Election: Trump doesn't respect property rights

Ownership of property is one of our most fundamental and cherished rights. Property provides a sense of economic security, emotional stability and pride. Private property is protected by the Constitution and most judicial decisions.

All public officials, including the president, should respect and protect private property. Conversely, public officials must have the right to acquire private property for necessary public use — such as roads, parks, airports and utility lines — by paying the owner a fair price.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump disagrees and once asked a public official in Atlantic City to take a reluctant private property owner’s property for use as a parking lot for one of his casinos.

What might he do by presidential dictate? Every private property owner should be quite concerned.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 11:18 AM with the headline "Election: Trump doesn't respect property rights."