Lawmakers must take a step back | The Olympian

Lawmakers on every level tend to jump too quickly to a perceived crisis, proposing laws that aren't needed.

The latest example is occurring in the aftermath of the airplane crash that took the life of New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor.

Lawmakers are now expressing disbelief that small airplanes are allowed to fly in and around New York. They are calling for new restrictions, even banning small planes from the airspace around the city.

This is not just a New York situation. Regulations imposed there would probably be expanded to cover other large cities in the nation. And it would be unfortunate if unnecessary restrictions on aviation were imposed by reflex without thoughtfully considering the real need. ...

Banning small aircraft from New York and other large cities would be an overreaction, an unjustified move that would impair private and corporate aviation. ...

The above editorial excerpt is from The Herald Journal, Spartanburg, S.C.