Republican state Sen. Buck Newton said the bill’s intent is not to prohibit people from wearing masks if that is what they choose.
A North Carolina bill to increase penalties for criminals who wear masks to conceal their identity while committing a crime is being scrutinized and framed as an attempt to target those who continue to follow COVID-era health precautions.
Republican state Sen. Buck Newton told The Epoch Times that the bill’s intent, however, is not to prohibit people from wearing masks if that is what they choose, but in response to growing law enforcement and business concerns over crime.
“More and more people are using masks and other clothing to disguise themselves when engaging in criminal behavior,” Mr. Newton said. “It seems logical to increase penalties for those who do so.”
According to the language of House Bill 237 titled “Unmasking Mobs and Criminals,” the bill repeals an exemption to the previous mask law that allowed for people to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“The law before COVID was pretty clear, and its main reason was to combat the Klu Klux Klan and other organizations who hide behind masks while attempting to intimidate people or do criminal acts,” he said. “So, we didn’t see any reason why we needed to maintain this exception which really wasn’t even necessary when it was passed for COVID.”
The exemption that was crossed out which has become the subject of controversy allows for “any person wearing a mask for the purpose of ensuring the physical health or safety of the wearer or others.”
Essentially, the target of the bill are those who are trying to hide their identity, Sen. Newton said, so people who choose to wear a mask for COVID reasons, or because it’s a part of their job, are free to continue to do so.
Other exceptions include performing arts, Halloween, and Mardi Gras masks during holidays and other special occasions, he said.
“They’re not hiding their identity just because the wearing of a mask might obscure their identity, so that’s OK,” he said. “And that’s what the law has been since the 1950s. All we’ve done is eliminate the 2020 exception that was created in 2020 and go back to where we’ve been from the 1950s to 2020.”
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