© Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Nassau County, NY) – Lawmakers in a suburban Nassau County have approved a bill to ban masks in public spaces, saying concealing your identity is a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to a year of jail time and a $1,000 fine.
Proponents of the Mask Transparency Act say the ban will combat crime during protests. It was introduced in response to anti-semitic incidents, often perpetrated by those in masks in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. Criminals have also used the masks to disguise their identities during robberies and other crimes. The bill gives local authorities the right to demand individuals remove their masks during a traffic stop or “when the officer has reasonable suspicion of criminal activity and/or intention to partake in criminal activity.”
There ARE exceptions though. “This legislature finds that masks and facial coverings that are not worn for health and safety concerns or for religious or celebratory purposes are often used as a predicate to harassing, menacing or criminal behavior,” according to the bill.
Those opposing the bill say it threatens protesters from expressing their views anonymously and could lead to retaliation, as well as posing a health risk with COVID-19 on the rise across the country.
