harassed wildlife.

It's people like these that will finally get relief from the stigma of a felony conviction.

I believe we all know that somebody convicted of a felony ten years ago for wildlife harassment should be given a second chance it's a no brainer.

Vote Yes.

***

July 12, 2011, 10:56am (report abuse)

A convicted felon is a convicted felon. Your example of someone who was convicted because he "harassed wildlife" is idiotic. You don't know the facts of the crime. All you know is what someone said on the internet. That is simply stupid.

Society has good reason to be concerned about criminals in their midst. We SHOULD BE CONCERNED about someone who sold drugs. That shows a weakness of character that can, and most likely will, resurface. I don't want someone like that hiding in my community.

It is apparent to even the casual reader that you have a personal stake in having this bill passed. Who is it, you, or someone in your family, who has the felony conviction record? Were you the one selling the drugs?

This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Thank you.

***

July 12, 2011, 11:46am (report abuse)

Why are we scared? Why do we judge people that we don't even know?

People that live in misery want to see others in the same condition. For some, happiness only comes when they feel like they have power or control over others.

Can a person that sold some drugs over a decade ago not be forgiven? Can a person that harassed wild life not be forgiven? I believe we all know the answer, its common sense; yes.

Instead of keeping our foot on someone’s neck we should be encouraging those to reconnect with their communities and allow them the freedom to do so. Nobody wins when we repress individuals from achieving a higher goal.

The goal of this bill is to allow individuals that made a mistake in their life to become whole again and not live in fear of not being able to get employment.

If we can trust our judicial system to prosecute we should have enough trust to believe that they can determine if someone should have a second chance at life. We all win with this one.

***

July 12, 2011, 12:03pm (report abuse)

A convicted felon is a convicted felon. Your example of someone who was convicted because he "harassed wildlife" is idiotic. You don't know the facts of the crime. All you know is what someone said on the internet. That is simply stupid.

Society has good reason to be concerned about criminals in their midst. We SHOULD BE CONCERNED about someone who sold drugs. That shows a weakness of character that can, and most likely will, resurface. I don't want someone like that hiding in my community.

It is apparent to even the casual reader that you have a personal stake in having this bill passed. Who is it, you, or someone in your family, who has the felony conviction record? Were you the one selling the drugs?

This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Thank you.

Shakirah

July 12, 2011, 12:15pm (report abuse)

Drug dealers is the lowest thing on eart. They even lower than whalepoop.

***

July 12, 2011, 12:17pm (report abuse)

Why are we scared? Why do we judge people that we don't even know?

People that live in misery want to see others in the same condition. For some, happiness only comes when they feel like they have power or control over others.

Can a person that sold some drugs over a decade ago not be forgiven? Can a person that harassed wild life not be forgiven? I believe we all know the answer, its common sense; yes.

Instead of keeping our foot on someone’s neck we should be encouraging those to reconnect with their communities and allow them the freedom to do so. Nobody wins when we repress individuals from achieving a higher goal.

The goal of this bill is to allow individuals that made a mistake in their life to become whole again and not live in fear of not being able to get employment.

If we can trust our judicial system to prosecute we should have enough trust to believe that they can determine if someone should have a second chance at life. We all win with this one.

Swiftus

July 12, 2011, 1:10pm (report abuse)

What I'd like to know is how the hell does one "harass wildlife?"

What, you can hunt wildlife(in season) but please don't harass them?

***

July 12, 2011, 8:36pm (report abuse)

A convicted felon is a convicted felon. Your example of someone who was convicted because he "harassed wildlife" is idiotic. You don't know the facts of the crime. All you know is what someone said on the internet. That is simply stupid.

Society has good reason to be concerned about criminals in their midst. We SHOULD BE CONCERNED about someone who sold drugs. That shows a weakness of character that can, and most likely will, resurface. I don't want someone like that hiding in my community.

It is apparent to even the casual reader that you have a personal stake in having this bill passed. Who is it, you, or someone in your family, who has the felony conviction record? Were you the one selling the drugs?

This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Thank you.

***

July 12, 2011, 8:49pm (report abuse)

Why are we scared? Why do we judge people that we don't even know?

People that live in misery want to see others in the same condition. For some, happiness only comes when they feel like they have power or control over others.

Can a person that sold some drugs over a decade ago not be forgiven? Can a person that harassed wild life not be forgiven? I believe we all know the answer, its common sense; yes.

Instead of keeping our foot on someone’s neck we should be encouraging those to reconnect with their communities and allow them the freedom to do so. Nobody wins when we repress individuals from achieving a higher goal.

The goal of this bill is to allow individuals that made a mistake in their life to become whole again and not live in fear of not being able to get employment.

If we can trust our judicial system to prosecute we should have enough trust to believe that they can determine if someone should have a second chance at life. We all win with this one.

Swiftus

July 12, 2011, 10:48pm (report abuse)

I think that the passing of this legislation will address the glaring inequities in "the system." For example, in these United States there is one set of laws for the rich and powerful, and one for the rest of us.

Cindy McCain sold drugs. She was charged federally and got pretrial diversion (essentially 1 year of supervised release and then her record was expunged).

Bill Clinton lied in a federal civil deposition and to a grand jury and was also in contempt of court. He paid a fine and lost his law license for a period of time.

Then there is Lewis "Scooter" Libby who lied to a grand jury and obstructed justice. His sentence was commuted, and he never spent a day in prison unlike other people.

@Swiftus

July 12, 2011, 11:36pm (report abuse)

So all you want to do is stir up class war. This bill has nothing to do with who you are. It has to do with the idea of criminals hiding in our communities.

If you think the examples you gave are valid I suggest you go to your local courthouse and sit in a courtroom for a day. You will see regular folks getting the same treatment as your celebs. But you don't want to admit that is possible because it flies in the face of your "US-vs-THEM" bull$hit.

This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Paul Flournoy

July 13, 2011, 12:04am (report abuse)

R.K.-are you still upset because you will never get your record expunged? I mean, those misdemeanors that you were convicted of for check-kiting will never go away.

You don't have "clean hands" here either. Yet you begrudge someone the ability to clear their name!

FYI- The average American gets prison for doing what Cindy McCain,Bill Clinton and "Scooter" Libby have done federally (and sometimes even when they don't).

***

July 13, 2011, 12:17am (report abuse)

@Flournoy- Are you kidding me? You couldn't even organize a meeting with Rep.Bobby Scott during the last go around, do you seriously think that your flyers for this bill will do any good this time?

***

July 13, 2011, 6:43am (report abuse)

A convicted felon is a convicted felon. Your example of someone who was convicted because he "harassed wildlife" is idiotic. You don't know the facts of the crime. All you know is what someone said on the internet. That is simply stupid.

Society has good reason to be concerned about criminals in their midst. We SHOULD BE CONCERNED about someone who sold drugs. That shows a weakness of character that can, and most likely will, resurface. I don't want someone like that hiding in my community.

It is apparent to even the casual reader that you have a personal stake in having this bill passed. Who is it, you, or someone in your family, who has the felony conviction record? Were you the one selling the drugs?

This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Thank you.

Paul Flournoy

July 13, 2011, 10:43am (report abuse)

Oh, so selling drugs is bad, but kiting checks is o.k.?

What an idiot!

Swiftus

July 13, 2011, 1:32pm (report abuse)

Obama has only granted 9 pardons during this term (all given to African-Americans). This is another reason why we need this legislation to pass, to get some semblance of "fairness" in the system.

Byron

July 13, 2011, 6:54pm (report abuse)

The pardon system is broken. One expects more from the POTUS.He is supposed to represent all of us, not just a certain segment of the population. I don't begrudge anyone who gets a pardon, but there are plenty of other people who can use one too. Didn't Obama campaign on the platform of "HOPE" and "CHANGE?"

George "W" Bush gave out more pardons for crying out loud! Obama is making "W" look exceedingly generous.

In any case, since it is virtually impossible to get a pardon, we need this legislation to pass!

***

July 13, 2011, 7:30pm (report abuse)

How's that "HOPE" and "CHANGE" working out for ya?

Swiftus

July 13, 2011, 10:41pm (report abuse)

Celebrities do time(once in a while). Take Martha Stewart or Tommy Chong (although he took a plea to spare his son because of threats from the U.S. Attorney who should have been investigated herself for abuse of power).

Then there was Rush Limbaugh (aka Jeff Christie)who thinks that illegal drug users should be locked-up with the key thrown away.Of course, when he was abusing prescription drugs (I think that it was Viagra)he got a pass. So did Cindy McCain (wife of a Senator),Bill Clinton and "Scooter" Libby.

We need this legislation to address the unfairness in the system!

***

July 13, 2011, 10:47pm (report abuse)

A convicted felon is a convicted felon. Your example of someone who was convicted because he "harassed wildlife" is idiotic. You don't know the facts of the crime. All you know is what someone said on the internet. That is simply stupid.

Society has good reason to be concerned about criminals in their midst. We SHOULD BE CONCERNED about someone who sold drugs. That shows a weakness of character that can, and most likely will, resurface. I don't want someone like that hiding in my community.

It is apparent to even the casual reader that you have a personal stake in having this bill passed. Who is it, you, or someone in your family, who has the felony conviction record? Were you the one selling the drugs?

This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Thank you.

***

July 13, 2011, 11:27pm (report abuse)

Why are we scared? Why do we judge people that we don't even know?

People that live in misery want to see others in the same condition. For some, happiness only comes when they feel like they have power or control over others.

Can a person that sold some drugs over a decade ago not be forgiven? Can a person that harassed wild life not be forgiven? I believe we all know the answer, its common sense; yes.

Instead of keeping our foot on someone’s neck we should be encouraging those to reconnect with their communities and allow them the freedom to do so. Nobody wins when we repress individuals from achieving a higher goal.

The goal of this bill is to allow individuals that made a mistake in their life to become whole again and not live in fear of not being able to get employment.

If we can trust our judicial system to prosecute we should have enough trust to believe that they can determine if someone should have a second chance at life. We all win with this one.

TheRealJoshTaylor

(logged-in user) July 14, 2011, 12:58am (report abuse)

Can a person that sold some drugs over a decade ago not be forgiven? Can a person that harassed wild life not be forgiven? That's your logic, Andy, but in the bible, unforgiveness to a sinner is self-righteousness.

Jesus said, "Forgive those and you shall be forgiven."

This bill is the Prodigal Son Bill.

VOTE YES.

Thomas K.

July 14, 2011, 6:25pm (report abuse)

We now have another petition on our Yahoo site. Everyone should sign it and get this bill passed!

***

July 15, 2011, 12:10am (report abuse)

In response to RT-

"There's no such thing as a reformed criminal. Once a thug always a thug."

20 years ago, in my late teens, I make a mistake. Non-violent, no drugs involved, etc., yet I have a felony conviction. Nothing on my record before that, nothing on my record after that. I own my own home, I'm married, have two beautiful kids and work a white collar, salaried position. Does that make me a THUG? For all you know, I could be your boss or the boss of someone of a position you respect but because you have a small closed mind, you can't see that people CAN change and people make mistakes.

***

July 15, 2011, 12:16am (report abuse)

A convicted felon is a convicted felon. Your example of someone who was convicted because he "harassed wildlife" is idiotic. You don't know the facts of the crime. All you know is what someone said on the internet. That is simply stupid.

Society has good reason to be concerned about criminals in their midst. We SHOULD BE CONCERNED about someone who sold drugs. That shows a weakness of character that can, and most likely will, resurface. I don't want someone like that hiding in my community.

It is apparent to even the casual reader that you have a personal stake in having this bill passed. Who is it, you, or someone in your family, who has the felony conviction record? Were you the one selling the drugs?

This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Thank you.

Paul Flournoy

July 15, 2011, 12:56am (report abuse)

VOTE YES!

IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

***

July 15, 2011, 7:52am (report abuse)

Why are we scared? Why do we judge people that we don't even know?

People that live in misery want to see others in the same condition. For some, happiness only comes when they feel like they have power or control over others.

Can a person that sold some drugs over a decade ago not be forgiven? Can a person that harassed wild life not be forgiven? I believe we all know the answer, its common sense; yes.

Instead of keeping our foot on someone’s neck we should be encouraging those to reconnect with their communities and allow them the freedom to do so. Nobody wins when we repress individuals from achieving a higher goal.

The goal of this bill is to allow individuals that made a mistake in their life to become whole again and not live in fear of not being able to get employment.

If we can trust our judicial system to prosecute we should have enough trust to believe that they can determine if someone should have a second chance at life. We all win with this one.

***

July 15, 2011, 8:31am (report abuse)

Society has good reason to be concerned about criminals in their midst.

This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Thank you.

Kenny

July 15, 2011, 10:23am (report abuse)

I'm the one that has a felony for harassing wildlife.I live near a federal park and one night I ended up on that park.I'm was 21 years old, drunk and thought I could do anything without getting caught, typical for most young kids.I'm a country boy at heart and love to hunt and fish.One night me and my friend thought we would go out and look for deer to poach, stupid idea,but luckily we didn't have any guns. To make a long story short we ended up in the federal park with our powerful spot lights looking for deer and trying to figure out were we could come to next time we decided to hunt a deer.Somebody called the park rangers on us and reported poachers in the area, got pulled over ranger got mad because he couldn't find any guns or drugs, my smart a$$ mouth didn't help much either.Ranger gave us a ticket went to court prosecutors charged me with harassing wildlife which turned out to be a felony because it was on federal land.A stupid felony society will be ok if I clear my record.

Kenny

July 15, 2011, 10:27am (report abuse)

By the way this happened 15 years ago and I'm still paying for it. Would it be a mockery of justice if I had my record expunged I don't think so, that's silly.I made a stupid mistake when I was young and I think after 15 years that society could give me a second chance.I was never in trouble before and 15 years later I still haven't got in any trouble.

Swiftus

July 15, 2011, 12:41pm (report abuse)

Thank you for clearing that up for us. Racer Al Unser was almost prosecuted for tresspassing on federal land because he got lost in a snow storm. Then there was the guy who did six years for illegally bringing back a lobster to the U.S. from Honduras (this was from last year's hearing on overcriminalization in the U.S.) All the more reason that we need this legislation to pass. Good Luck!

Thomas K.

July 15, 2011, 1:57pm (report abuse)

What is truly a mockery of justice is that one Ronald "Melvin" Kidwell, who normally goes by ***, has misdemeanor convictions for check-kiting. Yet, he comes on here with a holier-than-thou attitude saying that those with a first-time felony conviction should not get an expungement. He also states that "criminals should not be allowed to hide."

Well, he is a criminal too, and he has nothing of relevance to say here IMHO.

***

July 15, 2011, 7:08pm (report abuse)

Society has good reason to be concerned about criminals in their midst.

This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Thank you.

Kenny

July 15, 2011, 8:10pm (report abuse)

I don't think society has anything to worry about if I'm out there in their midst. I've been walking amongst the people for 37 years and I have not been a threat to no one.

Lance

July 15, 2011, 8:14pm (report abuse)

*** or RMK- You are a criminal who is hiding in our midst. Your check-kiting contributed to the decline of our economy. I see, from my sources, that your mother was an IRS agent. I'm sure that she would've been proud of you.

TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS TO VOTE YES!

***

July 15, 2011, 11:19pm (report abuse)

Society has good reason to be concerned about criminals in their midst.

This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Thank you.

The Truth

July 16, 2011, 12:12am (report abuse)

Giving someone a new lease on life will not make a mockery of the justice system.

The laws, cases, and anecdotes appear to lack a common thread that runs throughout the justice system. The key unifying theme is the government’s ready misuse of crime and punishment as concepts and the criminal justice system as an institution. Every augmentation provides officials a new legal instrument to apply against members of the so-called “criminal class”.

In most cases the term overcriminalization is a socio-political phenomenon that might be evaluated in the aggregate for causes, consequences, and correctives. A recent report concluded that the erratic body of federal law has now swelled to more than four thousand offenses that carry criminal punishment, and other works have noted similar upsurges in the number of crimes at the state level.

Let’s give those that have earned a second chance a fresh start toward a new beginning.

***

July 16, 2011, 10:55am (report abuse)

Society has good reason to be concerned about criminals in their midst.

All the whining in the world does not change this fact - these are convicted felons we are talking about.

Some bleeding hearts and some who obviously have ulterior motives would have everyone believe the prosecutors are misusing their power, that the government is out to put everyone in jail, that the system just isn't fair.

What isn't fair is allowing these criminals to hide among the members of society. This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Thank you.

The Truth

July 16, 2011, 10:56am (report abuse)

Giving someone a new lease on life will not make a mockery of the justice system.

The laws, cases, and anecdotes appear to lack a common thread that runs throughout the justice system. The key unifying theme is the government’s ready misuse of crime and punishment as concepts and the criminal justice system as an institution. Every augmentation provides officials a new legal instrument to apply against members of the so-called “criminal class”.

In most cases the term overcriminalization is a socio-political phenomenon that might be evaluated in the aggregate for causes, consequences, and correctives. A recent report concluded that the erratic body of federal law has now swelled to more than four thousand offenses that carry criminal punishment, and other works have noted similar upsurges in the number of crimes at the state level.

Let’s give those that have earned a second chance a fresh start toward a new beginning.

The Real Truth

July 16, 2011, 3:32pm (report abuse)

Society has good reason to be concerned about criminals in their midst.

All the whining in the world does not change this fact - these are convicted felons we are talking about.

Some bleeding hearts and some who obviously have ulterior motives would have everyone believe the prosecutors are misusing their power, that the government is out to put everyone in jail, that the system just isn't fair.

What isn't fair is allowing these criminals to hide among the members of society. This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Let’s make sure these criminals don't get to hide and the possible chance to harm society again.

Thank you.

The Jayster

July 16, 2011, 7:26pm (report abuse)

The "Truth" of the matter is, that you have 2 misdemeanor convictions for financial crimes ( ie.,check kiting).

It is so funny that you think that you are somehow better than somebody with 1 felony conviction.

No matter how you slice it, you are still one criminally-minded individual and I doubt that your elected officials will even take you seriously regarding your opposition to this bill.

The Real Truth

July 16, 2011, 11:49pm (report abuse)

Society has good reason to be concerned about criminals in their midst.

All the whining in the world does not change this fact - these are convicted felons we are talking about.

Some bleeding hearts and some who obviously have ulterior motives would have everyone believe the prosecutors are misusing their power, that the government is out to put everyone in jail, that the system just isn't fair.

What isn't fair is allowing these criminals to hide among the members of society. This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Let’s make sure these criminals don't get to hide and the possible chance to harm society again.

Thank you.

***

July 17, 2011, 8:14am (report abuse)

You know I do care about justice, but I'm getting tired of our prosecutors making a mockery out of our legal system.

I don't understand when you say don't let criminals hide and allow them the chance to harm society again. Do you really think that somebody that has never been in trouble before or been in trouble afterward is just waiting for an expungment. If their only goal is harm society again then there going to do it whether they have an expungment or not.

The Truth

July 17, 2011, 11:21am (report abuse)

Giving someone a new lease on life will not make a mockery of the justice system.

The laws, cases, and anecdotes appear to lack a common thread that runs throughout the justice system. The key unifying theme is the government’s ready misuse of crime and punishment as concepts and the criminal justice system as an institution. Every augmentation provides officials a new legal instrument to apply against members of the so-called “criminal class”.

In most cases the term overcriminalization is a socio-political phenomenon that might be evaluated in the aggregate for causes, consequences, and correctives. A recent report concluded that the erratic body of federal law has now swelled to more than four thousand offenses that carry criminal punishment, and other works have noted similar upsurges in the number of crimes at the state level.

Let’s give those that have earned a second chance a fresh start toward a new beginning.

Kenny

July 17, 2011, 1:35pm (report abuse)

So you're saying that I've been waiting for 15 years for an expungment law so that I can hurt somebody in society.

I never hurt a person in my life. I have a felony conviction for harassing wildlife with a spot light.

Bond

July 18, 2011, 1:32pm (report abuse)

Anyone know if the yahoo group is still active for this bill?

***

July 18, 2011, 3:44pm (report abuse)

Bond,

Check out http://yhoo.it/oirsgr

@Kenny

July 18, 2011, 6:10pm (report abuse)

Sure you do. Convicted criminal with a federal felony record is what you are. Who knows what you will do tomorrow.

The Real Truth

July 18, 2011, 6:10pm (report abuse)

Society has good reason to be concerned about criminals in their midst.

All the whining in the world does not change this fact - these are convicted felons we are talking about.

Some bleeding hearts and some who obviously have ulterior motives would have everyone believe the prosecutors are misusing their power, that the government is out to put everyone in jail, that the system just isn't fair.

What isn't fair is allowing these criminals to hide among the members of society. This bill seeks to make a mockery of justice with the idea that those who commit crimes should be able to hide. This is wrongheaded and should never be allowed.

If you care about justice please vote NO here and tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Let’s make sure these criminals don't get to hide and the possible chance to harm society again.

Thank you.

***

July 18, 2011, 7:34pm (report abuse)

Bond,

Go to google and type in yahoo groups. Click on yahoo groups-join or create groups. Once you click on that type in fresh start act in the find a yahoo group. Once you do that you will see supporters-of-expungement-legislation.

R.K.

July 18, 2011, 10:52pm (report abuse)

Thanks,

I'll do that!

Bond

July 19, 2011, 1:09pm (report abuse)

Thank you..........

***

July 19, 2011, 5:32pm (report abuse)

You're welcome Bond and R.K.

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