Audio: Gov. McAuliffe Explains Ex-Felons’ Rights Restoration Order, Says Commonwealth Attorneys Should Do Their Job

This morning on WRVA’s “Ask the Governor” show, Gov. McAuliffe responded to the “amicus brief” by 43 Virginia Commonwealth Attorneys (CAs) on the restoration of ex-felons’ rights. According to McAuliffe, the CAs need to “do your job, that’s your responsibility,” on deciding whether or not to restore ex-felons’ gun rights, as that’s the responsibility of the judicial branch, not the executive branch. More McAuliffe: “If you’re not comfortable giving the [gun] rights back, then don’t do it.”

Gov. McAuliffe also provided some excellent background and perspective on his restoration of ex-felons’ voting rights. Specifically, McAuliffe explained that “the actions I took, 40 states had already done, which i don’t think most people know…Virginia was one of the four worst states in the US of America for voter disenfranchisement…I didn’t blow the Capitol up, I didn’t burn it down…of those 40 states, two today if you’re in prison you can vote, 14 of those states you can vote as soon as you leave incarceration, 24 are like where we are…that you have finish probation or parole.”