Rick Allen: “It is not a hopeless situation. Sometimes it can be cumbersome, and it is time consuming for the Governor as well as…”

“It is not a hopeless situation. Sometimes it can be cumbersome, and it is time consuming for the Governor as well as those in the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office, the attorney general's office, the Governor's staff and others to assemble this information, and also for the petitioner, as well. That is part of the price one pays when they commit a felony and they are convicted beyond a reasonable doubt by a judge and a jury of that crime. This is one of the many rights one gives up. I heard this being compared to slavery. It is not like slavery. Slavery is wrong and the worst thing that has ever occurred in this country. It is a willful act. Many of the felony cases were vile, premeditated, deliberate acts to commit a felony--not a misdemeanor, a felony--and this is one of the prices and penalties that one pays. A person loses their liberty, obviously, while incarcerated. To get all of their liberties and rights back, they have to demonstrate good behavior. In each State, that demonstration may be slightly different. But these are State laws being violated. It is a proper role of the people in the States to determine when these rights should be restored, as well as, under what conditions and circumstances the rights are restored.”