Larry Wohlgemuth
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
There seems to be quite a dust-up regarding the various ordinances requiring people to wear masks in public. A vocal minority has declared it an infringement on their First Amendment rights spelled out in the Constitution. Clearly, they have no clue.
For example, courts have declared states and municipalities have the right to enact and enforce laws requiring the use of seat belts and protective helmets for motorcycle riders. While some have declared this the nanny state at its worst, they clearly misunderstand the purpose of the laws.
We are not trying to protect you from becoming a Darwin award winner. What we do care about is the burden you will place on society should you be injured in an accident and spend 20 years in a persistent vegetative coma.
Likewise, should you have a sexually transmitted disease like HIV or syphilis, it is not impinging on your First Amendment right to make intentionally spreading those diseases a criminal act. Law enforcement is even allowed to put ankle bracelets on people to curtail this behavior.
And that is what the mask ordinances are all about. We do not care if you die from coronavirus, but it is not your right to wantonly spread the virus throughout the community. There are limits on your actions.
But if you read anything besides the funny papers you would already know that.