The Science and Law of Refusing to Wear Masks: Texts and Arguments in Support of Civil Disobedience

In fact, the only medical benefit — and even that is only a ‘likely advantage’ — of the use of masks by healthy people in the general public listed by the WHO is the ‘reduced potential exposure risk from infected persons before they develop symptoms.’ It’s important to clarify that this is a risk that I take, not that I represent, of potential exposure to infection from someone else who, presumably, has COVID-19 and breathes, sneezes or coughs on me in sufficiently close proximity for airborne particles or tiny droplets potentially carrying the virus to enter my nose, mouth or eyes. However, if I want to take that risk of potential exposure, that’s up to me, just as I also risk being run down by a car when I cross the road. It’s not the role of the police — and it most certainly isn’t within their legal powers — to compel me to avoid that risk. That’s my right, without which any and every possible or putative risk to my or anyone else’s safety can be used to justify controlling every aspect of my life.

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DC Mayor: $1,000 Fine For Not Wearing Mask Outside Home

Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) issued an executive order Wednesday requiring residents to wear masks outside of the home as the city battles rising coronavirus cases.

“Basically what it says is, if you leave home, you should wear a mask,” Bowser said at a press conference. “This means, if you’re waiting for a bus, you must have on a mask. If you are ordering food at a restaurant, you must have on a mask. If you’re sitting in a cubicle in an open office, you must have on a mask.”

The order, which allows for fines of up $1,000 per violation, won’t be enforced on children under the age of 3 and people who are actively eating or drinking.

The mayor also said she will extend the District’s state of emergency.

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Cop Goes onto Man’s Property, Kills Dog as it Walks Up to Him, Tail Wagging

An officer with Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Department shot and killed a seemingly friendly dog because it approached him while he was on its owner’s property. The incident was caught on video, and shows the dog approach the police officer while wagging its tail.

As the video shows, the officer begins to back up and reach for his gun, but naturally, the dog is interested in learning more about the new guest on its property and it continues to approach the officer. After just a few seconds, the officer pulled his gun and shot the animal in the face, killing him.

Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman later released a video of the shooting, along with a press release defending the actions of the officer, and claiming that the dog was aggressive.

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