The antique store in downtown Laramie, the Bent and Rusty, does not require individuals to wear a mask in their store despite the county-wide ordinance and President Biden’s recent federal mandate.
The front doors have signage that openly share their position on mask-wearing.
Despite controversy of the effectiveness of mask wearing at the beginning of the pandemic, countless highly attributed health organizations have concluded mask-wearing, along with other safety precautions, has proven effective in slowing the spread of the virus. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Mayo Clinic can prove it, who employ only the brightest healthcare professionals.
Requiring masks is non negotiable.
Besides their poor call in regards to health, the Bent and Rusty is not following the ordinance or federal mandate. I am all about our freedoms outlined in the Constitution, just like the Bent and Rusty owners, but they are fundamentally misunderstanding the aim of mask mandates.
The Patriot Act, which they cite on their sign, was created in response to the events of 9/11 to combat domestic terrorism. They refer to section 802 which contains an extremely narrow definition of domestic terrorism. To be committing domestic terrorism, by definition, is to be engaging in criminal wrongdoing that could result in death. Actions must also be violating federal and state criminal law, be dangerous to human life, and the individual must have a clear intent of harm.
It is not domestic terrorism for government officials to enter the store. They are not violating state or federal law nor are they doing anything dangerous to human life by entering your stores or enforcing the mask mandates.
If anything, the Bent and Rusty is violating section 802 of the Patriot Act. By not requiring masks, they are openly disobeying the county ordinance and federal mandate, and jeopardizing their customer’s health by putting them more at risk for a deadly disease.
Even if this law and section merely related to mask mandates, they cannot prove a mask mandate is unconstitutional with the Patriot Act alone. If they want to discuss constitutionality in a court of law, they have to take it up with the justices of the United States Supreme Court who are the ultimate interpreters of the Constitution.
The “lawyer” they cite on their sign, Rick Martin, isn’t even BARR certified, meaning this person has very little legal authority. Their sign is a print off from the Constitutional Law group website, a group of uncertified lawyers who are offering counsel to businesses who reject mask mandates. Their sign is an empty threat.
Ironically, the Constitution allots power to the states to protect the welfare, safety and health of the public. This is exactly what mask wearing provides during a pandemic. The Bent and Rusty should be following the county ordinance and federal mandate to wear masks, just like the rest of the downtown businesses.
Amber Whitt Mercil, a resident of Laramie and ex-Bent and Rusty customer, shares similar frustrations.
“The Bent and Rusty is a place that I adore because it is a craftsman co-op,” Mercil said. “A lot of different people sell a lot of different things in that store. I spent thousands of dollars there. I love supporting our downtown. But when I walk into a store and people and employees are not wearing masks and deliberately putting other’s health in jeopardy, I won’t shop there anymore.
“It makes me really sad because I love supporting downtown. I’ve lived in Laramie for 20 years. Downtown needs its people to spend their money there.
“When stores don’t protect other people’s health because they think it is their freedom to do so, I won’t support that. It’s really unfortunate for the people that liked shopping there.”
I interviewed others and was shocked that a few people were concerned to share their opinions on the matter out of fear of recognition by the Bent and Rusty or humiliation.
I attempted to interview the Bent and Rusty and they declined to comment.
The Bent and Rusty does not care about my health or the health of other people. Wearing a mask is not a political statement, it’s basic respect for humanity.
