170
submitted 6 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

People wearing a mask during protests in North Carolina could face extra penalties if arrested, under proposed legislation that critics say could make it illegal to wear a mask in public as a way to protect against COVID-19 or for other health reasons.

Republicans supporters say the legislation, which passed its first committee Tuesday, was prompted in part by the recent wave of protests on universities nationwide — including at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — against Israel’s war in Gaza.

While the main thrust of the bill enhances penalties for people wearing a mask during a crime or intentionally blocking traffic during protests, most concerns centered on the health and safety exemption. According to the bill’s summary, people could no longer wear masks in public for medical reasons.

When asked by Batch if someone wearing a mask for health purposes in public would be violating the law, a legislative staff member said it would, because the bill repeals the exemption.

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[-] InternetUser2012@midwest.social 32 points 6 months ago

This will not make the proud boys happy. Chicken ass bitches.

[-] brown567@sh.itjust.works 36 points 6 months ago

Like the police are going to apply the law to themselves

[-] InternetUser2012@midwest.social 10 points 6 months ago

Lol, good point

[-] Deello@lemm.ee 29 points 6 months ago

Guns + ski mask + Hawaiin shirt = acceptable
Blue hair + medical mask + no guns = illegal
It's just "common sense" people. Use your best judgement officers.

[-] Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Hawaiian shirts should be illegal in every situation that doesn't directly involve Hawaii.

[-] Mbourgon@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago

F you. I love my Aloha shirts. I’ve been doing it since before it became a “dad thing”. It’s not a t-shirt, it’s not a GD polo, and it’s more fun than a button-down.

But stick some of that boogaloo shit on there? Yeah, that’s a paddlin’.

[-] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago

How the fuck are fat middle aged guys supposed to show you they're fun?

[-] mox@lemmy.sdf.org 24 points 6 months ago

Whatever the real motivations might be, this is deeply irresponsible. I hope it turns out to violate the state constitution or some similarly strong law, and gets rejected.

[-] Spaghetti_Hitchens@kbin.social 21 points 6 months ago

They want facial recognition so they know whom to add to their list of enemies

[-] Drusas@kbin.run 8 points 6 months ago

Apparently it's working pretty well in China.

[-] Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago

No need to add them. They already have all the faces (everyone's, your, mine, and anyone else you can think of). If you haven't heard of Clearview AI welcome to the black mirror

https://www.theverge.com/23919134/kashmir-hill-your-face-belongs-to-us-clearview-ai-facial-recognition-privacy-decoder

GOP Sen. Buck Newton brushed off concerns that getting rid of pandemic-era exemptions on masks was overly broad, saying he expects authorities to use “good common sense.”

“We didn’t see Granny getting arrested in the Walmart pre-COVID,” Newton said as he presented the bill Tuesday in the state Senate Judiciary Committee.

Was Granny white?

[-] GrundlButter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 6 months ago

...he expects authorities to use “good common sense.”

He knows they're gonna murder someone, right?

[-] Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Yeah that is police common sense. The law and order thing is and always has been a dog whistle to target "others"

[-] PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works 16 points 6 months ago

So does that include klan hoods?

[-] Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

See those are hoods not masks. See the difference.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 16 points 6 months ago

This is going to bite those North Carolina politicians in the ass at the next Klan rally.

[-] Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world 10 points 6 months ago

Don't worry those are hoods not masks. Totally different kind of thing.

[-] Hobbes_Dent@lemmy.world 15 points 6 months ago

Newton said he could revisit the bill if problems arise.

Yeah right.

this post was submitted on 14 May 2024
170 points (98.3% liked)

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