I'd like to point out to anyone who thinks that "you do you" public health is sustainable that it's illegal to wear a mask in many public places in the US. This has only been on hold because of the emergency declaration and that's about to end.
For example, let me introduce you to my local law in Florida. Florida State statute 876.12:
Wearing mask, hood, or other device on public way.—No person or persons over 16 years of age shall, while wearing any mask, hood, or device whereby any portion of the face is so hidden, concealed, or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter upon, or be or appear upon any lane, walk, alley, street, road, highway, or other public way in this state.
This law was pointed out to my wife by a law enforcement officer who really wanted to arrest her for wearing a mask in a grocery store last year.
If you think you're going to be able to avoid COVID after the end of the emergency declaration you'd better be a full on hermit who never has to venture out.
Sorry for how poorly this thread is laid out. I didn't really know what I was doing on Mastodon in early 2023.
Let's go ahead and add North Carolina's House Bill 237 to the discussion. Here's the current state codes:
https://www.anapsid.org/cnd/mcs/maskcodes.html
What HB237 would be amending is:
https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-12.7.html
and
https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-12.8.html
with "Unmasking Mobs and Criminals"
https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2023/H237
According to the latest edition of the bill, it would specifically remove this sentence, which makes it currently allowed, from the current law:
"Any person wearing a mask for the purpose of ensuring the physical health or safety of the wearer or others."
The last link above, to the actual bill, now states "Senate Judiciary Committee Substitute Adopted 5/14/24" without a link to the substitute. It took me a little digging to find a link to it.
https://dashboard.ncleg.gov/api/Services/BillSummary/2023/H237-SMCE-99(CSCE-38)-v-5
I think the opening is pretty clear on the subject of whether they intend to remove the right to wear masks for health and safety reasons:
"SECTION 1
Under Article 4A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes, Prohibited Secret Societies and Activities, it is generally a crime for an individual to wear a mask in public. However, under G.S. 14-12.11(a)(6), an
individual can wear a mask in public for the physical health or safety of the wearer or others. If an individual wears a mask in public for health or safety reasons, a law enforcement officer can require the individual to remove the mask during traffic stops and criminal investigations when the officer has reasonable suspicion or probable cause.
Section 1 of the PCS would repeal G.S. 14-12.11(a)(6), and individuals would no longer be able to wear
masks in public for health or safety reasons."
@BE Sigh. I doubt it’s been enforced in Virginia lately, but being on the books as written is troubling.
@BE I just tooted about the NC bill this morning. The only microscopic mote of hope I can possibly hold on to is that stores aren't public places, and can theoretically (for now) still allow or encourage mask-wearing inside.
You're right, but, also, the way it was nearly enforced on my wife was that the grocery store called the cops about a woman following my wife around, and then the cop decided once she was in the parking lot she was violating the law. Scary times.
@BE That's terrifying.
I've never been in legal trouble in my life, but these laws are so preposterous that I feel like it might be a hill I could die on.
I think it's worthy of noting here that Virginia, for example, has a similar law to North Carolina, but, the health exemption requires carrying around a doctor's note. Democrats in the North Carolina senate reportedly offered this solution to Republicans who rejected it.
There's been some wishy-washy discussion around this about how they're "not really" trying to ban masks for health, it's just being caught up in the bill. Don't buy that. They are very specifically rejecting masks for health related reasons.