CPRC on Why McAuliffe Can't Restore Felon Voting Rights Without Restoring Their Gun Rights

The Crime Prevention Research Center has this piece about Governor McAuliffe's Executive Order giving over 200,000 felons the right to vote in violation of the Virginia Constitution.  Republicans have responded to this action by saying McAuliffe's failure to make a distinction between violent crimes and less serious offenses will mean that murderers and rapists will be able to serve on juries, among other things.  CPRC sights the specific section of the Constitution McAuliffe violated - Article II, Section 1 of the Virginia Constitution:

No person who has been convicted of a felony shall be qualified to vote unless his civil rights have been restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority. 

Note the section references "civil rights" which includes gun rights. Most believe McAuliffe took the actions he did to help Hillary Clinton in the state in November since, according to the CPRC article, at least one piece of research shows felons tend to be Democrats. 
McAuliffe claims his action is to undo one of the last remnants of Reconstruction that was instituted to keep blacks from voting.  It should be noted that the earliest gun control was also instituted to keep blacks from owning guns. No one in the media asked McAuliffe about that however.  Sounds like a good question for him the next time he is on his monthly radio "Ask the Governor" on AM1140 WRVA.