From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.sunone.com/articles/2000-11-09h.shtml Thursday, November 9, 2000 Dixie man sentenced for trying to buy gun By By KAREN VOYLES Sun staff writer He thought the state had restored all of his civil rights. A Dixie County man who tried to buy a gun after mistakenly believing his civil rights had been restored will spend nearly six years in prison. George Paige Stinson, 50, of Cross City was sentenced Wednesday to 57 months in federal prison and three years of probation for making a false statement on an application to buy a gun from a federally licensed dealer. Stinson claimed he thought his rights had been restored because he had been voting since he was convicted on state drug charges in the 1980s. A year ago, Stinson filled out the required paperwork to buy an Enfield rifle from B & B Sporting Goods in Cross City. The application was rejected by federal officials because records showed Stinson was a convicted felon. Convicted felons may not purchase firearms or vote unless the state restores their rights. Stinson was convicted for three unrelated state marijuana violations in 1982, 1985 and 1987. After his first conviction, Stinson's voting rights were restored by the state. But Stinson could not demonstrate that his rights were restored after the other two convictions. In 1988, Stinson registered to vote in Dixie County and has been voting in local, state and federal elections ever since. When his firearms' application was rejected, he went to the Supervisor of Elections Office in Cross City, and officials there were sent a certificate that showed his voting rights had been restored June 6, 1984. Before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Maurice Paul, Stinson said he thought the restoration form meant that all of his rights had been restored. "I had this paper from Tallahassee saying my civil rights had been restored, but it didn't say nothing about my gun rights not being restored," Stinson, a high school dropout, told the judge. Stinson and his attorney, Jeff Dollinger, brought in witnesses to bolster Stinson's claims that he was working to be a productive and responsible member of society since serving his marijuana convictions. Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Thomas Daniels, one of Stinson's neighbors, testified that he often relied on Stinson and trusted him to watch his home when he had to be out of town. Deputy Dixie County clerk Mary Cannon testified that she has known Stinson for about 15 years and that he has been helping to provide child care for her two children for more than a year. Dollinger argued that Stinson was trying to do the right thing by buying a weapon from a licensed dealer rather than a private party and that he was confused because some of his rights had been restored. Those arguments did not sway Paul, but the judge did give Stinson the minimum sentence, 57 months, under the federal sentencing guidelines. -- Shame the reporter doesn't seem to know how many months there are in a year! Steve. Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A http://www.topica.com/t/17 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
