Mask rage: Shooters face ultimate restriction of freedom
Iwasn’t surprised when gunfire erupted outside a local store because of a simple request that a shopper wear a mask. That I expected it to happen is really sad.
Mask rage has occurred elsewhere, and it was bound to occur in the Lehigh
Valley eventually. Thankfully, the results weren’t deadly, as they have been elsewhere.
America should be embarrassed that something as simple as being asked to wear a mask when around other people has become so divisive and in some cases, violent. The rest of the world has to be laughing at us.
A man shot at an employee outside Cigars International in Bethlehem Township on Friday after being told he had to wear a mask inside the store, according to police.
And just a few days before, a woman walking with a cane was assaulted inside a Staples store in New Jersey when she asked another customer to put her mask on fully.
Disputes about people not wearing masks have sparked six shootings nationwide, including the fatal shooting of a security guard at a Family Dollar store in Michigan, according to The Trace, a nonprofit news organization that writes about gun issues.
There also have been shootings stemming from other coronavirusrelated spats, including lack of social distancing, uncovered coughing in public and limited access to businesses.
During a pandemic, we should all be working together. Instead, we’re fighting among ourselves, over something simple. There will be no winners as long as that continues.
The mask malcontents scream that their freedoms are being trampled when they’re told to wear a mask. They fail to realize that by refusing to participate in taking that precaution, they’re restricting themselves.
Until we get a better handle on the coronavirus, Pennsylvania bars won’t be serving drinks unless you also eat. Restaurants won’t be open at full capacity. Commerce will be lighter, making it hard for a lot of people to earn a living. The factories, offices, stores and other workplaces that are open will have more rules for their employees to follow. Popular events such as Musikfest, the Allentown Fair and Celtic Classic will be canceled, or held virtually. Pro, college and high school sports won’t be open to spectators.
And if things get dramatically worse, there’s the chance the state could shut down again.
For those restrictions to be lifted, we have to limit the spread of the coronavirus by taking precautions, such as wearing masks, unless you have a disability that prevents you from safely doing so.
But the malcontents don’t get that. They’d rather revolt.
Of course, going to jail is the ultimate restriction of freedom. The fact that some people are facing time behind bars for grabbing their gun or beating someone up instead of putting on a mask is beyond ironic. The man charged with shooting at the cigar store worker dug himself an even deeper hole Saturday when authorities said he shot at the police officers who tried to apprehend him, wounding one of them.
If jailed, will these freedom warriors assault the guards who tell them to put on a mask there?
The mixed messages that public health officials gave about masks early in the pandemic hurt the cause. Officials initially said masks weren’t necessary. Their reversal fueled conspiracy theories about COVID-19 being a hoax and being hyped for political motives.
Since then, though, the science is clear about their benefits.
I wrote last week about how two infected hairdressers didn’t infect any of their 139 customers — because they wore masks.
Even President Donald Trump may finally be buying into masks, saying that wearing one is “patriotic.” It’s hard to tell whether he really believes in them, or whether he hopes saying that he does will boost his reelection chances.
If Trump had gotten on board earlier, I doubt there would be as many malcontents. The lack of leadership from the White House has encouraged people to stir the pot.
I think for a lot of people, masks are just the last straw. The pandemic has angered and frustrated them in other ways. They’ve lost jobs and haven’t been able to pay their bills or support their families. They’ve struggled to help their kids learn online. They’ve been cooped up inside.
Then they’re told to wear a mask — which is not a hardship for most of us — and they explode.
We’re all frustrated. We don’t like the “new normal.” We want life to be like it used to be.
But it’s not. And it’s not going to be for a while, until there’s a vaccine.
If we want to live free from restrictions, we all need to work together. Think about that the next time you enter a store and are asked to wear a mask.
You may consider that to be violating your freedom when, really, it will help you achieve it in the long run.