The Charlotte Observer - In District 8, Candidates Agree on Trade, Terrorism, Not Much Else

By Maggie Ybarra

Republican U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson and his Democratic challenger, Thomas Mills, agree on trade and terrorism, but not on much else in the North Carolina District 8 race.

The incumbent and his challenger say they value fair trade over free trade. They are both wary about the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, which would broaden trade between the United States and a dozen countries on the Pacific Rim. Both say the pact reminds them of another trade deal, the North American Free Trade Agreement, which they blame for the loss of many Carolinas textile jobs.

"I do understand that for our employers and for our agriculture, which is our number one industry in North Carolina, we do need foreign markets, and we do need to have trade agreements, but we need to be smart about it," Hudson said.

Mills said he also has "grave concerns."

"We made a mess of the state with NAFTA. I can't -- I'm not anti-free trade, but it needs to be fair trade, too," he said. "Now, I don't believe that we can become an isolationist country, but we need to clean up the mess we made with the trade agreements in the '90s and the early 2000s."

Additionally, the two men want to protect U.S. citizens from the Islamic State. The extremist group is active in Iraq and Syria and has this year taken credit for major terror attacks in Belgium and Paris. Its supporters have been accused of terror plots in 13 states, including one in North Carolina. Last month, authorities arrested 35-year-old Erick Jamal Hendricks of Charlotte on charges of trying to recruit additional Islamic State supporters who would eventually launch attacks.

Outside of those issues, Hudson and Mills disagree on a variety of topics that span from gun control to immigration. Democrats increased their efforts to adopt new gun-control measures after Omar Mateen used a semi-automatic rifle to kill 49 people at an Orlando nightclub while Republicans put forward plans to update the background check system. Congress has remained deadlocked on the issue.

Hudson said the laws are already in place to protect citizens from potential terrorists. But some improvements could still be made, he said. That could include improving states' reporting of individuals who should be denied the right to buy a firearm due to their mental condition.

"There may be some things that we can do that would all make us safer, but I don't think we need any new laws to do that," he said.

Mills thinks the best way to tackle the problem is to close "the gun-show loophole."

"I think we should look at limiting high capacity clips and I think we ought to look at limiting . . . access to assault weapons," he said. "I think there can be ways for people who are collectors and enthusiasts to have those guns, but they shouldn't be in the hands of dangerous people."

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