Masks Could Become Illegal In North Carolina (Again) Under KKK-Inspired Law

[cayugafalls]

North Carolina lawmakers attempted in the early hours of Friday morning to undermine the Democratic governor’s announcement that face coverings would be required in public to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Since the 1950s, North Carolina has banned mask-wearing in public, a law aimed at members of the Ku Klux Klan. That law ran up against guidelines to keep people safe from the coronavirus, and earlier this year, the state voted to exempt citizens from the law until Aug. 1. But when Democratic lawmakers attempted to extend that exemption, Republicans blocked the effort at around 2 a.m., despite an increased number of cases in the state.

Democrats say that North Carolina Republicans are invoking the law in an effort to undermine Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s face mask mandate, set to go into effect on Friday.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/north-carolina-mask-law-kkk_n_5ef6513dc5b6acab284180d3?ncid=engmodushpmg00000003

[bdamomma]

1. Republicans

are vile people local state and government. Science, Health and facts they ignore and their citizens will die from their ignorance and arrogance.

[cayugafalls]

5. I am actually kind of surprised that this is the sword they choose to fall on.

It is not playing well with the public at all. Sure there are a few in their rabid base of covidiots that refuse to wear a mask, but the general population gets it and will fight back at the polls.

At least that is my hope and what I see happening.

[ms liberty]

10. I was polled by PPP at the beginning of this week

And the results were pretty clear. The majority of NC is taking this really seriously and supporting Gov Cooper. I was glad to see that the polls put me in the majority on every question, lol! It gives me a little hope for November.

[TristanIsolde]

2. This is so stupid

[Massacure]

3. Cooper could just pardon anybody convicted of wearing a mask

Cooper could say come out and say as much, and no prosecutor in the right mind would waste their time prosecuting a case knowing it'll certainly get pardoned.

[cayugafalls]

6. You are correct, however...

The fear of being arrested for wearing a mask should not even be an issue for the elderly or people with pre-existing conditions.

There needs to be a lawsuit or some other action challenging this denial of the right to protect yourself from known contagions.

While I understand a law designed to prevent a KKK member from wearing a pointy hat covering the face and identity, it should be made clear/rewritten or amended to exclude medical masks used to prevent infections or contagions in the case of a pandemic or viral outbreak.

Thanks for the comment!

[LisaL]

4. Oh great. Using old law to make it illegal for people to protect themselves.

[roamer65]

7. Unenforceable.

[stillcool]

8. They want everyone to get sick...

as soon as possible. Those who die, die, those who don't can work. The only way it makes sense.

[onecaliberal]

9. Close the border. Have fun with that.

[struggle4progress]

11. The notion, that a law should be interpreted in the context of its intended purpose,

can be found at least as far back as Blackstone, and I am sure the idea is even older than that

The NC anti-mask laws were passed to prevent persons from anonymously engaging in illegal activities, such as intimidation

The laws contain certain exceptions, and I do not expect anyone of sound mind to complain of people wearing masks to protect themselves and their loved ones during a pandemic