The wait is over

[Lemos]

Well I just got to share. I, like a lot of people made some mistakes as a 18 year old kid. Mine landed me some probation time and the revoking of my second amendment rights. Well after my probation time and mandatory wait time the sum of which totaled 19 years I am now legal to own guns,travel to Canada and rent apartments and apply for jobs without judgment or explaining I was a dumb kid who made an error in judgment. For any body who's never been through it the stigmatizim of having to explain yes I committed a felony offense but no I'm not a bad person and the affects it had on me and my family, family that I didn't even have at the time of the crime is hard to comprehend. I am now a truly free man again.

[portlandfire]

    Heck, I knew you were a good guy when I first met you at that garage sale.   .  Congratulations !   We missed you at Kutch's last week.  Looking forward to seeing you this spring.

[Pappy]

Congrats, Made a lot of bad decissions when I was a kid,guess they wasn't as bad as yours   but still not good. Glad you turned things around,you paid the price and now you can move on.
   Pappy

[Lemos]

I was wanting to be at the meet but it was our anniversary weekend, I was going to argue its really only supposed to be a day but I think I'm starting to wise up,cause I didn't. I'm going to have to make it to one soon though, I haven't had time to do any real work or shooting in sometime.  Thanks Pappy I'm glad I learned before I really screwed up. And thank you Portlandfire 

[JW_Halverson]

On behalf of all taxpayers, thanks for taking advantage of your "time out" to rethink your actions.  And thanks for not boomeranging back in for more "time out"!!! 

I am happy to hear things worked out for you in the end.  Pass on this wisdom that you have earned to the next generation and we will all be very proud to know you. Now post some bow pictures!  More bow porn!

[Lemos]

Thanks Jw Halverson, I tell every kid I see be careful with your choices, because you never really know the true effects of your choices and actions till its done. Mine was a simple first offense as an 18 year old kid of possession of a hand gun and possession of recreational drugs I didn't due any jail time just probation and a bunch of fines. No big deal right? Wrong. Because of that choice I had a hell of a time getting a job in the beginning of my life and when I did get one I worked hard at keeping it so I didn't have to start over and even then I couldn't get clearance to work on certain jobs cause I was a felon,flash forward a few years and now I'm married and we're getting denied apartment after apartment because I'm a terrible criminal , denied or have to pay a outrageous security deposit. My wife who used to be a leasing agent and sometimes property manager was even denied jobs because I the horrible felon would have access to the keys and rental money, didn't matter that the crime I committed wasn't even theft related. Throw in some kids who see there dads friends and their kids go out hunting and shooting with guns a trip to Vancouver via the ferry out of Washington cut short and all because I was a "tough badass nothing can bother me and I don't care" kid.  I guess in retrospect though I wouldn't be where I am or who I am today if it wasn't for what I experienced heck I might not even be in love with archery  "god forbid"   So if any one has a kid who thinks today's choices won't affect their life tomorrow have me give me a call I got more details to share  Thanks for listening guys.

[mattbowen]

As a 30 year LEO I have found that about 85 to 90 % of all the people  that I have had dealings with on the criminal side are Good people and our system was designed that once a person violated the law they would have their day in court if found guilty they did their time once they did that they were forgiven and brought back into society as a hole person. I guess because we are human that seems to have changed and I for one am deeply saddened by that because a lot of good people have been thrown to the side.

 I am glad to see that you didn't give up and I am honored to welcome you back to the side of gun owners.   

[crooketarrow]

  When I was younger I wanted a lot of money fast I've seen and went thought and down a differnt path that only a few go down. That live to walk back out the way you go in. I would'nt ever send anyone else down those trails now. But seamed like the thing to do at the time.
  My whole life I never looked back at any of the things I've done just keep moveing forward. You only have to live with yourself not what others think. It only means anything to them not you.
  JUST KEEP MOVEING FORWARD.