Comments from the Aug. 24-26 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution series on felons regaining gun rights:
“So much investigative work goes into the case files, ” said Steve Hayes, the board’s spokesman.
Gale Buckner, a former parole board chairwoman who is now a judge in Murray County: "We're a world of second chances," she said. "Everyone deserves an opportunity for a second chance."
“The intention is honorable” said Buckner of the board’s overall duties. “They do their very best to be as competent as possible.”
“You can’t be a soothsayer and know what someone’s future is going to hold, ” said Buckner. “That is something that is taken very seriously.”
When asked about violent offenders or people who’d harmed children: “It would have to be an extraordinary person for me to vote to have their gun rights restored.”
Susan Thornton, the prosecutor who sent ex-cop Dennis Krauss to prison for sexual assault: "He's a predator." "I don't believe people like that ought to go out on the street with guns."
From a former board member who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid harming relationships with current members: "There needs to be scrutiny.""There needs to be an opportunity to see if the information they're relying on is accurate. What is the rationale for not releasing that information?"
Hollie Manheimer, executive director of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation: "While there occasionally may be a legitimate reason for shielding limited information from the public, it is hard to believe that a state board with such a critical mission is so insulated from public oversight." "The public is keenly interested in the criminal justice system. … With so little access to information about this state board, the public is unable even to evaluate if it is functioning properly."
