MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Without a doubt, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has been itching to get back into good graces with his constituents who detest wearing masks. Well now, he’s done it. Reeves has joined his counterpoint in Texas in lifting a state mask mandate effective Wednesday. And in doing so, they are thumbing their noses at federal health officials in the new Biden administration who say not wearing masks now is the wrong thing to do.
Despite dropping the mask mandate for most of the state’s 82 counties, Reeves says Mississippians should still follow advice from state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs. But Dobbs says it remains a bad idea to be in large unmasked gatherings. He added there is no way in heck he would set foot in a crowded bar.
But Reeves says he’s getting out of the business of telling people what they can and cannot do, which is a ridiculous statement. Governments hand out do’s and don’ts to citizens all the time. Not to mention the fact that Republican lawmakers everywhere want to tell college athletes they cannot kneel in silent protest during the national anthem.
Yes, more and more people are getting vaccinated against COVID-19, and hospitalizations are down. But this is no time to relax. Wearing a mask is not an attack on your freedom. And it doesn’t hurt. It certainly doesn’t hurt as much as sickness and death. And that’s my point of view.