# Flordia Sheriff bans masks **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [August 13, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996 "2020-08-13T14:24:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/1 "2020-08-13T14:24:14Z")
The sheriff of Marion County, Florida has implemented a mask ban. Deputies aren’t allowed to wear a mask while on duty (other than a few exceptions) and NO ONE (civilians included) is allowed to wear one while at the station. You’ll be asked to leave if you have it on. Is this a publicity stunt? Especially given that he allows his deputies to wear them in certain situations, like responding to a nursing home, so I assume he understands the risk. What bugs me the most is that this seems like a blatant violation of Freedom of Expression since someone that represents the government is telling you that you can’t wear a mask on government property. This is a whole lot different claiming a freedom of speech violation when twitter bans you. > **[Florida sheriff bans his deputies and office visitors from wearing masks on a...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/12/us/sheriff-no-mask-ocala-trnd/index.html)** > > A mandate from a local sheriff in Florida is going against the recommendations from scientists and government officials: masks will not be worn. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/2 "2020-08-13T14:42:42Z")
I’ll check back here in two weeks to see if the uniformed ninny got sick. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/3 "2020-08-13T14:48:00Z")
Some super-spreader should do his duty and go there and cough on him (not really! I don’t want more people getting sick, even if they are ill-informed, anti-science assholes). Also, can we change the name to Moron County? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/4 "2020-08-13T14:52:06Z")
If you can’t shoot 'em, infect 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/5 "2020-08-13T15:02:22Z")
I would just wear a mask anyway and tell him that I have a medical condition that exempts me from his rule. If he asked for evidence of my medical condition, I’d show him my driver’s license, proving that I’m a human being. I’d point out that since my species is _Homo sapiens_, I am susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2, and may already be infected but asymptomatic. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/6 "2020-08-13T16:03:09Z")
After a batch of deputies get sick & sue the county it’ll be fun to watch the climb-down. Other than the county seat Ocala (pop 60K), Marion County is pretty much solid rural. All of it, including Ocala is solid Trumpist. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/7 "2020-08-13T16:08:55Z")
[As I mentioned in the Pit, the hypocrite is perfectly fine with his jail staff & inmates wearing masks.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-maskholes/915339/261) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/8 "2020-08-13T16:13:40Z")
New motto: “To Infect And Observe.” ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/9 "2020-08-13T16:34:49Z")
Surely it will open up the city to claims should anyone end up being infected in custody - even if unproven it would be a costly exercise, are all your lawmen so stupid? Wonder what happens if they arrest someone for not wearing one in a store? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/10 "2020-08-13T16:44:58Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > Wonder what happens if they arrest someone for not wearing one in a store? Arrest? They won’t even issue fines! > **['Not up for discussion': Florida sheriff announces ban on protective face...](https://www.rawstory.com/2020/08/not-up-for-discussion-florida-sheriff-announces-ban-on-protective-face-masks-for-deputies-and-visitors-as-19-ravages-his-state/)** > > Florida is among the Sun Belt states that has suffered the most from the coronavirus pandemic: more than 8600 Florida residents, according to the Washington Post, have died from COVID-19, including 217 on Tuesday, August 11 alone. But it was also on... ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/11 "2020-08-13T16:54:38Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > Surely it will open up the city to claims should anyone end up being infected in custody… I expect it will - and don’t call me Shirley. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/12 "2020-08-13T20:52:15Z")
Officers are forbidden from wearing masks even when interacting with persons in public places. From WaPo article: > [@](#): > > Should anyone challenge a deputy about wearing a mask, Woods wrote, “politely and professionally tell them I am not required to wear a mask nor will I, per the Order of the Sheriff.” > **[‘This is no longer a debate’: Florida sheriff bans deputies, visitors from...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/12/masks-florida-ban-billy-woods/)** > > Florida set a new record with 217 covid-19 deaths on Tuesday, while Marion County also set its own record for daily deaths with 13. ---
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/13 "2020-08-13T21:10:14Z")
This is gonna go down as Peak Stupid. Which means this guy will be running for Governor soon. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/14 "2020-08-13T21:18:26Z")
Florida, you’ve got the rest of the Union to help you along. What’s going wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/15 "2020-08-13T23:29:57Z")
IANAL but his job title does not create an impervious shield of legal protection from stupid. If he attempts to enforce this it won’t go well for him. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/16 "2020-08-13T23:41:32Z")
Really? Because it seems to me that police officers are pretty much immune from legal consequences for the stupid things that they do. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/17 "2020-08-14T00:19:44Z")
I’m not sure how to respond. You can google “police officers convicted of crimes” and read about it. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/18 "2020-08-14T00:41:25Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’m not sure how to respond. You can google “police officers convicted of crimes” and read about it. Actually, you can, and you’ll find, after a couple of lists, all the articles about how rare it actually it is for that to happen. Why do you think BLM exists? Cops are constantly violent towards black people without anything happening to them. It takes protests and riots to get those who kill black people arrested, and then they’re usually exonerated. Also, name a single cop who got arrested for improperly using violence on peaceful protesters–something we literally saw on video. You might say “Well, that’s a political thing.” So is wearing masks. There’s no way that Florida, with Governor DeSanto is going to do anything to any sherrif for banning masks. He still hasn’t put in a mask order despite his state being one of if not the worst with COVID-19. Not to mention the schools he reopened. The only way anything happens to this maskhole is that is that people get sick, and the people force action. Maskholes stick together. They aren’t going to prosecute each other. (also note you need to edit your post to properly the post above yours. Stupid software making it unclear if you’re replying to the OP or the person above you.) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flordia-sheriff-bans-masks/917996/19 "2020-08-14T15:38:59Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > …There’s no way that Florida, with Governor DeSanto is going to do anything… Nitpick, it’s DeSantis: [Ron DeSantis - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_DeSantis)