A quick note that felon-in-possession laws are relatively recent. Clayton pointed out that there had been some specific individuals who had their possession rights disabled during Colonial times. I vaguely remember reading that very often prisons (particularly in the American West--Wyoming in particular comes to mind) would discharge inmates who had served their time by giving them a suit of clothing, twenty dollars, and a gun. (Sorry I don't have a reference.)
Certainly, in Federal Law, there was no automatic disability for felony convictions as late as 1939. (See the ever-popular Miller v. U.S. Supreme Court decision which could have been decided much differently if Miller's "convicted felon" status disabled his right to keep and bear arms. :-)
I suspect that you will find specific cases of persons having their arms possession rights disabled as punishment or as a necessary protection of the community up until relatively recently when blanket laws banning possession by felons were passed.
Lowell C. Savage It's the freedom, stupid! Gun control: tyrants' tool, fools' folly.
Billie J Grey wrote, in part:
From:
I have been asked for a quick summary of felon in possession laws, cases, etc. etc.
As most of you have noticed I don't do anything quick. If I were talking about felon in possession I would talk about the Common Law Felonies and the fact that they were all death penalty offenses and . . . you get the idea.
Please point me to a source, if you are aware of a good one or two.
BJGrey
