Q: Does a person a right to conceal their face in public?
Masks have become very popular recently. Many states require their use in all public buildings. Many have questioned whether requiring a person to wear a mask is Constitutional. I think that is asking the question precisely BACKWARDS. I think "Does a person have a right to conceal their face in public?" to be a MUCH BETTER question, especially in places like court rooms, banks, and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, or really anywhere that requires I.D. A lot of places have security cameras. What is the point of security cameras if people are wearing masks?
A: People are allowed to wear face coverings in public, and the owners of various premises such as banks and government buildings are allowed to require them to remove the mask to enter.
A:
That's a good question. Before the pandemic, concealment was a greater concern than public safety. But priorities have shifted, where the concern is more about the protecting the health of the public than of the risk of a robber concealing their identity. Constitutionally, laws can be subject to balancing tests in weighing individual rights and the safety of the public. For now, the greater emphasis is on protecting public safety. Good luck
Tim Akpinar
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