Opinion Roundup: Reforming our gun laws

Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 -- A roundup of opinion, commentary and analysis on the evolving discussion over gun safety measures, the NCAA's impending release of its UNC academic scandal report, some questions for N.C. members of Congress who voted against a hurricane relief bill and more.

Reasonable gun control crucial for our brokenhearted country (Winston-Salem Journal) -- Americans in these last several days since the Las Vegas massacre have seen a lot of heat on gun control but little light. We’ve gotten a crash course on “bump stocks,” those dark devices that essentially convert assault rifles to machine guns. … We contend that action against bump stocks, large-capacity magazines and endless ammo supplies would have at least slowed down the Las Vegas killer, saving at least a few lives. That alone would make those measures well worth it.

MELISSA BOUGHTON: On NC’s racial gerrymandering case, will a special master get involved in a map redraw? (N.C. Policy Watch analysis) -- A decision was not reached in a federal racial gerrymandering case about whether or not proposed remedial legislative maps would be approved, but a three-judge panel indicated it could still appoint a special master to take on the task of drawing constitutional districts.

RUSTY JACOBS: Judges May Bring In Neutral Map Maker For NC Redistricting Plan (WUNC-FM analysis) -- The court took the case under advisement and will decide whether to approve the GOP-drawn maps or bring in a so-called special master to draw a new plan. After court adjourned, the judges issued an order instructing the parties to confer and come up with a list with three names of qualified candidates who could fill that position.

TRAVIS FAIN: Judges again weigh NC legislative maps (WRAL-TV analysis) -- The federal judges overseeing North Carolina redistricting cast some incredulity toward the legislative majority's claims, but they also seemed to struggle with just where to hold the needle the General Assembly must thread when it comes to how race can, must or should be considered when drawing election maps.

GARY ROBERTSON: New N.C. district maps get hearing from judges (AP analysis) -- North Carolina's redrawn legislative districts were debated before a panel of three federal judges who had struck down previous district maps for racial bias.

TAFT WIREBACK: Guilford districts play key role in redistricting case (Greensboro News & Record analysis) -- North Carolina's redistricting do-over went back to federal court amid questions about fair play and racial bias.

DAVE GAMMON: People want an end to gerrymandering (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot column) -- North Carolina has attracted national attention in recent years because of legislative maps created and adopted by Republican lawmakers just before the 2012 elections. The law gave these lawmakers authority to draw the maps, but critics argue the maps unfairly tilt political power to the right. North Carolina deserves its reputation as a purple state. From 1993 through 2013, North Carolina members of the U.S. House of Representatives were 50 percent Republican and 50 percent Democrat. As a purple voter myself, I have felt at home in North Carolina.

JEFF HAMPTON: 2 prison employees dead, 8 others injured after prison escape attempt in Elizabeth City (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot) -- Two prison employees died Thursday after inmates set a fire at the Pasquotank Correctional Institute as part of an escape attempt, authorities said. 35-year-old Justin Smith and 50-year-old Veronica Darden were killed Thursday during the attempted breakout. The fire was set about 3:30 p.m. in the prison sewing room, where 30 inmates work for Correction Enterprises.

MAGGIE ASTOR: 2 North Carolina Prison Workers Killed in Fiery Escape Attempt (New York Times) -- Two prison employees were killed and 14 other people injured on Thursday when inmates at the Pasquotank Correctional Institution in North Carolina tried to escape, officials said.

RICK SMITH: Economists say Amazon project impact would be 'huge' (WRAL-TV/TechWire) -- Imagine doubling the number of 50,000 workers at Research Triangle Park's more than 250 companies with the addition of one company: The new Amazon headquarters project. What would be the economic impact on the Triangle? Two economists share their view: "Huge" and "Huge is an understatement."

PATRICK E. McLEAN: How Charlotte can get HQ2 by copying Amazon’s peculiar ways (Charlotte Agenda column) -- how Charlotte can use the company's core principles to tailor our pitch for their second headquarters. Who's writing the six-pager?

Unhappy Americans (Greensboro News & Record) -- We seem to be a disgruntled lot.

CULLEN BROWDER: Producers, directors try to prevent NC film industry from fading to black (WRAL-TV analysis) -- Once thriving with TV and movie makers, North Carolina now struggles to bring back the lights, cameras and action.

Aquarium? How about a pork barrel (Wilmington Star-News) -- A brand new state run aquarium in Pender County -- barely 30 miles as the crow flies from the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher -- probably doesn’t rank high among the hopes and dreams of the area’s residents. We commoners obviously lacked Vision, unlike our elected legislators. Last week, while tinkering with the North Carolina budget, the General Assembly passed a provision to spend nearly $254,000 on paying architects to draw up plans.

Kenly Police libel suit a timely reminder to choose words carefully (Wilson Times) -- Spreading rumors on social media — and maybe even alluding to them — can be costly. Kenly Police Chief Josh Gibson and Officer Rayne Biggs are suing Terry Baker, a mayoral candidate and former Kenly police officer, accusing him of libel over a pointed post on his campaign Facebook page, according to a story in this week’s edition of The Kenly News.

ED HARDIN: Proud Carolina arrives at momentous day in its sports history (Greensboro News & Record column) -- North Carolina’s day of reckoning has arrived. One day after the university celebrates its 224th birthday, the NCAA infractions committee will release its long-awaited report on the UNC academic scandal. On the very day the basketball program plans to unveil its 2017 national championship banner, the athletics department will learn its fate. You could argue that this is the biggest day in the school’s athletics history. And possibly the worst.

LISA PHILIP: State Wants To Take Over Their Kids' School. Here’s How Some Parents Feel About It. (WUNC-FM analysis) -- It’s a Monday night and Tamara Vanie, who’s nearly seven months pregnant, and her husband David, who just got off of work, are knocking on doors in a mostly black and Hispanic neighborhood in East Durham. They’re talking to anyone who will listen about the possible state takeover of their neighborhood elementary school.

HUGH McCOLL: UNC Board of Governors needs to give Spellings freedom to do her job (Charlotte Observer column) -- Margaret Spellings needs freedom to do her job and UNC Board of Governors needs to give it to her.

DOUG CLARK: N.C. against hurricane relief (Greensboro News & Record column) -- Relief bill passes the House 353-69, but nine of 10 N.C. Republicans vote no.

TYLER DUKES: 3 months later, NC science panel still without members (WRAL-TV analysis) -- Three months after state officials announced they were forming an expert science panel to advise regulators and public health workers on everything from coal ash contaminants to GenX, agencies are still working to appoint members of the group.

JENNIFER ALLEN: Officials Look to Clean Up Taylor’s Creek (Coastal Review analysis) -- Stakeholders from various agencies, including the town of Beaufort, the Coast Guard and the Rachel Carson Reserve, met recently to outline a plan to address the longstanding problems of marine debris and illegal moorings in Taylor’s Creek.

CATHERINE CLABBY: Getting the Lead Out of Spices, Powders, Supplements (N.C. Health News analysis) -- Public health experts are joining forces to reduce children’s exposure to lead-tainted spices and other imports.

Durham native Grady Tate, Jazz Drummer Turned Vocalist, Dies at 85 (New York Times obit) -- Grady Tate, a jazz drummer who was known for his work with Peggy Lee, Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald and many others and whose warm baritone led to a second career as a singer, died on Sunday at his home in Manhattan. He was 85. Tate was born on Jan. 14, 1932, in Durham, N.C. His father, also named Grady, was a stonemason. His mother, Elizabeth, was the dean of women at a local business school.