Candidate suggests gun-rights for convicted felons

PETERSBURG - A candidate for the 16th Senate District seat said Tuesday night that he favors the strengthening of gun rights for Virginians, but he would take it a step further by immediately restoring gun rights to convicted felons as they are released from jail.

“They are still finding ways of getting guns because they need to protect themselves, and they do,” independent Waylin K. Ross told a legislative candidate forum at the Old Towne Civic Center. “They are getting guns off of the black market. And they still shoot them and they will still protect themselves and we will still see killing.”

Ross’ Democratic opponent, former state delegate Joseph D. Morrissey, had a startled expression on his face but did not respond to Ross’ statement at the forum about gun rights for felons. But Morrissey said that gun ownership, like other rights, is not an “unfettered right.”

While saying he supports Second Amendment rights, Morrissey added he favors the elimination of assault weapons, large magazines, bump stocks and silencers, the reinstatement of red flag laws, and reinstituting one hand-gun purchase per month rules.

Read more: https://www.progress-index.com/news/20191009/candidate-suggests-gun-rights-for-convicted-felons
(Petersburg Progress-Index)