Banning Face Masks in North Carolina
The North Carolina Senate voted last week to pass a revised bill that outlaws public mask-wearing in the state.
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This Republican-backed bill was passed after Democratic lawmakers walked out of the voting session in protest after last-minute sections were added to the bill.
The “Unmasking Mobs and Criminals” Bill
HB 237, the original bill, pushed for North Carolina law to be reverted to what was in place before the COVID-19 pandemic. This law did not have any exceptions for people who wear masks because of disabilities or because they are immunocompromised.
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The bill, called the “Unmasking Mobs and Criminals” bill, was created in response to protests seen throughout the state.
Democrats Blasted First Bill
The first inception of the mask-banning bill brought great criticism from North Carolina Democratic lawmakers.
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Democrats were mainly worried about the lack of exceptions attached to the bill. They wanted to ensure that those who wore masks for their health wouldn’t face any legal issues.
Republicans Counter Fears
State Republicans countered these Democrat worries by stating that immunocompromised people had nothing to worry about.
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Though no exceptions were attached to this first bill, Republicans explained that the police would use their best judgment when it came to enforcing this law.
A Compromise
However, many healthcare workers and North Carolina residents revealed their concerns about the lack of exceptions seen in this mask banning bill.
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Eventually, a compromise was struck. Now, this latest version of the bill states that certain masks, such as “medical or surgical grade masks”, can be worn by residents in the public — as long as they’re wearing these masks to prevent the spread of contagious disease.
Worries Remain
Even though this compromise was met, many residents of the state remain incredibly worried about what this bill could put into law.
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For example, though medical masks are allowed to be worn, there is no indication that cloth masks can be. This lack of clarity has further worried healthcare workers and the immunocompromised.
Residents Must Adhere to the Police
Upon agreeing to this compromise in the Senate, lawmakers also included the factor that anyone wearing a mask — even if they’re wearing it to keep from becoming ill — must take off the mask if law enforcement asks them to do so.
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Therefore, the police can ask a resident to remove their mask in order to identify the person.
A Response To Growing Protests
While the COVID-19 pandemic saw many Republican lawmakers publicly denounce mask mandates, this latest government response in North Carolina wasn’t pushed because of any fight against masks being used for health reasons.
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Instead, this Senate move was in response to growing protests seen throughout North Carolina.
Protestors Wearing Masks
Recently, many protestors have begun to wear face masks while they are protesting in an effort to hide their identity.
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Supporters of this bill have claimed that they are attempting to protect North Carolina communities from protestors who are bad actors. These lawmakers have stated that the current law allows these bad actors to hide their identity while they act in illegal activities, or while they “smash and grab.”
New Laws Against Mask
According to this bill, someone who is arrested will have their sentence increased by one class if they are arrested while also wearing a mask.
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While much of the publicity surrounding this bill has to do with mask-wearing, there are many factors included in it that have to do with protesting. If this bill is fully passed, it will criminalize people who intentionally stop traffic during a protest.
The Future of the Bill
Parts of this bill were already considered controversial. Though the Senate has passed it, the North Carolina House still has to vote on it.
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As the revised version of this bill included an unanticipated campaign finance section, the future of this current bill remains up in the air. Democrats have already criticized Republican lawmakers’ last-minute additions to the bill, especially as they consider this new factor to be an attempt to change upcoming governor elections in the state.