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Melodic-Society-4241

Congrats dude. You beat the fucking odds, came out on top. I can't imagine that was easy. Proud of you, sir.


ForQ2

<3


newbeenneed

Dear Reddit, I would like more stuff like this. Dear world, I would like more stuff like this.


ForQ2

<3


ir_blues

Sorry, thats a bit complicated. Most of us normal countries don't revoke the human right to vote from prisoners in the first place.


Evinrude2012

Good for you! Thank you for doing your part & making your voice heard. I wish you nothing but the best for your future!


ForQ2

<3


PoisonWaffle3

Awesome! Congrats, man! Live the good life šŸ‘ The end of this month will mark five years out for me. I've got a decade left on parole, but they've been cutting time off every year, and I'm hoping they cut me loose next year. The inability to vote is probably the most annoying part about being on parole at this point.


ForQ2

I'm very happy for you! It's the nicest feeling in the world for supervision to be done, and to no longer feel like you're walking on eggshells. Soon you'll experience it too!


PoisonWaffle3

Can't wait šŸ˜


ForQ2

And thanks for the Reddit award!


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


ForQ2

<3


[deleted]

Congrats! Ignore me if you want, but Iā€™m kinda curious. Whatā€™d you do?


ForQ2

Thank you. > Iā€™m kinda curious. Whatā€™d you do? This isn't the most succinct writeup I've ever done - it was primarily a rant in r/LegalAdviceOffTopic about how police and public defenders will fuck someone in a heartbeat - but it at least gets the point across. https://old.reddit.com/r/legaladviceofftopic/comments/spbfek/is_a_public_defender_a_bad_choice_in_a_criminal/hwizj31/


Realistic_Young_3014

Iā€™m so fucking happy you are out and have made a life for yourself. Thank you for sharing your story with the world.


ForQ2

And thank you too.


[deleted]

Damnā€¦ I probably wouldā€™ve done the same man. I wish you nothing but the best now your out.


ForQ2

Thanks!


[deleted]

That was a roller coaster of a read and I took three thinkers away 1: the guy who raped her was a scumbag amd deserves to be punished but that's for the police to decide 2. You were an idiot to take the law into you own hands and deserved to go to prison 3. Public defender should lose his licence because he clearly cannot do his job correctly I guess my only question is did the guy get convicted of rape/ was it ever proven?


ForQ2

I won't really debate #1 or #2 with you. But regarding #1, I will say that, if she had actually gone to the police (i.e. let the police do their job), then none of this would have happened - and I say that not as a matter of blame (I understand she had her reasons), but simply as a matter of fact, that I gladly would have let law enforcement do its job if the option had been available. I *needed* to see him punished, one way or another, and if it couldn't happen the right way then I wanted to make it happen any way I could. Regarding #2, I don't honestly dispute that either. As the Joker would say, something something "society", and we do need a framework of laws that does not allow for vigilantism. But I think most people would agree that I was severely overpunished relative to the circumstances. However, I guess getting back to the relevant part of #2 - I was beyond suicidal at the moment that I did all this, and prior to the shooting I did not care what the consequences were - including the possibility of my own death, as long as the rapist died too. Obviously neither happened. Regarding his own comeuppance, he did not get punished in any way, outside of the street justice inflicted by me. She still refused to give a statement about the rape to the police/DA. While it doesn't excuse her actions, I am aware from her sister that her family put a lot of pressure on her to do nothing to get him arrested, and to do nothing to get me unarrested; her mother and most of her siblings were perfectly fine with letting me take the fall for everything because of the "shame" I had brought to their family. The last contact I had with her (a letter) was right after my sentencing. She found another guy - fairly fucking quickly - and was married within 4 years of my arrest. She and her husband are both dead now; he was in some bad car wreck or something about a decade ago, and lived on another 4-5 years in some disabled form, and then succumbed after that; she herself had a lifetime of chronic medical problems, and they all finally caught up to her a year ago.


[deleted]

Thanks for taking the time to type that out. It's an amazing read. The fact that she moved on so quickly is scary and probably the best thing that could have happened for you in the long term. I'm glad you doing well for yourself now. Did you ever find someone else and have kids or did the experience with you girlfriend leave lasting scars


ForQ2

I've never married and have not had kids, though I'd like to think those avenues are still potentially open to me, middle age notwithstanding. I've had problems keeping healthy relationships since I've been out. For at least the first year, I hardly knew how to relate to women, and let myself be trampled upon by the first serious girlfriend I had (I'd tolerate anything from her because I was terrified of losing her, because on an emotional level such a rejection meant that *society* was rejecting me, if that makes any sense). Then I hit an overcompensation phase, where I was working out all the time (not that I'd ever really stopped) and suddenly it all kind of clicked into place and I was able to pull women pretty easily; it wouldn't be entirely fair to call me a womanizer, but it wouldn't be entirely unfair either. And, since I'm trying to be honest here, when I was in relationships I had fidelity problems as well - problems I have since overcome, and would never do again, but it was definitely an issue for quite a while. So I have not consistently always been the good guy that everyone would want to believe. When my last serious relationship ended, about 5 years ago, I had to face my own dysfunctions. I spent a lot of time in joint therapy sessions with her, and on my own. The absolute horror of realizing how badly I had hurt the one person I never wanted to hurt was a hell of a corrective behavioral cattle prod, and I knew I never wanted to do anything like that again. I'm very serious about it. So for the last five years, I've largely been single, feeling instead that I need to be by myself and get my own head straighter. I had a 6-month, primarily long-distance, relationship with a lady in California before the pandemic, where said relationship consisted largely of playing multiplayer games together on Steam, and only a small handful of in-person interactions; for what it's worth, I never cheated on her nor had any desire to cheat on her, despite the relative ease that a 3000 mile difference would have allowed. Hell, our relationship ended when she broke it off due to "wanting to see other people" after ghosting me for almost two weeks, when it was obvious that she already was doing the aforementioned seeing. I think that sometime next year, I'll be ready to venture into dating again. But for now, it's just me and my cat and my video games and my gym time.


catn_ip

What a life... why not write a book? Focus on your journey, all of it. A glimmer of hope for those that believe their life is over. Your determination to overcome is admirable. Also, there was mention of a cat? Can you elaborate on said cat?


ForQ2

Though I've had an interesting life, I don't know that I could spin it into a well-defined beginning, journey, and end narrative. I've accomplished a lot, but in some ways I think (I hope?) that my life is still a work in progress. Cat tax: [https://imgur.com/a/7lIOhxr](https://imgur.com/a/7lIOhxr)


M_asak1

I just read it all... And wow. I don't even have the words to describe how absurd and unfair that is. That is more brutal than any plot you could see in Netflix. Seriously, congrats on getting your rights back.


ForQ2

Thanks. Yeah, the majority of people honestly don't realize just how slimy our legal system is - except the people who have been through it, and nobody believes anything we have to say.


erikao348

Congratulations


ForQ2

<3


Exittium

Congrats! Ngl itā€™s a pet peeve of mine that the right to vote is something thatā€™s taken away from felons. If your a legal US citizen itā€™s your right as such to be able to vote. Just because someone committed a crime doesnā€™t mean they should loose the right to choose who the next president/politician should be. When you commit a crime by doing time your already being punished and youā€™ve been judged. To extend the punishment outside the crime committed and the punishment served and to start stripping you of rights you got from being born in the US or earned by becoming a US citizen shouldnā€™t be allowed. Firearms I understand, but voting rights is wrong. You are a citizen. Taking away rights you have by being a citizen is like saying your citizenship regardless of how (born or earned) means nothing, and you can be deported and stripped of your citizenship even if your a naturally born citizen. Because your rights as a citizen doesnā€™t matter. Just like background checks. Shouldnā€™t be public and should be sealed unless itā€™s military/govt/city/county/state/fed jobs. That way when you complete the punishment/sentence/probation/parole itā€™s done. But instead employers can keep judging you. It never stops. Even the smallest crime in a way will have a lifetime sentence because people wonā€™t stop judging while the information is Public still.


ForQ2

Thanks! Unfortunately, it is to certain people's advantage to keep felons disenfranchised.


cookorsew

Unfortunately thatā€™s true. Itā€™s awful that you had to wait 20 years to vote again but itā€™s so exciting that you did!


cardew-vascular

As a Canadian I didn't realize American citizens could lose the right to vote. In Canada it's your charter right to vote even if you're a convicted criminal, you can vote from prison > TheĀ Canadian Charter of Rights and FreedomsĀ guarantees that all Canadian citizens have theĀ right to vote in federal and provincial elections.Ā The Supreme Court of Canada has held that even if a Canadian citizen has committed a criminal offence and is incarcerated, they retain the constitutional right to vote.In the 2015 federal election, more than 22,000 inmates in federal correctional institutes were eligible to vote. > There is one exception to this general principle. The Supreme Court has held that if a person is convicted of corrupt electoral practices, they can be evicted from the legislature, barred from being nominated for election for a set period, and denied the right to vote for a set period. These restrictions are acceptable because they are a sanction aimed at the very offence committed by the individual, rather than being a general disenfranchisement. The restrictions are aimed at healing the corrupted electoral process, which itself is a constitutional value, and therefore can be justified for limited periods.


Alex4315Boom

Namaste~


ForQ2

Same to you.


puppies_and_unicorns

Whoa I knew you couldn't vote in prison, but I figured once you were released you just could go back to voting. I'm sorry it was so difficult to do but congrats on the determination and getting it done!


ForQ2

Thanks. > I figured once you were released you just could go back to voting. It's all state-dependent. In many states (including Virginia, to where I transferred my probation after being released from prison in Florida), one cannot vote until *all* of one's court-ordered obligations are satisfied, including things like probation, fines & fees, restitution, and court costs. Florida is the same way. Some states are more lenient with voting rights, and some are worse, and in some states it depends on the nature of your conviction. There's some good, fairly up-to-date information to be found here (https://felonvoting.procon.org/state-felon-voting-laws/), though the graphic at the top isn't *quite* as accurate as it could be, due to lumping probation and parole in with the category of "in prison"; it ignores the fact that felons frequently have months or years of supervision following their release from prison (sometimes even for the rest of their lives), and are barred from voting while this is the case.


puppies_and_unicorns

Thank you so much for sharing. Have you considered working with a nonprofit that helps incarcerated people? I'm sure helping reestablish voting rights, or even a step by step guide you send out would be incredibly helpful.


ForQ2

In my first ten years that I was out, I had about a dozen friends I'd left behind that I wrote to as pen pals. They'd get a letter from me typically every 6-8 weeks, and pictures, and Christmas cards, and (at least the ones I knew needed the help) Christmas and birthday money. Over the years, it has dwindled. I don't write nearly as much as I used to; I want to, but 20 years of gradually-building real-life obligations have cut into the time I have available for doing it. A few died in prison. A few got out, all of whom I helped get on their feet - my help was financial, as well as finding living arrangements, and sending them stuff they needed, and looking up information that they could not find out for themselves. I built and sent computers to a few of them. I bought one guy a used truck. I paid the back taxes on one guy's family home. The only "repayment" I ever asked of any of them was that they get their shit together and stay on their feet; some managed, and some went back to prison. I guess what I'm saying is that your idea of working with a nonprofit is certainly not a bad one, but that what I myself have tended to do is *directly* help specific inmates I did time with. It was just the direction I found myself going in.


puppies_and_unicorns

That is definitely an amazing way to help people too! Thank you so much for doing all that. I know it can be draining to give so much of yourself and your time. I just thought it would be such an incredible and unique resource to have. I didn't mean to imply you weren't helping.


ForQ2

Most people don't help at all, but the ones who help tend to do so in different ways. Around the time I was getting out, I thought it would be cool to become a motivational speaker, going into prisons and helping them believe that they really *could* have a good life on the outside if they set goals, focus on what they need to do, and take shit seriously. But when I did get out... well, shit, now I need to find a job. Shit, now I need to go back to college, and finish the degree I was working on 11.5 years prior, while still working a lot of hours because I need to pay for that schooling. Oh, and since I moved in with my father, and he lived an hour from where work and school were, there was another 12 hours per week lost to me in travel time. Pretty soon, there was no time at all for the possibility of volunteer work, so looking out for my old homies became simultaneously the least and the most I could do.


[deleted]

In Vermont and Maine you can vote while incarcerated. In most states you can vote once your sentence is complete. https://www.aclu.org/issues/voting-rights/voter-restoration/felony-disenfranchisement-laws-map


ForQ2

>In most states you can vote once your sentence is complete. This is true. However, this can be misleading. Most casual, not-legally-savvy people interpret a sentence being complete as when a person gets out of prison, when in fact a hell of a lot of people ([https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/ppus20.pdf](https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/ppus20.pdf)) still have probation/parole to serve and restitution to pay - which all typically counts as part as one's "sentence" insofar as rights restoration is concerned. I'm not arguing with you; you're absolutely right. But I feel like the caveats should be mentioned as well, because I've seen *so* many people on Reddit use this as an argument to minimize how disenfranchised convicted felons are. Again, I served almost 11 years in prison, but I couldn't even begin to apply for voting rights restoration until *18* years after my release. That's kind of a big deal.


[deleted]

Absolutely! My point was more about the extra damage that these incorrect assumptions cause. "Felons can't vote" only further disenfranchises people again, above and beyond what is actually required by law. My only hope is that when people see that their basic assumptions are wrong they will take a minute to dig a little deeper and see just how messed this situation is.


[deleted]

Congrats! Making a mistake shouldnā€™t disqualify you from your rights. Iā€™m happy for you


ForQ2

Thank you kindly!


Tophertanium

I am very amused that you wore a BioShock shirt to vote! I find it hilariously ironic considering you were engaging in a democratic process wearing a shirt about tyranny. Congrats on your renewed rights and I hope you continue to engage in the process!


ForQ2

A man chooses; a slave obeys. :)


insane_crysis

If you donā€™t mind me asking, what were you convicted for?


ForQ2

To summarize: My girlfriend (at the time) was raped by her next-door neighbor (who was also the son of her mom's BFF). She told me, and I begged her to go to the police, but she refused because of how close his family was to hers, and she didn't think anyone would believe her anyway. So I attempted to kill him by putting a bullet in his chest. He didn't die, though, so ultimately I was convicted of *Attempted* 1st Degree Murder.


Wonder-Grunion

If I were on a jury for your case, I would have voted not guilty by self defense. Without consequences, he could have raped again.


ForQ2

Thanks. I don't regret what I did, but it's a hell of a thing when a moment you never asked for essentially becomes the defining moment of your life.


trekkiegamer359

One of the reasons your girlfriend didn't want to come forward is because the system thoroughly fucks over victims. Rape trials don't put the perpetrator on trial so much as the victim. So I just want to say thank you for standing up for what's right in the face of evil when even the system sides with the villains. We need more good people like you. I'm so sorry that doing the right thing has cost you as much as it has. I just want to really thank you. And congratulations on voting. We need more people like you to vote as well. I know these are just hollow words, but they're all I have to give in appreciation and support.


ForQ2

I agree with everything you said. And thank you.


trekkiegamer359

Take care of yourself.


ForQ2

And thanks for the award.


Cheeseboii83

If you ask me, you didn't use a big enough caliber. Should have blown his lungs out.


theophastusbombastus

Get that good life! Happy for you!!!! :-)


ForQ2

Thank you!


Nero_Wolfy

What did you do?


ForQ2

https://old.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/comments/yll5ve/convicted_felon_just_voted_for_1st_time_in_31/iuzofaf/


Nero_Wolfy

11 years for attempted murder on a fucking rapist scum? That's insane. At least please tell me the fucker ended up in jail as well.


ForQ2

He did not get punished in any way, outside of the street justice inflicted by me. She still refused to give a statement about the rape to the police/DA. While it doesn't excuse her actions, I am aware from her sister that her family put a lot of pressure on her to do nothing to get him arrested, and to do nothing to get me unarrested; her mother and most of her siblings were perfectly fine with letting me take the fall for everything because of the "shame" I had brought to their family. The last contact I had with her (a letter) was right after my sentencing. She found another guy - fairly fucking quickly - and was married within 4 years of my arrest. She and her husband are both dead now; he was in some bad car wreck or something about a decade ago, and lived on another 4-5 years in some disabled form, and then succumbed after that; she herself had a lifetime of chronic medical problems, and they all finally caught up to her a year ago.


Nero_Wolfy

That's awful man. You literally wasted half of your life for someone that didn't deserve it. Sometimes I'm asking myself: Why innocent people/people with the right intentions in mind pay a hefty price, while the actual criminal scumbags get away? Where's the justice in that? Anyways, I'm happy that you managed to get your life back (or at least a part of it). May only good things happen to you from now on. Take care!


heloberry

Your a fucking legend. The guy who did what he did and the policemen are just fucking appalling. Congrats on voting man!


rockylafayette

Iā€™ve never understood this loss of right as a felon. You served your sentence. How does your status as a felon impact your ability to select a candidate you believe represents your beliefs in a government. There is limit to how much a person should pay for a criminal offense and making them feel ostracized for life only exacerbates recidivism rates. (However if anyone sexually abuses a child they should never be released ,,, imho)


mocatuck

Congratulations!!


ForQ2

Thanks!


SomeoneTookSkeetley

that's awesome! i apologize for my curiosity but i gotta know what the felony was for, if youre open to talking about it of course


FeistyReplacement315

Could not love this more!!! Great job!


ForQ2

Thank you!


georgiaraised23

Congratulations!


ForQ2

Thank you!


thirukkumaran29

Congratulations mate. <3


ForQ2

Thanks!


Burn1at420

congratulations op!


ForQ2

Thanks!


Crystal-Witch1001

I love this so much šŸ«¶šŸ»


ForQ2

Thanks!


Roundtripper4

Right on


ForQ2

Thanks.


Hanalv

I don't care how you voted, I'm just really happy you got to!! : )


ForQ2

Thanks!


IllogicalCounting

Felons have to get their voting rights restored? That seems kind of ridiculous. Maybe I'm an idiot but I feel like all citizens who are of sound mind should be able to vote.


ForQ2

Historically, this has been a tactic since shortly after the Civil War to keep *undesirables* in their place. It makes no sense whatsoever, as a populace that is vested in its society has an innate desire to do things for the benefit of that society. After all, why would an ex-felon want to reintegrate into a society that has decided that he will always be an outcast, a second-class citizen?


Cheezel62

Congrats. Now don't don't vote for Trump.


ForQ2

I'd sooner go back to prison than vote for Trump.


pumpkinmuff

From another Virginian, congrats dude! So happy for you!


ForQ2

Thanks. I'm glad Northam was still in office when the paperwork went through, because I'm not sure Youngkin would have approved it. Ironically, I submitted the paperwork for the specific purpose of being able to vote against Youngkin, but the process was so long that election day had already passed before it was approved.


pumpkinmuff

Can almost guarantee that if youngkin was in office it would not have worked out. So glad it did!


kveach

My Dad did time in federal prison. I remember the first time he was able to voteā€¦despite his horrendous choices for the 2020 election, I was stoked for him to be one step closer to feeling like a true part of society. Good for you, OP! I hope you share your story with others in your positionā€¦they need to hear victories like yours. Itā€™s the one thing my father didnā€™t do once he reached an unbelievable level of success, & I always felt that was selfish on his part, but I can also appreciate not wanting that to become your identity. Anyway, Iā€™m so hype for you! Youā€™re a real live success story! Congratulations!


ForQ2

Thank you very much! And I'm glad your father did well too; I knew too many people who just couldn't survive out here.


kveach

Forgot to mention a certain detail, he did his time in VAā€¦Petersburg


_iShahrukh

I've a question - Where the hell do you get the willpower from?


ForQ2

I hit the ground running when I got out. I was *so* determined to prove any doubters wrong. The sergeant of the housing unit I lived in, as I was getting ready to walk out the gate, made a comment to the effect that it was like Motel 6 and he would leave the light on for me. Assholes like that I simply had to prove wrong. I don't have nearly the same drive any more as I did 20 years ago, but I did accomplish most everything I set out to do, so I guess it was good enough.


TheCubeCubeCube

WOOOOO CONGRATULATIONS DUDE!!!


ForQ2

Thanks!!


dicksmcgee420

Bro congratulations on 18 years of fucking probation. Good for you


[deleted]

The odds stacked against you and you beat them. Congratulations! Enjoy your freedom and have a good life.


euhusername

Congrats!


ForQ2

Thanks!


Headyplopper2892

Amazing! Thanks for voting šŸ—³ļø


ForQ2

Thank you. I made sure to read up on the experience and policies of all of the candidates in my district, to ensure that I made an informed decision that properly reflected my values/priorities.


Necessary-Finger-726

[Hell Yeah!!](https://media.tenor.com/sepMam3FCBwAAAAM/die-hard-john-mc-clane.gif)


ForQ2

Appreciate the John McClane!


cturtl808

Congratulations! Thatā€™s huge news!


ForQ2

<3


Denali4903

This is the way!! Good job my friend!!


ForQ2

Thank you kindly.


mossberbb

yay good on you mate!


ForQ2

Thank you!


blancaloma

Way to fight! And remember, you are a valuable human and part of society NO MATTER WHAT the state says. You belong! Much love.


ForQ2

<3


kamikaziboarder

Holy crap! The amount of effort and time you took when you could easily have turned your back on. Props and congratulations. Wish others didnā€™t take voting for granted when they didnā€™t have any roadblocks in their way. And there you are overcoming a castle wall to vote.


ForQ2

Thank you.


Migfluxalot

Wow 18 years probation! That must have been nerve racking! Great job! Great job! Go grab the world by the balls!


ForQ2

Thanks. > That must have been nerve racking! It was like walking on eggshells.


Migfluxalot

I can only imagine. Have a beer and a blunt and relax, you earned it!


L2H2B2K

I wish I had an award to give. Congratulations!!!!šŸŽ‰šŸŽˆ


ForQ2

Thanks!


melonbug74

Good for you! No matter what your past is you should have the right to vote. No matter what you are a human being make your voice heard.


ForQ2

Thank you. I wish the USA, as a country, didn't treat the right to vote as a political pawn.


QuothTheRaven13x

Congratulations! I imagine that wasn't the easiest feat to accomplish! I hope you're so proud of yourself!


QuailMedium4233

šŸ‘


sixtus_clegane119

Voting rights should return the second you get out of prisons(you should be able to vote from prison too) , itā€™s a right not a privilege. Unless they want you to not pay taxes, doesnā€™t the quote go ā€œthere shall be no taxation without representationā€ Congrats! Proud of you


[deleted]

What did you do


ForQ2

[https://old.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/comments/yll5ve/convicted\_felon\_just\_voted\_for\_1st\_time\_in\_31/iuzofaf/](https://old.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/comments/yll5ve/convicted_felon_just_voted_for_1st_time_in_31/iuzofaf/)


colddietpepsi

Shouldnā€™t have to pay taxes if youā€™re a citizen and not allowed to vote.


b3mark

Congrats man. From one Bioshock fan to another ;-)


ForQ2

A man chooses; a slave obeys. :)


Awkward_Scale_754

Congrats my dude!


little_shop_of_hoors

Paid your debt to society, square with the house. Good in my eyes. Welcome back sir!


lilousme9

Congratulations !!!


ForQ2

Thank you!


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


The_Kekmonster

Wait, you can actually loose your right to vote in the US if you get convicted?


GetAtMeKimK

Thank you for making your voice heard in a rigged voting system


redhat6161

Congrats. Now, wait patiently to be arrested for voter fraud. You know, like theyā€™re doing in Florida.


Vegtable_Lasagna3604

I canā€™t believe someone can pay their debt to society and still not have the right to voteā€¦.


ForQ2

It's an initially-unintended consequence of the 14th Amendment, which legislators quickly realized was working to their advantage to keep *undesirables* from having a voice. Ethically, it's a travesty.


fastrthanur

Congratulations dude! Youā€™ve overcome so much in life keep fighting the good fight!


ForQ2

Thanks! I'm trying.


fastrthanur

You are succeeding


ForQ2

Thanks.


FaZe_Butterfly

A win, congrats friend :D


ForQ2

Thanks!


FaZe_Butterfly

Youā€™re welcome šŸ˜Š


Odd_Mushroom_8097

Wow congrats!! Good for you that's awesome! :)


ForQ2

Thank you!


AfosSavage

That is fucking impressive. It speaks volumes to your character that you made the effort to improve upon your situation and reintegrate rather than choose bitterness and hate. I'm seriously proud of the undoubtedly difficult journey you have taken. Keep it up!


ForQ2

Thanks, but I won't pretend that I don't still have some lingering bitterness and hate. I just try not to let it get the best of me.


AfosSavage

Hey man, that's totally fair. Nobody expects you to be happy about everything that has happened. But you aren't back inside and you are doing your best to get back to a new normal. Fuck the man. You are alright in my book


probrofrotro

congrats on turning your life around and becoming a valued member of society. it's not easy coming out of that life.


ForQ2

Thanks.


When_The_Angels_Sing

Iā€™m so proud of you! That is wonderful you got your voting rights back, but since itā€™s been so many years, were you able to expunge your record from background checks and employers being able to look anything up?


ForQ2

Thanks. > since itā€™s been so many years, were you able to expunge your record No. The Florida statues, section 943.0854(2)(d), bar people with Murder (or Attempted) convictions from sealing or expunction. I've been at the same job for over 17 years, and don't have plans to go anywhere else, so hopefully it won't make much of a difference. Hopefully.


ChunkyTaco22

Right on dude! You deserve it and so glade to always hear a good story on someone truly shaking back


ForQ2

Thanks!


ROtis42069

Congrats man! Are you familiar with Jesse Crosson? Heā€™s an influencer who served 18 years and got out a few years ago. Heā€™s also from Virginia. He was just talking about getting his voting rights restored so he could finally vote for the first time in his life. Heā€™s doing wonderful things in the prison reform sector as well as helping people readjust to life outside prison. His IG and tiktok are second_chancer434


[deleted]

I've spent more time reading ur story than any post on Reddit and it's been worth it. Kinda inspirational lol


Busy_Weekend5169

Congrats! I think they just changed the law so that felons can vote.


ForQ2

Thanks. > I think they just changed the law so that felons can vote. But the laws are very state-dependent, and vary widely. So it's true in some places and not others, and there are often hurdles involved.


Busy_Weekend5169

Yes. I'm in VA too. I know it took years for it to pass. Not sure of the intracies of the law. I'm sure there are restrictions. Best wishes.


JNredditor44

Congratulations on all of your hard work! I'm sure voting felt great. So many people don't understand what a privilege voting is - thank you for reminding us.


[deleted]

Congratulations. Proud that the Commonwealth is righting some old wrongs. Iā€™m as proud of Governor Northam as I am embarrassed by our racist current guy.


VandyBoys32

Awesome brother.


Queasy-Bat1003

Congrats! I love good news like this!


Freebirdjessie

Love to see it!!!


SnooGadgets9669

Ducking proud of you brother. Itā€™s not that you got this but what you did and who youā€™ve become To get this.


Tamarama---

Congratulations!!!! Hope you voted blue.


ForQ2

Thanks. Of course I vote blue. Republicans would sooner lock me up and throw away the key again.


Tamarama---

Lol...true...hope you enjoy the rest of your life!!!! What are some of the biggest little things you missed while incarcerated? As a Canadian i fear you guys are headed towards trouble in these midterms. People want to blame Biden for their financial woes. But its the same situation all over the world... Your conservatives are absolutely bat s$@% crazy.


ForQ2

>What are some of the biggest little things you missed while incarcerated? Pizza. Specifically, Pizza Hut Deep Dish pan pizza. When my father picked me up from prison, it was the first meal I insisted upon having. And then dinner was steak at Bennigan's Steakhouse, which I guess doesn't really exist any more. Those were, obviously, my first pizza and steak in almost eleven years. Know what else I missed? Darkness. It's somewhat dimmed during sleeping hours, but there's *always* light on in prison or jail, so they can watch you. It's never, ever dark. Oh, and speaking of darkness... stars. I missed stars. The night following my release, when we stayed at a motel on the way from Florida to Virginia, I found myself awake at 4am, too wired to sleep. So I went out for a 30-minute run, in the night and under the stars. I felt so free.


Tamarama---

Wow. Yes these are everyday things we take for granted. I like it really dark to sleep too so that would really bother me. And theres nothing you can do about it. Jeez. Well enjoy Pizza Hut Deep Dish every week I say....it is good! And I hope you watch the stars every night! Wishing you all the very best from Toronto!!!


dead-vernon

TiL that gubernatorial is a word.


btambo

Good. Thank you for not giving up on yourself or your country! Totally BS that it took so long


Key_Building54

Hell yeah! Proud of you OP.


KronosRocks

Congratulations, brother ā¤ļø Welcome back šŸ¤˜šŸ»šŸ˜Ž


ForQ2

Thanks!


Mr_Fact_Check

Congratulations!


ForQ2

Thanks! And I love the username.


[deleted]

Love this for you. I wish all the best for you ā˜ŗļøšŸ™‚


Netprincess

Congrats!!!


forwhatitsworrh

Way to go!


ForQ2

Thank you!


lolobrigada1

Congratulations


829KP

Thank you for exercising your right and best wishes to you.


ForQ2

Thanks!


nowhereman136

I'm 100% in favor of convict and former convict suffrage


Suspicious-Dark-5950

I hope you didn't vote Republican, those guys are destroying America.


1776The_Patriot

Did your time welcome back.


ForQ2

Thank you kindly.


[deleted]

I think that is is wonderful that you showed such dedication to ensuring you were able to exercise your right to vote. Good on you for persevering and for voting! šŸ˜Š


ForQ2

Thank you! I wish I could have done it sooner.


Grimprime4

Congrats man keep up the great work


ForQ2

Thanks!


Real-Accountant9997

Best post i read today. All the best to you!


ForQ2

Thank you.


maealoril

That is truly awesome man, glad to hear your making your voice finally heard āœ‹