Prisoners to get the vote

Gayle · 03-02-2006, 18:38

Read in the paper today that they are trying to decide whether prisoners should get the vote or not. Apparently, the fact that they aren't allowed to vote means that there is a breach in their human rights. Well, excuse me, but isn't that one of the points of being put in prison you have no rights?

Ber999T · 03-02-2006, 18:49

I fully agree with you on this Gail.

They have had to break the law to be charged and tried and found guilty (unless they have admitted the crime in the 1st place) and placed into jail.

So why should they be able to vote they have (in most cases) stopped someone else's human rights being carried out by committing a crime against a person or stolen from homes taking someones property

Gayle · 03-02-2006, 19:01

Or, as it pointed out in the paper, killed someone - don't see why they should have any human rights after that!

Madhatter · 03-02-2006, 19:04

I thought that was part of the punishment of going to prison, having your rights taken away, all rights. Having said that, the vote count would go up if they did, or is that what they're thinking.

WillowTheWhisp · 03-02-2006, 19:22

Prisoners should forfeit all their rights when they are in prison. They cn have them restored if and when they are released. Why should theives, murderers, rapists have a say in the running of the country? Good grief they'll be putting up for election next!

Ber999T · 03-02-2006, 19:27

Dangerous thought Willow the could even (in theroy) become an MP and then would have to be taken from one prison to another prison (house of commons) :engsmil:

Neil · 03-02-2006, 19:30

Well thats all of us so far that think prisoners should have no, well maybe very few rights.

WillowTheWhisp · 03-02-2006, 19:30

Do you remember Bobby Sands? If you do then you'll realise why the idea isn't all that far fetched.

Neil · 03-02-2006, 19:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ber999T

Dangerous thought Willow the could even (in theroy) become an MP and then would have to be taken from one prison to another prison (house of commons) :engsmil:

Or even the Big Brother house

Neil · 03-02-2006, 19:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Do you remember Bobby Sands? If you do then you'll realise why the idea isn't all that far fetched.

Wasn't he a hunger striker in prison for some IRA attack?

lettie · 03-02-2006, 19:32

I have to agree that prisoners should not be allowed to vote. They seem to have more rights than the rest of us these days, this country is definitely soft on the people who least deserve it.

Gayle · 03-02-2006, 19:35

Whilst there are possibly some prisoners in prison who are reasonable and of sound mind - possibly they committed relatively minor crimes like theft or non payment of council tax, etc. There are undoubtedly some people in there who are seriously unhinged - i.e. pathologically insane people like murderers etc. Can we for one minute imagine that they can make a reasoned, impartial decision about who should be running the country.

Plus, I can just see some of the election campaigning now as prospective candidates go into prisons and promise them pardons or investigations if they vote for them.

WillowTheWhisp · 03-02-2006, 19:36

Yes Neil, he also put himself up for election to Westminster whilst he was in The Maze Prison. I remember election posters of him on the lamp posts over there.

Neil · 03-02-2006, 19:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Yes Neil, he also put himself up for election to Westminster whilst he was in The Maze Prison.

Quite an ironic name for a prison with hunger strikers, Maize

garinda · 03-02-2006, 22:36

If we are to decide who has, or hasn't the right to vote, where will it end? Unemployed people, the very elderly, the illiterate?

I thought impisonment was the punishment.