The act of wearing face masks is to be banned here in a certain county in the United States; and anyone who is 16 years of age or older who is found in violation of the law can face up to a year of jail time — as well as a fine of $1,000.00.
Wearing Face Masks To Be Banned Here
The county is Nassau County on Long Island in the state of New York. Twelve members of the Nassau County Legislature voted to pass a ban that criminalizes the wearing of face coverings in public spaces — with minimal exceptions for health and religious purposes which have not been clearly defined at the time this article was written — while seven members abstained from voting.
Law enforcement officers will decide if a covering for the face is being worn for a legitimate purpose. Opponents of the controversial bill — which is known as the Mask Transparency Act — claim that could lead to discrimination against people with darker skin than Caucasian people.
The goal of the Mask Transparency Act is supposedly to prevent criminals from concealing their identities when taking part in violent protests — although it may also be intended to address the increase in the number of people on Long Island who have tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus recently.
The bill is expected to be signed by Bruce Blakeman, who is the county executive of Nassau County. No definitive date has been set at the time this article was written as to when the Mask Transparency Act will be in effect; but according to an official document known only as Clerk Item Number 142-24 — as the bill was not given a proposed local law number — “This law shall take effect immediately after becoming a law”.
“Nassau County’s mask ban is a dangerous misuse of the law to score political points and target protestors. Barring people who speak out from protecting themselves and their identities puts their health and well-being in danger, particularly people with disabilities, people of color, and those with unpopular views.
“Masks protect people who express political opinions that are unpopular. Making anonymous protest illegal chills political action and is ripe for selective enforcement, leading to doxxing, surveillance, and retaliation against protesters.
“Banning face masks also puts Nassau County residents’ health at risk. With COVID-19 on the rise across Long Island, face coverings are critical to protecting the health of an individual, their family, and their community. Criminalizing masks forces those with disabilities or medical conditions, as well as their families and loved ones, to have to decide whether to segregate themselves from public life or endanger their health and even lives. The ban’s so-called health and religious exceptions are entirely inadequate: Nassau County police officers are not health professionals or religious experts capable of deciding who needs a mask and who doesn’t.
“Concerns that masks disguise criminal activity must not be answered by banning anonymous protest. Police should respond to a person’s actions, not their attire.
“No Long Islander should be sent to jail for trying to protect themself or their community.”
Final Boarding Call
I have repeatedly stated in numerous articles here at The Gate With Brian Cohen that I am vehemently opposed to being forced to wear masks or other face coverings — but I am also equally against criminalizing anyone who wishes or needs to wear one. This is not a matter in which any form of government should be involved.
My thoughts are that banning masks and coverings for faces is asinine and ridiculous at best. This was a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars — as well as a waste of time for members of the Nassau County Legislature, as I cannot imagine any productive outcome of enacting such a law…
…so if you are traveling to New York and want to see a concert at Westbury Music Fair, go fishing at Oyster Bay, soak up some sun rays at Jones Beach, or catch a horse race at Belmont Park in Elmont while wearing a covering for your face, keep the Mask Transparency Act of Nassau County in mind…
All photographs ©2020 by Brian Cohen.
