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RALEIGH — North Carolina falls well short of other states and the federal government in protecting people from burdensome government regulations. That’s the conclusion of the John Locke Foundation’s legal…

RALEIGH — A recent N.C. Supreme Court ruling should convince state lawmakers to rewrite a law that tramples on some ex-felons’ constitutional right to own guns. That’s the conclusion the…

In 2004, the legislature went too far in passing a complete and permanent ban on gun possession by all ex-felons. In August 2009, the North Carolina Supreme Court in Britt v. North Carolina held that those changes were unconstitutional as applied to the plaintiff, Barney Britt.

RALEIGH — North Carolina would feel no more pressure to build commercial wind turbines along its mountain ridgelines if lawmakers scrapped their two-year-old renewable energy mandates. That’s the assessment a…

Wind power advocates are pushing for commercial wind turbines along the mountain ridgelines - the mountains and the coast are the only locations where wind is viable in North Carolina. These commercial wind turbines can be as tall as 500 feet or the height of 50-story skyscrapers. The Ridge Law generally prohibits most tall buildings over 40 feet from being built along the ridgelines.

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s government mandates for renewable energy and energy efficiency will likely cost the state 3,600 jobs and $1.8 billion in higher electricity rates, while slashing the state’s…

In North Carolina, the government can invoke eminent domain and seize private property even if reasonable alternatives exist to using this power. A recent Senate bill (SB 600) would allow conservation easement holders to challenge takings in court by requiring the government to prove that no prudent and feasible alternatives exist to condemnation of properties encumbered by conservation easements.

RALEIGH — Legislators can prove that they care as much about people as they do about open space, if they make a simple change to an eminent domain bill moving…

Either version (House or Senate) of the smoking ban bill is a major threat to personal freedom and property rights. The Senate is considering a bill that would prohibit smoking in “public places” and “places of employment,” such as restaurants. The House version has the same general prohibition, but it also would include a very narrow exception for businesses that do not serve or allow entry to minors.

RALEIGH — A smoking ban proposal under consideration in the N.C. House and Senate would create a “major threat” to personal freedom and property rights. That’s the assessment a John…