1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

This bill poses significant risks to public health and safety by criminalizing the wearing of masks, which is still a necessary precaution due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other respiratory illnesses. While there are carve-outs for religious and medical reasons, the broad language could lead to discriminatory enforcement and infringe on personal freedoms. Masks remain an important tool for protecting vulnerable populations from viral transmission. I urge you to reject this legislation and instead prioritize evidence-based public health measures that keep our communities safe without unfairly targeting or stigmatizing individuals. Public health should take precedence over reactionary policies that undermine our ability to respond to disease outbreaks.