Firearms

• Convicted felons are not allowed to possess any type of firearm. This right is restricted because most felony crimes are committed using a firearm.
  
  

Voting

• Convicted felons lose their right to vote. Felons also lose any right to serve on jury duty.
  
  

Holding Office

• By most state laws, a convicted felon cannot hold a public office, such as being a school board member or city council member. There is no federal law prohibiting felons from being elected to Congress or from running for president.
  
  

Housing

• Federal housing laws prohibit felons from gaining federally funded housing. This often forces felons to remain homeless or find substandard housing.
  
  

Function

• The original reasoning behind losing rights once convicted was to provide a large enough consequence to avoid criminal behavior.