Laws and rules, rights and safety | Letters To The Editor | times-news.com – Cumberland Times-News

Laws and rules, rights and safety

Our Times-News has, at the top of its editorial page, a copy of the First Amendment.

Somehow, I cannot find any statements about how Americans should have the right to do whatever we want or think is best, regardless of rules, laws, or government requirements like wearing a face mask.

Apparently, this is a significant issue which many feel is an integral part (though not specified) of the First Amendment. I gather that the sentiment is that if a rule is silly or unnecessary, or think the authority behind the rule is (as Cal Thomas describes, (4/26) a so-called expert) and we dont like it, we should have the option to do what we want.

But, perhaps, as I believe is the case, the business closings, mask mandates and homeschooling were judged to be important to keeping our population safe and trying to do battle with a strange and unpredictable virus, (which seemed to be killing a lot of people), with whatever tools we had.

In the column written by Froma Harrop (4/26), she suggests that some people have adopted the tactic of opposing the rules around COVID-19, citing government oppression. In the United States, we have hundreds of rules and regulations about almost everything. Has no one noticed?

I dont think we get to pick and choose, unless there is a serious moral issue involved, and then we must be prepared to take the consequences. The government may have used overkill in this instance (although I dont think so), but so what?

The intent was to protect our citizens from a current health epidemic, and it is certainly not a forever rule.

Cmon, people. Buckle up your seat belts and try to hang in there.

Gail Plitnik

Frostburg

Originally posted here:

Laws and rules, rights and safety | Letters To The Editor | times-news.com - Cumberland Times-News