Revised FCC Form 605 Will Ask Applicants “the Felony Question”
- Thread starter luckygecko
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Sure have, three of them that I know of. Each is well-educated, talented, and professional. They use cannabis in various forms to relieve the pain from serious injuries, allowing them to eliminate or greatly reduce their dependence on addictive, destructive (legally prescribed) opioids. I work in the mechanical engineering field where you don't find a lot of dumb, wasted, lowlifes by the way.
One person I'm very close to is an RN working in a very busy valley ER, who also teaches nursing, and she helps save lives every week. She got a card to help (greatly) reduce the amount of (legally prescribed) opioids that she was taking, and it was a Godsend. She has degenerative disc disease but still works to support her family. She works sober through her 12 hour shifts (in extreme pain) because she will not use any type of drug and go to work under the influence. When she gets home, using cannabis products gives here instant relief, without being wasted on (legally prescribed) hard drugs.
Note that I said HARD drugs. There are opioids being prescribed out there, that are as powerful, and even more powerful, than heroin. They are over-prescribed, because of a flawed system that incentivizes their prescription. We have a serious opioid crisis in America, that is wrecking our country. Those who legitimately benefit from cannabis and who avoid being part of that opioid crisis, are doing themselves and their community a service. So let's separate THOSE folks from the "other" group.
By "other" group, I mean the millions of males in their early 20's all suffering from "chronic pain" who really just want to sit around being a stoned loser. Yes, many of the "card holders" fall under that category. It's very hard to say who is and who isn't exaggerating the pain they claim to have, so our system errs on the side of caution, allowing some to sit around stoned, doing very little in life except for getting by. It comes with having a legal pot program, and it is what it is. Could authorities do a better job of screening for who gets a card? Probably, but that's another topic. Should the government really be stopping people from smoking pot when they allow the same people to drink booze and smoke which both cause their own serious problems that hurt society in their own ways? That's another discussion with strong arguments on both sides.
My point is this...there are people who truly benefit from these programs, in ways that make their lives, and the lives of their family members better. I say this as someone who doesn't use any illegal drugs, and who dedicated most of last year to shutting down a meth and heroin house on my street that was wrecking our community. Many of the customers of this house ended up on heroin after failing to get enough legally prescribed opioids by the way (very common scenario). I spent a lot of money and time, and my family incurred a certain risk level, to shut that drug operation down. I am far from a "legalize drugs, and everybody party" type of guy. Things in life aren't always as black and white as some want to make them.
Pretty cut & dry here:
Felony Conviction - MRAC VEC, Inc.
I'm mixed on this topic even considering I have a felony conviction. My voting privileges have been restored and I can own a bow and a flint lock rifle. I have a CO2 .177 air rifle for the occasional snake and a slingshot for the rabid coon. In 9 years of amateur radio operation I have two good conduct reports and am on my third radio log book. Were the FCC to invade my home they would find me well above the standard and i'm just a lowly tech.
On the flipside ....
Some people have no business with a radio license, a pet and a voter card. Do convicted peeping tom's really need drone licenses? Do Tax evaders really need 501-C-3 exemption? Does Po-Dunk PD really need AES-256 with OTAR back-up?
If I got revoked based on conviction well then its been a great 9 years and YAESU looses money!
Felony Conviction - MRAC VEC, Inc.
I'm mixed on this topic even considering I have a felony conviction. My voting privileges have been restored and I can own a bow and a flint lock rifle. I have a CO2 .177 air rifle for the occasional snake and a slingshot for the rabid coon. In 9 years of amateur radio operation I have two good conduct reports and am on my third radio log book. Were the FCC to invade my home they would find me well above the standard and i'm just a lowly tech.
On the flipside ....
Some people have no business with a radio license, a pet and a voter card. Do convicted peeping tom's really need drone licenses? Do Tax evaders really need 501-C-3 exemption? Does Po-Dunk PD really need AES-256 with OTAR back-up?
If I got revoked based on conviction well then its been a great 9 years and YAESU looses money!
For the record:
I recently renewed my ham license for another ten years. No where during the online process was the "Felony" question asked...
I recently renewed my ham license for another ten years. No where during the online process was the "Felony" question asked...
That would make sense given the information in CoffeeHound's link.
"Persons simply renewing their licenses or requesting database changes (for example, a name or address change) are not required to answer this question."
KE0GXN
Member
I am mixed on it on it as well and I have no felony convictions....
However, I am in a 100% agreement that some people have no business having a license, i.e. the repeater/hf jammers, Captain Dave on 3.843 and the the idiots on 7.200. :roll:
Sad part is neither him or the others are probably convicted felons, but there they are all day everyday creating havoc on the bands...go figure.
KE0GXN
Member
"The new felony question applies to anyone taking a ham radio exam, applying for a vanity call sign, or requesting a sequential call sign. (That is, replacing the existing call sign with a contemporary one.) Persons simply renewing their licenses or requesting database changes (for example, a name or address change) are not required to answer this question."
Which begs the question, if one has a clean record at the time of initial application and one never requests a different call sign.....then I guess you are free to live a felonious life after?
Wish I seen this thread before I purchased the books and decided to finally get a ham license.
I can serve my country and dishcharge with an honerable but I make a mistake in my life, pay my debt to society and I still can’t get a frigging license to talk a radio.
Nice knowing you all, I guess I’m out before I started.
I can serve my country and dishcharge with an honerable but I make a mistake in my life, pay my debt to society and I still can’t get a frigging license to talk a radio.
Nice knowing you all, I guess I’m out before I started.
Even though I don't agree with barring former felons, there is a process to explain the circumstances to the FCC. If you want an Amateur Radio license, I would suggest that you continue the process.
I sincerely wish you luck with it.
Token
Member
I am guessing it might be to your benefit to actually research the issue instead of issuing a knee jerk reaction. If you look at the announcements and read this thread you will see that a felony conviction is not an automatic disqualifier. If the answer to the felony question is yes then you simply have to provide more detail so that the FCC can evaluate the situation. The FCC has never indicated that a yes answer automatically meant you would not be granted a ham license.
T!
Not "knee jerk at all"
I've delt with the federal government over various issues concerning my rights and how they are impacted by my conviction for well over 18 years.
I don't mind sharing that my felony was/is a non violent class 'E' and it is a felony only because it started out as a misdemeanor, my second in ten years at the time (simple DWI's).
In the state of NY, if you receive two misdemeanors within ten years of each other the second one automatically gets bumped up to a felony, period end of story.
Like I said I have dealt with them in various occasions to restore certain rights, one of which is to be named guardian of my own adult handicap son believe it or not.
Anyway in every case I have gone through it has been very expensive and time consuming, I'm just not so sure I'm ready to go through all this crap again just to talk on a radio.
As it is now I have a mobile station mounted inside my vehicle, and I just monitor the conversation. There are times I do want to contribute but wouldn't dare do so without the correct licensing, I don't even have the microphone out of the box it came in.
So the hobby does interest me and I am getting close to retirement so I could see myself wanting to get more involved with something of this nature.
I guess the knee jerk reaction is more out of frustration than anything else, just tired of being penalized over the trivial crap that happened what seems like a lifetime ago...
And there it is, I got it off my chest, thanks for listening...out.
KC4RAF
Member
The FCC isn't denying license on just the basis that you may have a felony conviction.
It amounts to WHAT that crime involved.
Child rape, espionage, radio related crime(s), etc.
The person with a simple breaking and entering, check forgery, grand theft, ect. usually aren't rejected.
Do an in-depth search on the internet and you'll see that most aren't turned down.
Here's one that you might find enlightening:
Former Computer Hacker Kevin Mitnick gets Amateur Radio License Back:
Just don't jump the gun and give up; amateur radio is fun and loaded with hours of learning something new.
edit: thanks to prcguy for the above link.
It amounts to WHAT that crime involved.
Child rape, espionage, radio related crime(s), etc.
The person with a simple breaking and entering, check forgery, grand theft, ect. usually aren't rejected.
Do an in-depth search on the internet and you'll see that most aren't turned down.
Here's one that you might find enlightening:
Former Computer Hacker Kevin Mitnick gets Amateur Radio License Back:
Just don't jump the gun and give up; amateur radio is fun and loaded with hours of learning something new.
edit: thanks to prcguy for the above link.
A friend of mine taught his daughter that the decisions she makes today can affect her for the rest of her life. Your situation is a prime example of that.
You can still pursue your hobby radio interests even without a license. There's always scanner listening, SWLing, broadcast station DXing, and Citizens Band radio. If you have a technical interest, you could start dabbling in repairing radios, building electronic circuits and projects, or developing code for Arduino or Raspberry Pi controllers.
Chronic
Member
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I know a ham that has been waiting on the FCC to renew his License for over 2 years now , because of accusations made from a couple other hams that did not like the guy . This will turn into a huge back log for the FCC to do there home work and make a decision. The ham in question has recently contacted the FCC inquiring why its been so long and the FCC said they will make there decision when they are ready and not a minute sooner . I think 2 years should be quite reasonable time to figure thins out.
Don't give up so quickly! I had a felony conviction when I was 20 years old, shortly after I received my Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army. That was nearly 50 years ago now.
When I first took my exam and passed, I had to send an explanation to the FCC regarding the circumstances. I was 20 years post-conviction at that point. The FCC approved and issued my General Class license in less than a month. I'm still licensed today...
...and haven't had so much as a traffic stop or ticket in the 30 years since! :wink:
I can empathize with your situation. I have had friends go through similar. Hang tough and, hopefully, you will decide to make that last effort of the extra hoop explaining the circumstances in the FCC application process.
If you decide not to, I can understand that as well.
I'm a retired cop and tend to have zero tolerance for DWI (we use DUI down here) and drug offenses. On the other hand, I also believe in the theory of paying one's debt to society. I don't think your "rant" was a knee-jerk reaction, Rather, it was the result of a lot of thinking and, lord knows you had time for that.
All the past paperwork for the government notwithstanding, I think you should go ahead and submit the necessary paperwork to explain the circumstances. In comparison to the past, it can't be that much and all you have to lose is a little time. I believe your persistence will pay off.
I believe you have a good chance of plugging in that microphone,
All the past paperwork for the government notwithstanding, I think you should go ahead and submit the necessary paperwork to explain the circumstances. In comparison to the past, it can't be that much and all you have to lose is a little time. I believe your persistence will pay off.
I believe you have a good chance of plugging in that microphone,
After reading the link supplied by CoffeeHound Felony Conviction - MRAC VEC, Inc. of what exactly is required to convince the FCC that I'm not all that bad, I think I will proceed.
Doesn't seem to be as much red tape and lawyering up as past experiences have been.
Thanks N4GIX and others for the reassurances.
Doesn't seem to be as much red tape and lawyering up as past experiences have been.
Thanks N4GIX and others for the reassurances.
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