Ive heard it said so many times that wearing a mask is an infringementof our constitutional rights. Im not sure which one since the framers ofthe Constitution did not include anything so specific as mask wearing.Over and over, I hear that Governor Wolf is a desperate, tyrannicalleader trying to strip away our rights by not allowing us to get haircuts,go to stores, or go out to eat the way we want to. I actually feel that,regarding masks, Governor Wolf is simply asking us to be moreconsiderate of, and helpful to, our fellow Pennsylvanians.

Lets all remember that masks serve an actual purpose in thispandemic. If YOU have COVID 19, even if you dont know that you do,a mask may prevent you from spreading the virus to others. The samegoes for all the other mask-wearers. Its something we can do to try toprotect our fellow citizens. Purposely NOT wearing a mask is similar towearing a button that reads, I dont care about you.

This simple act of wearing a mask has become politicized, spiritualized,and personalized. I have been denigrated and judged on multipleoccasions for wearing mine. But someone needs to explain to me howwearing a mask has removed my constitutional rights. Soldiers havebeen trained with gas masks since World War I. Theyve carried them,complained about them, and disliked them. But, theyve worn thembecause sometimes its necessary! Perhaps we need to think of thesepandemic masks in similar terms These masks do not remove ourfreedoms; they are weapons for defending our freedom to live a healthylife. If we all wear masks, we can get back to normal life more quickly,save lives (many of them, according to experts), and see our economyre-opening faster.

So please, enough of this dont wear a mask nonsense (except forrare and specific medical reasons!). The only way through this mess isto get through this mess. We cant wish it away. We cant pretend thatCOVID 19 does not exist. It does, and it has killed 138,000 Americans,of all political parties, already. Lets fight for freedom; lets put thosemasks on.

Rich Sterner, wearing a mask to fight for freedom.

Candidate for PA Senate District 33

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Masks and the Fight for Freedom - Gettysburg Connection