6/4: ‘Protection of the public is paramount’ with regard to concealed-carry bill

Regarding the June 1 news article “Bill would end requirement for concealed-carry permits”: This is a very bad idea. I have a driver’s license; similarly, I have a concealed-carry permit. With both, I had to demonstrate a knowledge of safety regulations and legal responsibilities when operating these “machines” that can maim and kill.

Furthermore, if found in violation of these regulations, I would lose the privilege of use. Protection of the public is paramount. Didn’t the legislature learn anything from HB2 about pushing bad legislation too quickly through the vetting process?

Health audit ‘ridiculous’

Regarding the May 31 op-ed article “The GOP assault on health insurance, North Carolina style”: I, too, experienced the frustration of State Treasurer Dale Folwell’s audit to make sure no “ineligilbles” were getting state health insurance. As a spouse of a state retiree, I had to submit our 2016 1040 tax return to prove that I was the spouse. Granted, only page 1 with financial information blocked out was needed.

No mailing of documents was allowed. After spending an hour on the impossible NCSHP website, I chose the second option, sending a fax. They must only have one fax machine, because it took me four hours to send my fax – the machine was “busy.” This was five hours that I could have spent working. Ridiculous.

I agree that this seems like a convenient way to deny coverage to those without technology or the ability to figure out the website. I am embarrassed at the apparent continued efforts in this state to deny individuals health insurance. North Carolina and the state treasurer should be ashamed.

GOP ‘power grab’

The May 27 news article “Cooper suit challenges GOP leaders on appointments” clearly illustrates that Senate Republicans would do anything to strip Gov. Roy Cooper of power. And then they have the gall to say he is not keeping his promise “to look beyond ourselves to see what’s right for the state, regardless of who’s in power.”

It took little time after Cooper’s inauguration for Sens. Phil Berger and Tim Moore to strip Cooper’s power to appoint his team. Republicans reduced the number of judges to the state Court of Appeals and took away Cooper’s right to appoint new judges and make two key appointments to the state Industrial Commission. That was just the beginning of the Republicans’ power grab.

Berger and Moore are moaning because they are being taken to court. I wonder if they never learned to try to walking in another’s shoes.

This story was originally published June 3, 2017 at 6:00 PM with the headline "6/4: ‘Protection of the public is paramount’ with regard to concealed-carry bill."