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Hickory Daily Record Editorial

Published: August 29, 2009

THUMBS UP to the speakers at the health-care reform discussion this week at Lenoir-Rhyne University who agreed that changes are needed in the delivery of medical care and insurance coverage in the United States. The speakers — including the lead lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, medical experts, hospital administrators and insurance representatives — held back from giving their support to the plans being bandied around in Congress. The comments from the discussion centered around the need to reduce health-care costs and improve public access to insured health care, but — in the words of Katie Hays from the U.S. Chamber — proposals that increase costs, taxes and regulations for business will be opposed. Professionals, medical and others, share the fears of many citizens, that reform legislation will be a nightmare of mandates and costs on businesses and taxpayers. Congress and the White House should take note. There is plenty of room for compromise to achieve medical care for everyone. First, you have to talk. Public discussions such as the one in Hickory is a good place to start, even if the debates among lawmakers are constrained to Capitol Hill.

THUMBS UP to the initiative in Hickory to restore or remove derelict buildings. There are many dilapidated structures in Hickory, some beyond repair. Property owners have a decision to make: Fix 'em up or the city — via the police department's Code Enforcement Unit — will step in and make them go away. It's a sensible approach. Empty hulks are health and safety menaces. We think the city should be paid for tearing down buildings and reimbursed for the cost of repeated warnings to property owners. The city does put liens on property, but we think there should be a time limit on waiting for restitution. Slum lords should not be permitted to walk away from responsibility and let their property be improved with public money.

THUMBS UP, with qualifications, to the N.C. Supreme Court ruling that overturned a 2004 law barring all convicted felons from having a gun, even in their own homes. Many people will be aghast at the decision, but in light of structured sentencing and the courts' tendency to look askance at "one-size-fits-all" legislation, it is not surprising. There are levels of felonious crimes. In the case of the felon who challenged the law, the crime was not violent. The plaintiff was convicted of felony drug possession. The crime is serious, but is not necessarily a precursor to violence. Violent felons should never be trusted with a firearm, even if their crimes — such as child sexual abuse — did not involve weapons. But some felonies, in the eyes of the court, do not automatically disqualify criminals who have served their time from having a gun. Still, possession of weapons by non-violent felons could be restricted. The General Assembly should revisit the 2004 law and fix it. We defend the Second Amendment, but we also support shielding the public from convicted criminals.