The governor in CA has issued some kind of “Stay Home” order.
Does he really have the authority to suspend the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution? And for how long, a week, a month, a year or until the State decides its “ALL CLEAR”.
Supposedly, Californians are not allowed to go out of their homes unless they have what the State considers to be “essential” business outside of their homes, grocery shopping, doctor appointments, etc.
So I will be arrested for driving down to the beach to watch the sunset?
We are all under House Arrest (with limited exceptions)
Enforcement—CA Govt Code § 8665 (2017)
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or who refuses or willfully neglects to obey any lawful order or regulation promulgated or issued as provided in this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine of not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not to exceed six months or by both such fine and imprisonment.
While they are at it, why don’t they declare fire arms a “health risk” for you and the people around you and send the CA National Guard to homes to collect everyone’s weapons?
As a practical matter, anyone is allowed outside to do anything they want, as long as they maintain social distance (families and intimates excluded). Lots of people who like to give advice encourage going outside for exercise, while observing elementary precautions. A walk in the park is a lot less risky than buying groceries.
Also as a practical matter, there aren’t that many places to go. Bars are closed, I think, and restaurants can only do curbside takeout (that way you only get germs from the staff and not from the general public). Movie and live theaters, and sports venues are closed. You’re not going to be invited to anyone’s home, probably, and if you were you shouldn’t go.
The whole point of this exercise is to slow the spread of the disease so that there are enough medical facilities for all the serious cases as they arise. I personally don’t see how this would take less than at least a couple of months, but time will tell.
California isn’t the first state to take this step. It won’t be the last.
I think the thread actually belongs in the often overlooked Hyperbole & Manufactured Outrage forum. It’s a bit difficult to see on the Main page, but if you go down to MPSIMS and the rotate the page through the imaginary axis you find it in between Bill Mahar Rhetorical Idiocies and Sean Hannity Conspiranoia.
Hyperbole & Manufactured Outrage though it may be, it’s a real thing among the wing-nuts.
Governors and Mayors are declaring emergencies, which give them all kinds of emergency powers under existing emergency powers laws and ordinances. These laws contain generic laundry-lists of powers that the executive (governor or mayor) may exercise – not that all of the powers will necessarily be invoked.
These powers typically include things like banning sales of firearms. Also power to ban meetings and assemblies, power to take possession and even title (!) to private property, and draconian stuffs like that.
So when someone issues an executive order to deal with Covid-19, the right-wingnuts immediately scream THEY’RE COMING FOR OUR GUNS!!!
An old adage embraced in the United States (it is of unknown provenance though often erroneously attributed to Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.) states, “Your right to swing your arms ends just where the other man’s nose begins.” In other words, once your rights begin to infringe on the rights of other citizens, they cease to be your rights. In this case, your right to pursue your usual everyday activities versus the rights of other citizens to not contract a potentially deadly virus that you may be asymptotically carrying around unaware.
The idea of quarantine is nothing new; it has been standard public policy for many years. The American colonies first instituted quarantine laws in 1663 to curb an outbreak of smallpox in New York City. This is nothing new, and your statements of outrage about how unprecedented this is show your ignorance of your own country’s laws, history, and values.
“A government of laws, not men.” - John Adams, in drafting the Massachusetts state constitution in 1780
Yeah, we can still take walks. The weed stores are open. (Whoo-hoo!) Drive-thrus for food, no dine-in. 7-11s are still running, same with Liquor stores. I’ve found liquor stores to be really good for certain food! Had a good selection of ice cream, cheese, tuna, rice. The groceries are sold out of those.
I went to Arby’s in Reseda tonight, just got back. (HAD to have a RB and cheddar). It was so surreal. 9:00 pm in Los Angeles County, and I’m doing 72 all 12 miles to and home. No traffic anywhere on a weekend is a first out here. Of course, my Friday night was usually better than a 12 mile trip to Arby’s as the highlight.
The new restrictions go until April 7th, I believe, and I’m pretty sure it will be extended beyond that. At least until May.
Be careful, cops are getting bored. Normally, I go as fast as the traffic around me to avoid tickets, but that doesn’t work when there’s little traffic.
Form the news messages the Gov’s order contains the fact that he is asking everyone to stay at home.
Read an article on Facebook by what I assume is a lawyer. In order for the Gov do order everyone sst stay home he would have to declare Marshall law and this emergency does not fit the requirements to do so. Also there is no doubt that county health officials can quarantine anyone sick or exposed to the virous. But it is a different matter with those not sick or exposed.
If I knew how to link to the FAcebook post I would. But as for me I am not going out unless necessary. You see I fit the compromised health group. I am 72.
