Key Issues
RUMOR:
You can’t legally force me to wear a mask – it violates my rights.
REALITY:
Mask mandates are legal.
The courts have ruled in other cases that behavior that puts the health of others at risk can be regulated. That’s why you can’t smoke in a bar in most states —second-hand smoke puts others at risk. Not wearing a mask also puts people at risk, so the government can mandate you wear one. Private businesses can also legally require masks. It’s like a “no shirt, no shoes, no service” policy. As long as the store applies to everyone equally, it is legal.
References:
NPR: Q&A: Are Face Mask Requirements Legal?
Google Scholar: Antietam Battlefield KOA, et al., v. Lawrence J. Hogan, et al.
KIRO 7: Can businesses refuse to serve customers who don’t wear masks?
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